Cold weather

[Ronakshah]

Can anyone guide me wether cool climate can aggravate the stiffness in my legs in MS? If yes please help me in order to reduce my stiffness as I am having a lot of problem in walking and maintaining my balance

[ssdw1958]

I have MS and have had it for over 14 years, the cold and for me very hot weather both me extremely. I need to keep my legs warm some times, in the cold weather, I use a heating heating pad. ask your doctor if he can give you something for spasms There are many meds out there believe it or not I am still looking for one. The reason for being i have bad reactions to many of them. Not saying you will. But in the winter months my legs get cold and in the summer, hot weather, my legs need to have cold packs.

Good luck to you!

[Ronakshah]

No different meds as in, but I massage my legs daily in order to keep them warm

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Hi and welcome Ronakshah 😊 Sorry for the reason tho.😕 Like they said, keeping warm is the best, if at all possible. Heating pads maybe?

Please tell me that you are using a walking device to help with balance right now? I would hate for you to fall😭

Jes 🌠

[Ronakshah in reply to Jesmcd2]

No I don't actually use a walking device, I take support of things around to maintain my balance. I don't want to use a walking device as I would be habituated to it in the future

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to Ronakshah]

Ah, now I will argue that point!😀😊💕 as I have 2 canes, and I only use them as necessary. For ME anyway, it's about being safe 1st. And understanding my limitations. But then trying to push through them.😄

If I need to use it for a day or two. Then so be it.😊 Someday, I might have to use it all the time. But it's not Someday yet. It's Today. And Today I need my cane.😊

Jes 🌠

[agapepilgrim]

@Ronakshah hi I have the same problem. I buy the heat wraps (Salon spa or whatever brand is cheapest when I am at walmart), then I wrap them around my calves, then I put compression socks over them, to hold tightly in place, then I wear tight thermal underwear over that, then my regular jeans or cordurory pants. This keeps my legs comfortably warm, in spite of the cold weather. I also have fleece lined bloots. There is no way I am going to let the calves of my legs get chilled. They will start spasming, or "charlie horse" and I start screaming (almost)! If I am out of the patches, I keep muscle rub cream like Ben Gay or Muscle Rub or Bio-Freeze, which has a warming affect, then do the 3 layers of clothing on top of that. When I am being a couch potato, I have an electric heating massaging cushion I sit on that keeps the backside warm and massaged, and an electric heated throw on top to keep the top of my legs and arms and chest toasty. Of course, suddenly, I get overheated, and throw everything off, including sweatshirt, and one layer of jeans (!) and drink ice water, and cool down, and about 20 minutes later, start cooling down, and I start putting the layers back on, turning the heat back on! I get lots of exercise just undressing and dressing all day long!!! Gotta love MS - permanent menopause!!! Permanent fight with muscle spasms! Permanent fight with spasticity! Permanent fight to fend off headaches! No wonder boxing gloves are one of of insignias! Keep on fighting, keep on praying, keep on believing!

[jimeka in reply to agapepilgrim]

agapepilgrim i know the feeling. One minute you feel so cold and walking is difficult, because all of a sudden you have 2 concrete posts as legs, then within minutes you can be sweating, and feeling so hot, accusing people of turning the heat up. I live in tshirts as even when I have a hot meal or mug of coffee I start with the sweating. But then if I open the back door and the cold air rushes in, my legs , oh, least said, soonest mended!! Blessings Jimeka 🦋

[Ronakshah in reply to agapepilgrim]

Thanks for sharing your experience, all we can do is hope that one day we would get a cure for it

[greaterexp]

Cold weather, but especially cold, damp weather is the enemy for many of us. Even though the weather is pretty mild here compared to my native Illinois, I invested in a really warm coat that covers my thighs. I keep a heating pad handy, and have slippers that cover my ankles. Wool socks help with cold feet. I do have some large flaxseed bags I can warm in the microwave for a slightly moist and deeper heat. I keep a little space heater for areas of the house that seem cooler. Flannel pajamas keep me more comfortable than fleece, which can get too hot and sweaty when the hot flashes hit.

I hope you get some relief quickly!

[Ronakshah in reply to greaterexp]

Heating pad seems to be the best thing now, which could provide me some relief as I already wear woolen socks and slip ons

[lindaz9]

I JUST WROTE ASKING ABOUT THE STIFFNESS IN MY LEGS IN THE COLD WEATHER. IT DEFINITELY BOTHERS ME, BUT SOMETIMES A HEATING PAD HELPS. OTHER THAN THAT, I JUST PRAY FOR THE WARMER WEATHER. SPRING AND FALL ARE THE BEST. WE JUST HAD ANOTHER SNOWFALL AND THEY STARTED BOTHERING ME AGAIN. I GUESS IT'S SOMETHING I JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH. FEEL BETTER AND STAY WARM.

[Yooper]

Ronaksha: Cold makes me lock up like a robot. Very spastic and balance problems. I need to make sure I am dressed warm enough before I go outside. Wish you the best. God's Peace

[bxrmom]

Cold weather brings on bad spams for me, especially in the mornings and in the evenings/nights. I get more cold/hot as well. I usually start out sleeping in sweats but then put on shorts because I get too hot. I sleep with a fan on, even in the winter. I take baclofin and zanaflex for the spasms and use maxfreeze when the pain gets bad in certain spots on my knees and neck. Really cold weather and really hot/humid weather or the worst for me.

Jessie

[ssdw1958]

I do have to say while in the car I have a pola fleese blanket (it was my sons Spunge Bob Square Plants). I keep it in there even in the summer my husband loves the air conditioning cold.

You just can’t please me.

[Fancy1959]

Ronakshah, it's Fancy1959. First since I've never spoken to you before, I'd like welcome you to this awesome chat room. You have found a safe place to come and ask questions, voice concerns, and just speak to others who are experiencing the same problems you might have. As far as the cold weather it truly bothers me also. I did not really notice until this year when we've had some pretty severe cold here in Kentucky how much it bothered me. My legs gets very rubbery and my spascisty has gotten worse. It seems to have gotten worse as a direct correlation with my increase disability with my MS. I have Secondary Progressive MS and I haven't been doing very well as far as general disability.

Be careful out in the cold as well. I have a syndrome called Rinaldi syndrome and if I get my hands or feet to cold I experience excruciating pain in both my hands and feet and they turn a bluish color. This last for at least 10 to15 minutes. The only time this really hit me I turned into a blubbering idiot that rocked back and forth on the floor with my hands tucked back up under my armpits trying to warm them up. Believe me you do not want to go there.

The only advice I have to prevent it it is to stay out of the cold as much as possible. I haven't been as creative as the others who responded to your post so it's worth a shot if you have to be out to try their remedies with the heating pads and the hand and leg warmers, etc. Good luck with all these home remedies and I hope they help. Until we speak again please take care and remember together we are stronger!