It is not uncommon that patients with
rheumatic diseases report an increase of symptoms under certain weather
conditions. Some of my patients feel that it will rain soon based on their symptoms.
Other patients with rheumatoid arthritis report that cold, wet weather
conditions or changes in air pressure will worsen their symptoms, such as pain,
stiffness or joint swelling.
The results of studies on the effects
of weather on the rheumatoid arthritis haven’t been conclusive, but there’s a
new study that proved a link between weather and symptoms, which has been
presented at the ACR 2013 Meeting in San Diego. See link below.
Weather sensitivity - findings from the
last few weeks:
"Not the weather itself, but the
change no matter which direction leads to more complaints." (female, RA)
"If there’s a change in weather. But
I don't know if it isn’t in the mind. If a rain front comes. When the sun
shines, I feel better." (female., RA)
Weather sensitivity: no (female, PsA)
"Maybe it was because poor weather.
I thought the heat was really agreeable. You can’t always blame the weather. If
it wouldn’t come so suddenly, but if the temperatures would go down gradually, so
peu à peu." (female, RA)
"The cold and wet weather is not
conducive. But it's then not particularly severe. The warm weather is good to me,
I don’t get not much flares." (female, AS)
"Really bad. Such a weather [wet,
cold] is fatal." (female, AS)
"Sweating in hot weather, nothing
else." (female, RA)
"Since the weather swings back from
warm to cold, I have more complaints again. But maybe I just feel it in my
head.” (male; RA)
Weather sensitivity: "I'd say
no." (male; RA)
"It depends on the weather. If it’s
wet and cold, I've got more complaints again. I notice 100%, if the weather
turns." (female, RA)
"I immediately notice the change
in the weather in my back." (male; PsA)
"There is a comfortable
temperature. It should be not too hot and not too cold." (female, RA)
"The hands are swollen since the
change in the weather. More fatigue. More sluggish. As usual, when the weather swings."
(female, SLE)
"With the change in the weather
last week I put on a splint, because the whole right hand hurts very badly. I’ve
put the hand immediately at rest. Then again, the next day, it's alright. I can
tell you, if it's hot, because then my right little finger points to the
outside of my hand." (female, RA)
"When it rains, or when the
weather changes, the pain gets stronger." (male; AS)
"With the rain, it's worse. I have
more pain if it’s damp. (female, RA/SLE)
"I had the feeling for the first
time that it is related to the weather. I've never experienced t this way. The rain." (female, RA)
"It has to be the humidity. Saturday
was my date for the injection, I noticed it two or three days before." (female,
RA)
"I'm always weather sensitive. More
problems with damp and cold weather. Even in air-conditioned rooms. Running is
more difficult and breathing, and my heart is racing." (female, RA plus
lung involvement)
"Since Thursday I have more
complaints on the back. The rain, the cold." (female; RA)
"Complaints from time to time. Once
the moisture hangs out in the air." (female; AS)
"In the rain all joints hurt. In
wet weather, I notice it immediately, then I can not run. In the summer, it is
better. Now it hurts everywhere." (female; RA)
"Especially now with the weather [it’s
worse again]. Before the weather change arrives. The other day we have rain. Then
I can not sleep." (male; PsoA)
"When the weather change comes, if
it gets wet, when the extreme weather change comes, then stiffness lasts much
longer; then, you don’t want to put the elbow onto somewhere. No matter whether
it turns from good to bad or vice versa." (male; RA)
"Last change in the weather a
fortnight ago led to a swelling under my right foot, lasted 2 and 2½ days. Cooling
with ice also didn’t help. Right hand starting from the outer edge, until it covered
the entire hand." (male; RA)
"When it gets so cold, I've always
cold hands; feet also." (female; RA)
(RA - Rheumatoid arthritis, PsoA -
psoriatic arthritis, AS - ankylosing spondylitis, SLE-Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus)
When the weather is particularly rainy
and cold weather seems to increase joint pain and stiffness. But there are lots
of differences.
Here’s the link to the blog post on the
ACR 2013 Meeting:
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