I've heard mixed things about this...can rain or thunderstorms cause someone who has had a surgically repaired joint (my shoulder) pain?
2006-08-30 13:43:35 · 12 answers · asked by The Snake 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Yes it does and the explanation can be explained scientifically.
Everything stimulates your CNS (Central Nervous System) whether it's heat or cold, pressure, pain, etc. Your CNS works on an "all or nothing" principle. Since you've had shoulder surgery the nerves and tissue in that area are already over-stimulated to one degree or another because of the incision and subsequent healing process. Most of the time you probably do not have much pain there because there's not enough stimulation to push your CNS over it's pain threshold. However, even slight changes in stimuli, in this case the weather and barometric pressure, causes just enough excess stimulation to your sensory nerves that it pushes you over your pain ( "all or nothing") threshold.
In physiology this is known as a Facilitated Pathway. In other words, your CNS has reacted to the injury to your shoulder by building a convenient but small nerve pathway instead of using all of the pathways available. Whenever you experience excess nerve stimulation, whether it's because of the flu, another injury or emotional stress, your CNS will use that already established path as a convenient way to get rid of the excess nerve energy. It's the principle of following the path of least resistance. Your brain will use the path to your shoulder first because it's used to doing that already. Therefore, your shoulder will usually be the first thing to start aching, even though the initial healing has already taken place a long time ago.
The example that Sue and her husband, above my answer, has given is exactly what I'm talking about. It's not phantom pain, it's very real.
2006-08-30 14:04:22 · answer #1 · answered by not_gullible 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always heard about this from my parents and other relatives when I was a kid. Now that I'm older I can say that my husband has felt pain when a storm is coming since he had a back operation about 25 years ago. As for my self, I have had capped teeth for over 30 years and I know that I get pain in them whenever a storm is coming.
2006-08-30 13:54:06 · answer #2 · answered by Sue 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely, although more precisely it is the cold system coming that causes the pain. Cold fronts mean higher pressure. high pressure would be equivalent to more use of the joint which causes pain. Same thing happens in arthritis that is not repaired. Occasionally, some people get so in tune to their pain that they can "predict" that a storm system is coming in.
2006-08-30 13:51:21 · answer #3 · answered by J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can! I had knee sugery when I was 12 and now I'm 24 and it aches when there is a storm coming. It is annoying and sometimes painful. Also arthritis could be the problem as well or both. To be on the safe side, ask your doctor.
2006-08-30 13:50:33 · answer #4 · answered by LilahFairy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes you do tend to feel what ales you when the storms come. you will get to the point where you can tell your friends when it's going to rain.
2006-08-30 13:48:16 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it's happen due to cold
2015-11-18 02:19:22 · answer #6 · answered by Luara 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I broke my wrist when i was 8 and to this day--before or during a storm my wrist aches. weird-i know
2006-08-30 13:49:30 · answer #7 · answered by dana82 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they can. It has allot to do with the change in barometric pressure
2006-08-30 13:49:37 · answer #8 · answered by wood butcher 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can. I have a similar thing happen to me with my arm.
2006-08-30 13:46:54 · answer #9 · answered by 'Barn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah its the humidty
2006-08-30 13:46:34 · answer #10 · answered by m1ndless 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋