I suffer from degenerative problems in my back which leads to serious chronic back pain which has been treated. Why does a hot climate

[ron281]

reduce my pain and cut my co cods from 8 to 2 per day. Why can the benefits of a hot climate be replicated here by some form of treatment.

[backisbad]

Maybe psychological?, pain is often connected to depression perhaps the sunshine makes you and thousands of others feel better (myself included) It doesn't take the pain away, just makes you better equipped to feel more positive.

Just a theory, no proof.

[Hidden]

That's a good theory and I'm sure it does play a part. Most of us have seen or heard the research that shows placebos work so the mind does have a lot to do with various aspects of how we handle illness and/or pain. However, I've worked in Arthritis research in the past and what seems to be happening is that when people are cold they are much more tense and so everything tends to hurt more, all the muscles and soft tissues in joints etc are held in a much tighter state and also are more likely to go into spasms. In the warm and sunny weather people relax and so there is less tension and less pain. Even in warm buildings people tend to be more tense - looking out on to gloomy weather. So the mind and temperature seem to play key roles. Hope you aren't feeling too bad right now - have to hope for a good summer! Best wishes.

[backisbad in reply to Hidden]

Hi,dizaterdeb am from from the South west of England and we can get some good weather! Totally agree with your theory re placebos, have elderly parents that struggle in the winter months, my parents have ailments that manifest more in winter months, luckily it's mild tomorrow and off to meet them for lunch, weather permitting! lol.

Wishing you well

backisbad.

[Poppy_Ann]

everyone who has a bad back or arthritis will tell you the same that bad weather makes their pain increase, I am the same I damaged my back in a accident in the army in 1976 and was given a medical discharge as i could no longer pass the physical fitness test but was able to work for may years before my back became to bad to carry on but in the end as my doctor had been telling me for 7 years that i was to disabled to carry on, so i decided to stop but due to no income i had to sell my house and business so i went out to the caribbean and lived on my sail boat and for 10 years i was great i could do so much more whilst out there but in the end i have got worse and worse as time has passed so i returned to uk and here as the seasons pass during the winter i can hardly move at all just trying to stand is extremely painful whilst during the summer i can walk a little but even then not that far. I am beginning to wish i had not returned, I do not accept what every doctor says that there is no link between weather and pain i have chatted to many people who have a disability and everyone of them say the same that they are much worse when the weather is cold all you can do is take it easy when you are bad and look forward to the summer.

regards Poppy Ann.

[johnsmith]

Pain and muscle functioning are interrelated. Heat produced by muscles to keep body temperature and muscle functioning are interrelated. Unfortunately no real investigation has been done on these issues because there is no profit to be made by the pharmaceuticals.

Warm baths and warm showers replicate hot climate. So why not do your own research and see what you notice.

Citizen Science is beginning to be recognised as something can can be done by anyone not just the academics in Universities.

[ron281 in reply to johnsmith]

Very sensible response. I do not have physcological problems problems and have no worries apart from back pain. Medics say " go and live in a hot climate" then , when I ask " why am I 100% better in a hot climate". My life and family are here but I do not understand why I am better in a warm climate. I have tried lamps etc with no improvement. There must be more to it. Citizen science is a new one on me. Thank you.