WARM WEATHER CAN MAKE PAIN WORSE FOR FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS AND MIGRAINE SUFFERERS. Heat impacts each person with chronic pain disorders differently. But there are two good examples that demonstrate the effects of heat: fibromyalgia and migraines.
Warm or hot weather can be taxing for those of us with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), even when temperatures are extreme enough to bother most people. You may find yourself overheated, sweating profusely, with your hands and feet puffing up and your pain and fatigue going through the roof.
In general, a temperate climate is most beneficial for anyone with fibromyalgia. This would include areas with low humidity and infrequent rain. While no city is going to be perfect 365 days out of the year, it is possible to find areas that experience very few days of extreme weather conditions.
People with fibromyalgia in hot climates often report increases in muscle pain, fatigue, anxiety, headaches and even depression. Similarly, many fibromyalgia patients have reported feeling these symptoms in cold weather. Simply put — any type of extreme weather can cause discomfort.
Is the sun good for fibromyalgia? Yes and no. Sunlight provides vitamin D, which may treat pain, inflammation, fatigue, poor sleep, and depression. However, some people with fibromyalgia find they easily overheat and have more severe symptoms when it's hot.
Diet. Some experts say what you eat may play a role in fibromyalgia -- just not the same role for everyone. Certain foods and ingredients -- such as aspartame, MSG, caffeine, and tomatoes -- seem to worsen symptoms for some people.
Reducing stress and relaxing
People may benefit from trying to avoid or limit exposure to stressful situations and making time to relax. While techniques such as meditation or deep breathing may help manage stress , it is important that people with fibromyalgia do not avoid physical activity altogether.
The pain may be worse in the morning and evening. Sometimes, the pain may last all day long. The pain may get worse with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress. This condition is more often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 50.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are associated with physical inactivity such as excessive sitting. Physical inactivity itself produces increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, factors present in fibromyalgia. Therefore, increasing physical activity should benefit patients with fibromyalgia.
Results: There were four parent stages of FM identified and labeled: 1) regional FM with classic symptoms; 2) generalized FM with increasing widespread pain and some additional symptoms; 3) FM with advanced and associated conditions, increasing widespread pain, increased sleep disturbances, and chemical sensitivity; ...
A common complaint from people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome is that cold weather makes their pain worse. 1 The cold seems to get into the bones and make everything tighten up and ache.
Alternating between heat and cold therapy is another great way to address fibromyalgia. Heat therapy increases blood flow, which relaxes your muscle and reduces fibromyalgia pain and stiffness.
Caffeine, heavy meals, and alcohol should be avoided before bedtime. Individuals should go to bed around the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, even on weekends or after a sleepless night. Exposure to light should be minimized before bedtime.
Flare-ups of mild to severe pain come on suddenly and may feel like aching, throbbing, burning, or stabbing. The pain may be present in multiple tender points throughout the body, often affecting the lower back and legs.
Causes of Sweating in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS
There are a few reasons why you might sweat a lot if you have fibromyalgia or ME/CFS: Autonomic nervous system dysfunction1. Heat sensitivity. High norepinephrine levels (e.g., a side effect of antidepressants)
It's also suggested that some people are more likely to develop fibromyalgia because of genes inherited from their parents. In many cases, the condition appears to be triggered by things that are physical or emotional like an injury, an infection or stress.
In addition to gradually increasing movement over time, also try to choose activities that won't put too much strain on your body. Experts typically recommend any low-impact aerobic activity, such as walking, swimming, or cycling.
However, if you sleep on a good mattress that evenly distributes your body weight across the surface, like memory foam mattresses tend to do, then sleeping on your side may actually be comfortable and help relieve your pain.
The drugs amitriptyline, duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin can relieve fibromyalgia pain in some people. They may cause side effects such as a dry mouth or nausea. Normal painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol) aren't recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia has many symptoms that tend to vary from person to person. The main symptom is widespread pain. There may be periods when your symptoms get better or worse, depending on factors such as: your stress levels.
Fibromyalgia tends to run in families, so genetic factors are likely to contribute to the disorder, but little is known for sure about the specific genes involved. Researchers believe that environmental (nongenetic) factors also play a role in a person's risk of developing the disorder.
In some cases, the doctor may recommend a multivitamin that includes antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, E, and the B vitamins, as well as calcium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc to ease symptoms. Coenzyme Q10. This antioxidant, used to convert food into energy, has shown some promise in treating fibromyalgia symptoms.
Milnacipran and duloxetine. Two new SNRIs, milnacipran and duloxetine, have undergone recent multicenter trials and were shown to be effective in a number of outcome variables (Arnold et al 2004b; Vitton et al 2004). These newer drugs have promise for reducing pain symptoms in fibromyalgia.
Some flares only last for a day or two but others may continue for several weeks or even months. The best way to prevent fibromyalgia flares is to identify what causes them and, when possible, try to avoid the circumstances that trigger them.