Venting

[Guest guest]

Well, it's about time for my annual Spring venting. Is it just me or does

it seem like most folks with any arthritic condition have more pain when the

seasons are changing? We've gone from twenty degrees below normal, i.e.,

freezing temps, to fifteen degrees above normal temps for this time of year.

I always have problems when a weather front comes in, but this is getting

ridiculous! Even with pain-relief medications that normally do well for a

few hours, now I'd have to take more than the pain clinic doctor will allow

just to get to my new " I can stand this much pain " state of mind.

This extra pain reflects itself quite readily on my face and in my speech,

causing several folks at church today to ask me numerous questions about my

condition. Usually I can smile for a couple of hours and go home for the

pained countenance. I can't hide the fact that I'm in pain any longer.

I went through old family photos of my mother recently. As her autoimmune

conditions progressed she went from a cheerful, smiling lady with a gleam in

her eye, to a sad depressed woman whose enormous pain was very obvious on

her face.

I look at her pictures before she died and I see myself staring back at me.

I'm the unlucky one, of four children, who inherited my Mom's autoimmune

response.

Well, thanks for letting me vent.

Ray in Virginia, 51, male, Reactive Arthritis/Reiters Syndrome, Sjogrens

Syndrome, Raynauds, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatique, and if that isn't enough,

Migraine Headaches.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ray Yes I am also in a lot of pain right now. I live in Florida where we always say if you don't like the weather wait a minet it will change and it does it goes from high pressure to low in a matter of hours and back again. And when it changes seasons or sun positions what ever you want to call it here it seams to get worse. I don't know what to tell you on the pain meds I have a problem trying to stay to the amount prescribed too. Hope your pain decreeses for you soon.

take care copper

Ray in Virginia wrote:

Well, it's about time for my annual Spring venting. Is it just me or doesit seem like most folks with any arthritic condition have more pain when theseasons are changing? We've gone from twenty degrees below normal, i.e.,freezing temps, to fifteen degrees above normal temps for this time of year.I always have problems when a weather front comes in, but this is gettingridiculous! Even with pain-relief medications that normally do well for afew hours, now I'd have to take more than the pain clinic doctor will allowjust to get to my new "I can stand this much pain" state of mind.This extra pain reflects itself quite readily on my face and in my speech,causing several folks at church today to ask me numerous questions about mycondition. Usually I can smile for a couple of hours and go home for thepained countenance. I can't hide the fact that I'm in pain any longer.I went through old family photos of my mother recently. As her autoimmuneconditions progressed she went from a cheerful, smiling lady with a gleam inher eye, to a sad depressed woman whose enormous pain was very obvious onher face.I look at her pictures before she died and I see myself staring back at me.I'm the unlucky one, of four children, who inherited my Mom's autoimmuneresponse.Well, thanks for letting me vent.Ray in Virginia, 51, male, Reactive Arthritis/Reiters Syndrome, SjogrensSyndrome, Raynauds, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatique, and if that isn't enough,Migraine Headaches.Know someone who could profit from our list? Send our direct sign-up URL: /subscribe.cgi/chronic_pain or write us at: chronic_pain-listowneregroupsManage your subscription with several special email addresses:chronic_pain-owneregroups - Sends email to the list owners chronic_pain-subscribeegroups - Subscribe to the list through email chronic_pain-unsubscribeegroups - Unsubscribe from the list chronic_pain-normalegroups - Switch your subscription to normal chronic_pain-digestegroups - Switch your subscription to digest

[Guest guest]

Hi Copper.... I live way up here in New Hampshire and we have that same saying "Wait a minute it'll change" Cause we have the strangest weather patterns, like right now its nice and warm out but at night it feels like winter...I hate this kind of weather cause it makes me hurt bad. I've had 4 major lumbar surgeries and I'm in constant pain. The only pain med I'm currently taking is Vicodins but only when the pain is so severe. I have a T.E.N.S unit I use off and on for the nerve pain but thats about it.

Tammy

Re: Venting

Hi Ray Yes I am also in a lot of pain right now. I live in Florida where we always say if you don't like the weather wait a minet it will change and it does it goes from high pressure to low in a matter of hours and back again. And when it changes seasons or sun positions what ever you want to call it here it seams to get worse. I don't know what to tell you on the pain meds I have a problem trying to stay to the amount prescribed too. Hope your pain decreeses for you soon. take care copper Ray in Virginia wrote: Well, it's about time for my annual Spring venting. Is it just me or doesit seem like most folks with any arthritic condition have more pain when theseasons are changing? We've gone from twenty degrees below normal, i.e.,freezing temps, to fifteen degrees above normal temps for this time of year.I always have problems when a weather front comes in, but this is gettingridiculous! Even with pain-relief medications that normally do well for afew hours, now I'd have to take more than the pain clinic doctor will allowjust to get to my new "I can stand this much pain" state of mind.This extra pain reflects itself quite readily on my face and in my speech,causing several folks at church today to ask me numerous questions about mycondition. Usually I can smile for a couple of hours and go home for thepained countenance. I can't hide the fact that I'm in pain any longer.I went through old family photos of my mother recently. As her autoimmuneconditions progressed she went from a cheerful, smiling lady with a gleam inher eye, to a sad depressed woman whose enormous pain was very obvious onher face.I look at her pictures before she died and I see myself staring back at me.I'm the unlucky one, of four children, who inherited my Mom's autoimmuneresponse.Well, thanks for letting me vent.Ray in Virginia, 51, male, Reactive Arthritis/Reiters Syndrome, SjogrensSyndrome, Raynauds, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatique, and if that isn't enough,Migraine Headaches.Know someone who could profit from our list? Send our direct sign-up URL: /subscribe.cgi/chronic_pain or write us at: chronic_pain-listowneregroupsManage your subscription with several special email addresses:chronic_pain-owneregroups - Sends email to the list owners chronic_pain-subscribeegroups - Subscribe to the list through email chronic_pain-unsubscribeegroups - Unsubscribe from the list chronic_pain-normalegroups - Switch your subscription to normal chronic_pain-digestegroups - Switch your subscription to digest

[Guest guest]

Hello Group: I believe that the change in barometric pressure has a good

deal to do with increased joint pain as well as pain in the areas where there

has been surgery, there is inflammation in the joints such as arthritic

joints, and also those of us with Fibromyalgia etc. Also the constant

vacillation of temperatures. Warm days and cold nights. Lately my right

shoulder and arm has been very painful, this is a new one. I did however have

a surgery several years ago for a torn rotator cuff, torn from calcific

formations in the arm. I hope it is not a new formation. I use heat and am

currently in physical therapy to flex and stretch muscles etc. The pain was

there before the therapy began so I don't feel it is due to that. I also have

had three lumbar surgeries, two Fusion's and one pyriformis release. I also

have a lot of trouble staying with the number of meds prescribed. Somedays I

can get by with less then others I need more. We do I believe develop such a

tolerance to the meds but in my case I do not want to have to increase them.

Weather definitely affects our bodies. The pain is the biggest challenge to

live with. I just pray to my Higher Power to help me get better and to help

relieve my burden. Take care all. Alice

[Guest guest]

Hi Ray,

You're not alone. The change in seasons always affects me, but this

spring has been one of the worst. We've had a very cool, wet spring along

with a few days of temps well above normal. It hit 79 degrees here this

afternoon, and we just had one heckuva thunderstorm roll through --

dropped the temp back to the upper 50s in less than 10 minutes.

I saw our family doctor last week -- just in for a regular blood pressure

checkup -- and we got talking about the weather. " I'll bet you're

wishing for a long, hot drought right about now, aren't you?, " he

said. Either that or a cold snap, when everything is very, very dry.

I still try to put on a " game face " when I'm out with friends

or when my wife and I are away, but it does get harder all the time. The

rheumatologist just added a new diagnosis to my ever-growing list --

Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy. It's related to the peripheral neuropathy,

which I was diagnosed with some time ago, but due to the progression he

has now reclassified it. The list just seems to grow and grow. Also,

related to your post of about a week ago concerning fibromyalgia and

chronic pain. That was the progression with me. I had chronic pain from

degenerative disk disease and arthritis for years and when I was referred

to a rheumatologist for the first time, at the first appointment he

diagnosed FMS.

I can related to your comment about looking at your mother's pictures,

too. I can't recall a time when my mother did not show signs of

arthritis, but I've certainly seen it worsen over the years and I can see

the same thing in myself. I'm the lucky (?) one of three children to

inherit the autoimmune problems. My older brother has just a bit of

arthritis, but hasn't worsened at all and it hasn't affected any more

areas. His (ankles and knees) is more likely related to his years on the

track and field squad in high school and college.

The rheumy has set me up to have a sleep study performed. I haven't slept

well in years, but recently I started waking at 4 or 4:30, along with my

usual trips every 90 minutes to the bathroom to stretch my legs. I know

there's nothing to the study, but would like more information, if anyone

is familiar.

Thanks,

Hower

Central Pennsylvania

--- Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes ---

[Guest guest]

(((((((((Marsha)))))))

I had to wipe the tears from my eyes as I read your posts. I wish there was

something I could do to help you. Please know that you are in my thoughts and

prayers. And please, continue to vent here, as that in itself is sometimes

therapeutic.

Blessings and light,

Janie

The mind is like a magnet. The quality and strength of your thoughts will

determine the quality and strength of what you attract into your life.

Therefore it is important to develop and maintain a positive mental attitude

about everything.