Weather and Fibromyalgia

Do you feel more pain on cold, rainy days than when it is warm and dry? This is the consensus from a lot of fibromyalgia sufferers. There have been studies done, and while it seems this is true, it has not been conclusively proven that weather forecasts pain or pain forecasts weather.

There were studies done in Argentina where researchers studied notes of fibromyalgia sufferers over a twelve month period. The notes from these people showed more severe symptoms with an increase in atmospheric pressure and a decrease in temperature. Another study done in Norway showed the symptoms increased in November and December, while the symptoms lessened in April and May. This doesn’t prove that the weather directly caused the pain and increase in symptoms, but a correlation can be acknowledged between pain in colder temperatures.

When the humidity, precipitation, wind, air pressure and temperature changes, many sufferers of fibromyalgia experience more severe headaches, pain, muscle aches, depression, fatigue, disturbed sleep patterns and higher numbers of symptom flare-ups.

It's important to prepare yourself for weather changes. When it gets colder, windy or damp, dress warmly in two to three layers and try to avoid cold rooms and drafty corners. Another suggestion is to brighten your house with halogen bulbs or a lightbox to try and fool your body into thinking it is bright and sunny outside.

Sometimes people decide to move to a warmer and drier climate. If you are leaving friends and family, it would be wise to first try a temporary trial before making the move permanent.