is it just the change in the weather, co-incidence or is there a "pain bug" doing the rounds?
there seem to be a lot of people on here who are experiencing a lot more pain at the moment.
what do others think?
pain: is it just the change in the... - Fibromyalgia Acti...
pain
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hamble99b
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I am not sure whats going round or anything but I know what you mean Sandra, I have been in a great deal of pain with my joints etc, more than usual definitely, maybe its just summer ending or something, but agree with what your saying,
There is a virus going round at moment causing secere headache, stiff neck and temperature, which seems to last 24-48 hrs. Know a lot of people who've had it over last week.
I think you are right there does seem to be a major flare going around. I wonder we have had a good fairly static barometer this past few month no major ups and downs and now we seem to be getting the weather patterns changing as you would expect for Autumn bringing gales rain fog no frosts really yet.
I do believe this has quite a lot to do with our pain cycles .
What does everyone think do you get more pain when the weather turns and becomes far more variable?
Keeping warm is a priority so make sure your hot water bottles electric blankets are all road worthy for another season. I am definitely worse in the cold
xxginx
I have to agree with both of you, and we all seem to be going thru a flare up at the same time don't we, where abouts do u you live zeb & everyone cos it's been fairly mild here in London, .......I'm almost ready for our hibernation club, how's about every one else, I've just gotta get some more Heinz farmer vegetable soup in, gonna try get the rest of my Christmas shopping done next week, then that's it I'm not setting foot outside that door, lol.....soft gentle hugs to all ....Dee xxx
Ive been up all night in so much pain its driving me crazy. Taken all the meds I can...and been switching from heat pad to ice packs for hours. Now I have the burning nerve pain as well as sciatica....ha ha ha been twitching and jumping around.....well not good. Thinking about you all....gentle hugs xxx
I do hope yours settles soon 
xgins
Thank you Gins x
Always always effected by the weather change I also feel it the other side to when it's spring but it is by far worse in winter. My joints are horrendous and it makes me feel really down as I think we all know how long winter takes - hermit season I call it x
I thought it was just me, I've had the worst week of fibro in 20 years 
really struggled even to walk - which is kinda tricky with a toddler to look after! *gentle hugs* to everyone having a really bad time at the moment.
that's my problem - walking [not a toddler ]
I always get more pain when it's cold or raining.
I was up in the night taking pain killers for burning , cramping musles . Mostly in my legs.
I have been worse since the cold wet weather, its the same every winter. I remember last year when the snow was on the ground, dressing up warm to retrieve the car which because of the snow had been parked in the next road. Got outside walked about 10 steps and then said to my husband, "I can't do this". It was so cold which triggered more pain, I had to turn back and get inside. I am hoping its not a bad winter, and big but gentle hugs to those who are suffering at the moment more than usual. x
Havin worst flare up in about 6 months this week but positive this is due to quick weather changes. Think I prob have issues with SAD as have struggled through winters for several years before FM diagnosis
If there is a pain bug going round I have a super doze of it! doesn't bode well for the winter!
gentle hugsxx
Thank god I'm not alone. Thought I was going mad with all this pain. Im 40yrs old and I feel like 80 and at the moment im struggling to walk. Gosh its so cruel to live like this. Hope you all stop suffering so bad soon xx
I'm having the worst flare-up I've had for about 2 years & the pain is so severe, especially in the morning, I can't help but cry. All my joints are swollen & the pain in my shoulders is awful & so is the pain in my knees. The prospect of a long winter is doing nothing to help my depression, which also gets a lot worse in winter. I try not to let on to my family about the severity of my fibro, particularly as 4 out of our 5 children are experiencing difficulties in their own lives & I need to be strong for them. I'm going to my GP next week, hopefully she will be able to wave a magic wand for me-hahaha, like that's ever going to happen! Love & gentle hugs to all xxx
in reply to dovetail
If your pain level is above a 4 on the pain scale...it's not being well controlled
You probably need to call the doctor to get something a little stronger than the pain medicines that you take now, if any. .also Crying is very good for releasing the pain and tension..it's really all good there.
You can keep coming online to tell us the truth about how bad it hurts.
that's what we are here for. Are you taking any anti inflammatories at
the moment, or anything for the pain? With the swollen joints, you could
have RA, PA or another kind of inflammatory medicines. They have
excellent drugs for any of those - swollen joints aren't anything to fool
around with. Don't let a doctor blow you off...It's your right to go see
a Rheumy..they are the pain experts!! There are so many classes of
medications that the rheumy could give you to end that swollen painful
condition that is dragging you down. Good luck. Keep us posted. =)))
Yikes (Karen)
sue32 in reply to
My pain is definitely more than a 4, but my GP is reluctant to prescribe any strong painkillers because of all the other meds I'm on, so I just have to take Zapain, which is useless, and grin and bear it!! XX
in reply to sue32
You ladies are soooo smart to be able to whip out
the names and spellings of the medications..I need
a UK dictionary to look up what medicines are the
same as the USA brands..haha..I take it that Zapain
is some kind of anti-inflammatory? I am brand new
since yesterday in the dark about Fibro..My rheumy
gave me a Gabapentin prescription..or he wanted to
rather but I declined it. Gabapentin made me gain
weight very quickly..It was prescribed for Restless
Legs Syndrome..If pain reaches a 4 then other pain
relief medicines Usually something like Tramadol or
an antidepressant. Narcotics are hard to get as well
in the USA where I live. Living in the kind of pain
that you have is just inhumane..It's your right to be
pain free as a human being..If I was you, I would ask
specifically for a certain pain reliever..say to have it
on hand for those horrible nights. =)
sue32 in reply to
Zapain is basically paracetamol and codeine, nothing particularly strong though!! I would love to ask my doc for the pain relief I think I need, but it all comes down to money here I'm afraid. Surgeries have budgets that they have to stick to and with having the number of patients they do the budget has to stretch a long, long way!! XX
dovetail in reply to
Hi Karen, thank you so much for your reply & for your concern, it means a lot. I am taking so many meds, I'll tell you what I'm taking:- Tramadol 200g three times a day, trazadone 300g at night, co-codamol, 8g three times a day, amitryptiline, 75g at night, pregabalin, 150g three times a day, atarax 200g daily, clonodine 50g morning & night, vesicare 10g morning, levothyroxine 50g morning, & I have to take medication to help me go to the toilet! I've seen a rhuemy before, when I was first diagnosed, she was nasty & dismissive, so I wouldn't like to see her again! My GP is very helpful but she is reluctant to try anything stronger because she is worried about my other meds. I'm still going to go back to see my doc this week, see if there is anything else that could help me. Love & gentle hugs, dovetail ( Tracey) xxx
in reply to dovetail
Oh hun, you are taking a lot of medicine indeed.. I know that you would be the one to have vitamin deficiencies and mineral ones too because of the types of medicines that you are taking. How is your stomach handling all of these medicines?
Those types of medicines do slow down the digestive tract really a lot...for some of those medicines, I had to look up..USA medicines are the same except another name for them. Living in that kind of pain just isn't acceptable..Don't be afraid to tell the doctor that this pain is destroying your life and that it's all that you can think about is to find the position or pill that will take it away..If it's wrecking your concentration and desire to participate in life, then you need to be straight and use those exact words to get you off the other combined weaker ones and onto just one stronger one. Please ask
why not if the doctor gives you grief..because it's your right
and those are "pain" pills which you clearly have...even if you
are sent home with just 5 or 10 for the month..it can bring
you good sleep so you have less pain overall... boy I want to
just shout to the doctors that people who take pain pills for
real pain and only use them for that severe pain do not get
addicted..studies show that..so what is their problem with it?
I am normally a joyful person but when someone is getting
shoved off or told that this is the best that we can do for that
kind of pain, it just makes me crazy mad. I still advise you
to speak up..insist that what you have on hand is not touching the pain.. and gentle hugs back to you..xx Karen.
hey guys!
Well! us fibros are known to have sensitivities especially when the atmosphere is damp and cold it affects the joints/and or muscle/tendons.
I don't know why as in respect to the medical science.
Plus at this time of year the temperature doesn't gradually drop it just plummets when you least expect it. For example I set my heating to come on around about 3pm for half hour and then again at about 7 for half hour and again for an hour at about 12. I do this because its when I've personally felt that when the temperature drops so to counter balance it The heating keeps the room fairly constant temperature which is better for fibro peeps. The worst temperature drop that I find is the one at around 4-5 am so again the heating is set for an hour to keep the chill off.
Does it feel like you've got the flu? If the answer is yes then it is very likely that you have temperature/atmospheric and general weather sensitivities.
Sorry for the long-winded explanation guys 
hope this is useful
xxxzebxxx
So glad not alone am having terrible flares and pain in joints def weather and SAD saw my lovely sympathetic shrink who has put me on wellbutrin and diazapem saw one of the horrible GPs at my practice that make me feel like a total hypo who said they wont prescribe wellbutrin on nhs as not licensed in uk for depression. Did give me 25 mcg of fentanyl to add to my 100 already. But i felt like i was causing her a great imposition just being there . Feel totally zombified and just want to sleep and eat junkfood. Worst of all was the £1000 gas and electric bill for last quarter when i didnt even have heating on. And the cold is unbearable for me. Loads of jumpers is the way forward. Am v v glad tho as i said at beginning am not alone, there are people who truly understand.
in reply to HB1968
Hi you are right you are not alone and there is always someone to talk to here
Jumpers and also leggings under my trousers rather than nylon tights as they irritate my skin too much.
Sorry your doc treat you in such a manner it doesn't help us when met with negative responses like that You could always try and see a different GP and explain to them how you feel.
The cold is horrible isn't it I hate the fact that once I'm cold it takes hours to get warmed and balanced again. It usually involves putting on so many layers and hugging a hot water bottle that I look like I should be living in an igloo 
xxxzebxxx
Yes definately affected by the barometer changes , also my hubby kept a diary of when I'm worse and now don't laugh Its worse with full moon phase , lol and no I'm not a wherewolf. The moon seems to affect pain cycles too
in reply to twinks
Mine too..the full moon is the worst for my RA and Fibro.
Also some people who have RLS (restless legs) can tell
you the same thing..
Count me in on this too, my body is one of the best barometers unfortunately I have now hadmy wood burner going constantly for over two weeks, but just ticking over as it were, if I open it up it really blasts the heat out which is good when the really cold weather arrives, which I fear it will do soon.
I too wear layers, in the last very cold weather I must have looked somewhat like the Michelin man !!! Do I care, actually no, as long as I am not too cold. My fingers and toes are always cold, even in the height of summer, I can have either blue or numb fingers......... Such fun !!
Foggy x
Oh and meant to mention, just to cheer you all up ........all the farmers down here in Devon are predicting a very cold winter with lots of snow.....oh be joyful !! Problem is, they are often right, which depresses one greatly !!
Foggy x
Definitely the weather it always happens at this time of year and i too get depressed at the thought of how long winter is going to be.
I was diagnosed with SAD in 2004 but haven't had a bad time in winter last 3 years. However, with my fibro newly-diagnosed I'm ready for the worst this winter..... Great! Didn't know there's a link between SAD and fibro due to low serotonin levels but I'm learning. Reading a really good book, Living with Fibro by Christine Craggs-Hinton x
I've not been able to walk properly and my pain is awful. my muscles are cramping and/or burning too.
my pain med's aren't touching it.
It's a bummer when the meds won't touch it isn't it, cos you really can't go any higher can you, hope it's eases of for you Sandra, do you live a cold area, as I said to gins I live in London and its been fairly mild for the time if the year...gentle hugs to you...Dee xx
in reply to hamble99b
ditto Sandra its really frustrating I've had these problems for a couple of week now
My legs most of the time are about as much use as a chocolate fire guard when its cold!
xxx
in reply to hamble99b
Are you well hydrated? Cramps come from being dehydrated usually..
Are you eating bananas for the extra potassium? Or do you have
neuropathy? Is that pain in your feet or lower legs? =)
hamble99b in reply to
hi yikes, I drink 2 litres a day, hate bananas,
pain in both, but feet are worse & right one has turned to outside, often can't walk properly on both, if at all. thanks for asking.
in reply to hamble99b
Sorry for being repetitive..is that a neuropathy
that you have going on in your feet? OR is that
like a heel pain or arch pain? It sounds like it does
hurt most definately. = //
hamble99b in reply to
don't know if its neuropathy,not heel or arch - I've had that, this is different. I'm seeing rheumy on 6th nov. I've taken photos.
in reply to hamble99b
Do your feet feel like you have them in a bucket of ice water but when you touch them, they are not cold at all? That's early nerve damage...Others feel like they are wearing scalding socks that cause their feet to burn or sting..Others have numbness, tingling and Your feet can feel like it's asleep...just when you first start to move it around... Neuropathy can be caused by high blood sugars over time, inflammation of the veins...your back or neck could be out of alignments, protein could be gunking it up..there's so many reasons it can play it up...Nov 6th is too far away, Right? Start making out that diary of your symptoms and list what you tried that didn't work..Incidentally,
the symptoms that I described mean low vitamin B12 or your other vitamins are out of whack...Now I insist that you ask the doctor
to test those levels..I suggest that you go take a quick peek into the PA communities then to see if you match what they are going through. They are on and especially look for Hampster1. Her knowledge on the subject would surprise the doctors...she is one smart cookie. My own doctor cannot disprove what she says.
hamble99b in reply to
thanks for the suggestions, started a symptoms list last week, all bloods came back same as previous months, plus he [gp] tested for gout - nothing, no diabetes, bp perfect.
off to bed soon, will check other sites monday, thanks, nite
in reply to hamble99b
Hi Sandra have you tried a pain gel?
hamble99b in reply to
stupid I know, but no - I don't feel like touching bits I can reach, but because of probs can't do feet & lower legs.
in reply to hamble99b
Aw! that is such a shame is there anyone that could pop in to help with that? I know its an imposition but the benefits I find are superb I cannot reach to do my back so have to get help with it most days
If I was there I'd come and gently apply it for you Sandra
xxx zeb xxx hope it eases off soon for you
Oh Siam how rotten for you just keep them getting better till Halloween XgXgins
Hi everyone! Iam the same as everyone here,my pain has got worse since the change in weather.Its also triggered my depression alongside other stuff going on.I do wonder if iam affected by SAD? Don't know much about it though.At least we are not alone and can rant on here and talk to each other
Oh I forgot to say that I don't normally get too much pain in my legs but the other day I had aweful pains in my ankles and lower legs and had trouble walking.I was thinking oh no another symptom and maybe I should get a walking stick as my balance is getting worse also.Iam so self conscious though that I would be worried about peeps looking at me though
in reply to haribo36
hi Haribo,
That's a normal emotion to feel hunny. I got my first walking stick aged 24 and felt such a plum going out with it because I was so young at university and living the life of a woman in her twenties. Going out clubbing and hitting the dancefloor was not a good look!! LOLOL Even 2 years ago aged 37 I felt the same like people were watching me. Also, I was still refusing to accept what my body was telling me. Now I need to use a wheelchair when I go out and I have two sticks................and well, people really do stare at that
If you need it use it, if you're having balance problems you also need to let your GP know hunny and trust me having the stick could help prevent you having a nasty fall
xxxzebxxx
haribo36 in reply to
Thanks for your reply zeb would you know it iam 39 as well,hehe Yesturday when I was going to take my son round to his dads I went to open the front door and I almost fainted! That was horrible,the worst I've had I think.I just assume that it's just the fibro as it affects your balance,didn't even think that I should tell my g.p.I haven't got a stick but might start looking online for one xx
in reply to haribo36
Aw! I know its difficult isn't it, glad you'll get yourself a stick hunny
There some giggling fluffies here ready for retirement if you have room at the petting zoo
xxxzebxxx
haribo36 in reply to
Aww yes please,they sound like just what I need right now! Do they giggle if you squeeze them?,hehe 
in reply to haribo36
Oh yes! its difficult to shut them up actually they like jelly babies as well as marshmallows if you treat them with those they'll be very loyal and comforting too
xxxzebxxx
in reply to haribo36
Fibro affects your balance? I did not read that yet.
See, you are teaching me things. I am really
looking forward to later days when I have RA going,
and I can't balance..No circus acts in my future.
Dang..=DD
hamble99b in reply to
what happens to some, doesn't mean it will happen to everyone.
my Mum had RA & OA from her 40's but only had worsening in her 70's that caused problems with her hands and right knee.
in reply to haribo36
Poke them in the eye with your walking stick..then they
won't be looking at you anymore. =)
That place is the only place that I have real pain..It's been like that
for weeks..Heat really helps Jessam..the muscles need to have
a good nap too..Did you try the rice in a sock..microwave it for
a minute or two and tie that sock so you can mold it to your shape
of your neck? I know that at night it's not a good solution but
this might indeed relax the muscles..There is a big, giant muscle
in the area that you talk about...also did you change pillows lately?
You could be kinking your neck on a very flat pillow if you sleep
on your side..I hope that the flare quits..mail it to the USA and
I will beat it up for you. =))) xxx
Haribo, you can buy sticks in one of the many colours and "pimp" it up. have you asked about crutches? mine are silver/grey but a friend in wales had a choice of colours from her physio and chose red metallic - she's added "go faster" stripes
Yes, I'm definitely getting a lot more pain than I was - I think it might be a flare. I hope it finishes soon because I don't have time for a flare.
hi hun, I hope it does too.
I can only agree worst pain ever since before Christmas....i am on the sick agn...n worried about my job my health finances and the pain ....seems just a vicious circle...my GP not much help.kind thoughts to you all
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