Yesterday my dentist's office called to confirm a cleaning for me, giving me 48 hours notice. I'm a "special needs" dental patient. People who have facial pain or jaw pain knows what that means. We can't always make it to our appointments because prolonged opening of our jaws isn't a good idea. Or perhaps we need our dentist to make an accommodation for us.
When the call came in, I said I'd be there. But I just called to reschedule. It's all about the weather.
Yesterday I took my mother to Jacksonville for a medical appointment. We commented on the fact that the temperature was projected to climb to 91. It seemed unlikely because the morning was soft and breezy, with a nice cloud cover. Nice? Yes. It was a long, humid, hot, steamy summer.
The day got warmer, but there was no steam. Mom and I discussed the fact that it didn't seem so hot. As we were leaving Jacksonville, my jaw began to hurt deep within its condyles. By the time I got home, the pain had intensified quite a bit, ripping into my ear and down my neck. My right jaw felt as though it wanted to lock shut. I incresed my Baclofen (a prescription muscle relaxer), according to my doctor's instructions, and it helped.
The weather report showed a huge front, low barometric pressure covering most of the country. "That's it," I told my husband.
Today I have heard from others whose pain was active yesterday. It's good to have an explanation. It doesn't make the pain any lighter, but it helps to know that others can validate our experience and that a scientific cause actually exists.
I am thankful to feel much better today. I'll be talking more about the situation with my jaw later because it has everything to do with forgiveness, procedures gone wrong, and how we cope with practitioners who insist they are right even when their techniques have caused us pain.
Did your pain spike yesterday? Are you better today?
I invite you to visit my website, www.withgreatmercy.com
My pain did spike yesterday due to the barometric pressure. I find it comforting to know that there is a reason when my pain increases. Thank you, Kathy, for reaching out to help those of us in pain. You are a blessing!
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing better today, Ginigirl. There's much to be gained by being comforted. Hearing from people like you always blesses me. Take good care.
ReplyDeleteWow... I hate that I'm finding this...a year and a half after you posted it. But YES...barometric pressure has EVERYTHING to do with nerve related pain! I don't have PROOF, of course....only my 11 year experience with having MS, and my own tracking of how MY pain relates to barometric pressure. I noticed it approximately 7 years ago. Well, my best friend noticed it with me, because her husband ALSO has MS. He would have pain flares the same time I would...but usually only lasting a day (or night). Finally we put it together so I started to track it. When I would feel my "usual" MS leg neuralgia SPIKE...I'd go to the Weather Channel. Sure enough, low pressure. But in my case...it's a little more WEIRD and complicated, lol. You see, *I* feel it most when a "cold front" is about 24 hours away from my home in Mobile, AL. "When it's in Arkansas" lol! Almost EVERY TIME...I can pull up the radar with clouds map and there's a deep bend with a clear cut line over Arkansas! But *I* feel the change before it gets to me. We TRULY are human barometers. The odd thing with barometric pressure, though, is that the changes are SO MINUTE. Tenth and hundredths of a point make a big difference! Over time, I have learned that my personal "threshhold" is around 29.90. Below that, and I'm CRINGING. Last night was horrible. I haven't checked the map, but I would be willing to bet there is a front probably somewhere in Mississippi by now. The pressure right NOW is 30.22, and I don't feel QUITE as horrible (now I just have the sciatica to deal with!). For some reason, this pressure phenomenon seems to just affect my NERVE pain. I have mild arthritis too, and like many people, I can feel it if it's about to rain...am not sure if this is the pressure, or humidity. But I am positive about the pressure and nerve pain. So no...it's not just you!! But I think a lot of people probably haven't made the connection for themselves. It would be interesting to see a wide-scale survey of this sort. But for now, I have to be content with the one or two people I come across, from time to time, who understand what I'm talking about! :D
ReplyDeleteAmy, thank you for sharing with us. I appreciate your details, pinpointing your threshold of 29.90. Your comments will help a lot of people. I am sorry you feel so bad and hope you feel better soon. Sending up a prayer for you now.
DeleteI've always thought there was a connection with my pain and barometric pressure. My TN started from a dental procedure. I was living in the Pacific Northwest and was able to manage the pain with tegretol and vicodan. When I moved to the South, everything changed; now I am in pain all the time; the weather keeps changing and there are a great deal of thunderstorms
ReplyDeleteHope your pain gets better.
ReplyDeleteI suffer from Complex RegionalPain Syndrome and Run a small Chronic Pain Support group, For some time now I have been examining the link between Pressure and pain and I have come to believe that both Low and High pressure can cause spikes. indeed I have wondered if it is pressure that affects pain sufferes when the weather is cold more than the cold
ReplyDeleteJohn, thanks for sharing with us. I didn't realize that both pressure fronts caused pain.
DeleteGinny - Richmond, VA 10/30/12 I have had jaw pain since a doctor nicked the gum (during a surgery 09/06/12). It is not healing. Yesterday as the Hurricane invaded our area my jaw and ear radiated SEVERE pain all the way to the front of my mouth. Called the MD who called back 6 hrs later (11 PM), he blew me off. I am a Registered Nurse and should have figured this out on my own. I also experienced severe pain in a bad knee, bones and arthritic joints. I could not believe the severity of the pain and how wide spread it was. Things are much better today. I starting considering low barometric pressure and was glad to find this site,
ReplyDeleteGinny,
DeleteI am thankful you are feeling better and can understand the pain experienced by people in Hurricane Sandy's path. It's unfortunate that not all physicians understand the severity of the suffering. I hope your jaw and gum pain heal quickly. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletethank u for providing validation for something i experienced. i recently discovered the same effect u did and some your commenters did. and my friends also. vicky in NC
ReplyDeleteThank you. I hope you feel better soon.
Delete(Re-posting by request)
ReplyDeleteWow... I hate that I'm finding this...a year and a half after you posted it. But YES...barometric pressure has EVERYTHING to do with nerve related pain! I don't have PROOF, of course....only my 11 year experience with having MS, and my own tracking of how MY pain relates to barometric pressure. I noticed it approximately 7 years ago. Well, my best friend noticed it with me, because her husband ALSO has MS. He would have pain flares the same time I would...but usually only lasting a day (or night). Finally we put it together so I started to track it. When I would feel my "usual" MS leg neuralgia SPIKE...I'd go to the Weather Channel. Sure enough, low pressure. But in my case...it's a little more WEIRD and complicated, lol. You see, *I* feel it most when a "cold front" is about 24 hours away from my home in Mobile, AL. "When it's in Arkansas" lol! Almost EVERY TIME...I can pull up the radar with clouds map and there's a deep bend with a clear cut line over Arkansas! But *I* feel the change before it gets to me. We TRULY are human barometers. The odd thing with barometric pressure, though, is that the changes are SO MINUTE. Tenth and hundredths of a point make a big difference! Over time, I have learned that my personal "threshhold" is around 29.90. Below that, and I'm CRINGING. Last night was horrible. I haven't checked the map, but I would be willing to bet there is a front probably somewhere in Mississippi by now. The pressure right NOW is 30.22, and I don't feel QUITE as horrible (now I just have the sciatica to deal with!). For some reason, this pressure phenomenon seems to just affect my NERVE pain. I have mild arthritis too, and like many people, I can feel it if it's about to rain...am not sure if this is the pressure, or humidity. But I am positive about the pressure and nerve pain. So no...it's not just you!! But I think a lot of people probably haven't made the connection for themselves. It would be interesting to see a wide-scale survey of this sort. But for now, I have to be content with the one or two people I come across, from time to time, who understand what I'm talking about! :D
Thank you for sharing with us, Amy.It sounds as though your body functions are a barometer. I am sorry you experience so much pain. Take good care of yourself.
DeleteOne of my worst days this year I couldn't believe how much my back was hurting? Lower back fusion
ReplyDeleteI am sorry you are dealing with such tremendous pain.
DeleteRecently dx with TN. Before dx, I had pinpointed a sharp rise in pressure causes me significant pain. Of course I thought it was right sided "sinus" pain. I could so predict pressure changes my co workers would joke about it.
ReplyDeleteTurns out mri of my brain and face showed no issue with sinuses. Instead its TN without a known cause. Atleast now I know what I have wrong.
I am sorry for your pain. Comfort can be found in having an accurate diagnosis. TN is a difficult thing to bear. I am hoping that treatment will help you and that you will not have to suffer too much. Blessings to you, and thank you for stopping by my blog.
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