Can Weather affect PMR: I have been doing really... - PMRGCAuk

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Can Weather affect PMR

Ladyoak profile image
30 Replies

I have been doing really well since being diagnosed with PMR, I have come down since March from 30mg to 5mg but all of a sudden since the weather changed I have a low ache in my shoulders and legs again. Can weather affect PMR? I have been feeling so well and sticking to a really healthy diet with exercise so feeling a bit down about it.

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Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak
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30 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Most definitely.

Some enlightened doctors tell patients not to reduce during very inclement weather.

Link to post last year carried out on behalf of versusarthritis -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak in reply toDorsetLady

Thank you so much DorsetLady, it gives me hope that I can deal with it again.

Viv54 profile image
Viv54 in reply toDorsetLady

Love the pic of the bay ! and found the study really interesting, Thanks .

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Changes in the weather can affect most rheumatological condtions - a German weather programme even has a section on the bio-weather, what conditions will be improved or worsened! It includes blood pressure, pain, arthritis amongst others.

Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak in reply toPMRpro

Thank you so much for this reply, it has given me confidence that it may be just a flare up. I don't understand enough at the moment as it is all so new to me. I just don't want to go back.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toLadyoak

It's been an accepted thing for YEARS over here - the UK did a study in the last few years that decided that yes, weather can affect various illnesses! Always late to the party ...

Constance13 profile image
Constance13

It certainly can.😟 Even as a very skinny child weather influenced my life - and it hasn't changed in 76 years. High humidity affects me tremendously - even more so now I am old and have PMR.

However, being old I just try to ignore it and cuddle-up in bed. A bit difficult if you are young or must do all the work, etc yourself.

Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak in reply toConstance13

Thank you Constance13, this means so much to me. I am so active and still keeping my same weight, I have been so scared during this lock-down as I can only talk occasionally to a doctor so this is so helpful. x

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toLadyoak

That's why the forum is so useful - we do actually talk about anything that is worrying you in the context of PMR!

Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak in reply toPMRpro

Thank you so much, I am so happy to be here. It has been so scary and now I feel I am in a place that I can talk.

123-go profile image
123-go in reply toLadyoak

There's always someone here Ladyoak, sometimes even the middle of the night! 💁

123-go profile image
123-go in reply toPMRpro

And sometimes not in the context of PMR. Ssshh! A joke or a bit of banter is in itself uplifting.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to123-go

Only within limits - if it gets out of hand it will be stopped. It is the public face of a medical registered charity.

123-go profile image
123-go in reply toPMRpro

Of course..and as it should be.

Bcol profile image
Bcol in reply to123-go

Just don't mention Badgers!!!!! But as, 123-go says there is always someone here at any time of day or night. Peter

Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak

I can't thank you all enough. When I first got this I thought my normal life was over. I love riding horses and playing golf and I was still trying to work then I couldn't do any of it until I got my medication. This journey has been a strange one as just when I thought I was getting better, it got bad again. Saying that, not as bad as the first time.

Thank you all so much for the support, it's so wonderful to feel you are all out there! x

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie

It affects me, the central heatiing as much as the cold, my body finds it difficult to adjust and I struggle to keep warm despite a protective layer of blubber

Crafter2626 profile image
Crafter2626

Good morning, I certainly feel worse if I am cold and find a warm shower or bath eases the aches and loosens me up. I do believe keeping warm helps. I do hope you feel better soon.

MrsNails profile image
MrsNails

Hi Ladyoak

I’ve just noticed you’ve come down from 30mg in March to 5mg - that’s a pretty rapid taper so not withstanding the weather you may well have overshot your taper & the dose is now too low.

Yes, the cold weather can impact on how you feel especially if you have arthritis as well.

Kind Regards

MrsN

Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak in reply toMrsNails

Hi MrsNails, I was worried to start with but I came down from 30 to 6mg without any problems. I then had to choose myself as the doctor told me to just do it slowly until I get to 4mg. After going onto 5mg and getting low pain again, I am not going any lower until I have a face to face appointment and perhaps another blood test. It was only when it got cold and damp that I have had this pain again. I am just trying to keep warm at the moment. Thank you so much, I need this support at the moment, I have felt so alone in all of this.

MrsNails profile image
MrsNails in reply toLadyoak

You may need to go back to 6mg & then come down in 0.5mg drops as ideally we shouldn’t drop more than 10% at a time, so that would be kinder on your body plus we’re about to hit winter & the cold is not a friend to PMR or OA unfortunately.

ImC_ profile image
ImC_

Thank you for asking this question, Ladyoak. I've just come up to Scotland for a short while, from the south of England, and feeling hyper-sensitive, questioning every little twinge. But, reading the replies, it's probably the cold, wet and windy weather! (And I need to wrap up more.)

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toImC_

It's OK - it's going that way in the south too!

Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak in reply toImC_

It makes me feel better that you have got in touch and I feel that I am not going mad. I felt it was a real set back but now I am going to just go along with it and keep warm. Thank you. x

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Just wanted to add to MrsNail's comment - that is a VERY fast reduction since March and you probably do need to stop and regroup. 5mg may not be enough now it is winter.

Ladyoak profile image
Ladyoak in reply toPMRpro

I am not sure, the doctor put me on the highest level to start with and I responded straight away, right until I got down to 5 mg I have not had any pain. The moment the weather got damp and cold I started to feel pain again. I am having a review in December but do not want to go any further down yet.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toLadyoak

It could be coincidence - you aren't heading relentlessly for zero, you are looking for the lowest dose that works as well as the starting dose did. Even 1/2mg too low can be noticeable.

Pr0jection profile image
Pr0jection

We live in Cyprus. A friend of mine who moved over 16 years ago has bad RA. She had hoped that the Cyprus climate would help alleviate her pain. Not so, her doctor told her that it was not a good climate for her condition. We often get high humidity in summer although, thankfully, not this year.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPr0jection

I'd have assumed it was too humid, too much sea. It used to be low lying marsh that was always associated with rheumaticks. If I were choosing for hot and dry - the drier areas of Spain appeals. It is thought that Covid was/is so bad in Lombardy because it has high humidity much of the year - you drive towards the Po plain and can see the mist/fog hanging above it.

jensen0518 profile image
jensen0518

I personally had my problems when the weather got colder. Good luck with your recovery. I was diagnosed in December 2018 and in July 2020 I have been completely off of prednisone. I continue to stay very active try and ride my bike 10 miles a day.

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