Fibromyalgia and the Weather

For some of us, the changes in the weather can cause different moods, such as sadness when it rains or happiness when the sun is shining. But for some fibromyalgia sufferers, the change in the weather can cause a flare-up of their painful symptoms. A fall in barometric pressure in the atmosphere, changes in humidity, temperature, and precipitation can trigger their dull aches and pains. These can last for days at a time.

Although there is no real proof that fibromyalgia symptoms can be exacerbated by changes in weather patterns, some sufferers claim that the cold can affect the way they sleep, cause headaches and even influence in severity of the pain in their muscles and joints. When their symptoms are aggravated, some people cannot even put their shoes on because of the pain. In the winter months, because of the cold, some fibromyalgia sufferers can become depressed. They may feel constantly tired, sleeping for more than 12 to 16 hours at a time.

When it rains, fibromyalgia sufferers report that they feel muscle pain. This pain can be muscle soreness, tenderness, flu-like aching, stiffness, and dull pain. Some fibromyalgia sufferers consider themselves walking barometers, as they can tell when the the weather is going to change even before the weatherman can. Scientists believe that this condition may be caused by injury, emotional distress, or viruses that change the way the brain perceives pain, but the exact cause is unclear. But many with fibromyalgia know for sure that weather changes can affect them.