By Jacki Da Via, LMT & Owner of My Aiken Body Therapeutic Massage
Quite often clients who come in for Therapeutic Massage share with me, “a storm is coming!” Some report that their Sinus Headache or Migraine has flared up as the new weather pattern with precipitation of rain, sleet or snow is on its way and they need a massage appointment – TODAY! The culprit, the Barometric Pressure! “Barometric Pressure refers to the pressure in the air or the amount of force that is being applied to your body from the air. Because our sinuses are filled with air, any change in that pressure can affect various types of headaches. When the outside barometric pressure lowers, it creates a difference between the pressure in the outside air and the air in your sinuses and the atmospheric pressure pressing inward on other areas of the body, (muscles, joints). This most certainly can result in pain.,” Healthline, written by Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH May 8, 2017.
In my experience with the individuals I work with for headaches and migraines, and muscle and joint pain, as well, AND with my own personal experience as a former Migraine sufferer of 20-years, I find the above paragraph is indeed quite true. As the Barometric Pressure begins to drop, an increase in headaches and body pain often occurs.
For people with Arthritis or Fibromyalgia, a change in the outside temperature can have an impact on their pain levels. According to The Journal of Rheumatology, ‘www.reutershealth.com, archive 2002/02/18, “People with fibromyalgia often claim their symptoms can vary according to temperature changes with symptoms worsening for some, and providing relief for others. In 1981, a study reported that a percentage of Fibromyalgia patients may be more sensitive to changes in weather compared to non-fibromyalgia subjects. The study revealed 90% of patients reported that weather conditions were one of the most important factors influencing their Fibromyalgia pain and symptoms.” “Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition where people share that their symptoms include: hurting all over; feelings of extreme fatigue; sleep problems; tension headaches and location of the 9 paired tender points that comprise the 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria for Fibromyalgia.”
“Cool temperatures, humidity and high atmospheric pressure may be associated with spontaneous pain among individuals with arthritis or fibromyalgia, new study findings show.” These results support the belief that weather influences rheumatic pain, albeit in different ways, depending on the (underlying disease) and (the patient’s) weather sensitivity,” reported by Dr. Ingrid Strusberg of the Centro Rheumatologico Strusberg in Cordoba City, Argentina, and her colleagues. Strusberg’s team analyzed questionnaire responses from 151 individuals with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. In the study, participants reported on their pain symptoms and causes over one year. The researchers also looked at 32 healthy individuals. These reports were correlated with meteorological data for the Cordoba area.”Pain was significantly associated with low temperature. In addition, pain was related to high humidity and high atmospheric pressure among rheumatoid arthritis patients” in the February Journal of Rheumatology, www.rheutershealth.com 2002/02/18
General weather factors that affect fibromyalgia symptoms: rapid temperature changes and cold most often cause pain, while warm temperatures have an impact of less pain; humidity changes are associated with an increase of headaches, stiffness and pain in muscles; increases in wind causes a decrease in barometric pressure and often triggers more fatigue, headaches, and muscle pain; increase in precipitation is accompanied with a drop in barometric before storms such as tornados and hurricanes approach as well. That decrease in the barometric pressure often results in an increase of pain and fatigue in people who have fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Warmer weather tends to reduce pain in individuals with arthritis and fibromyalgia! This news is a relief for individuals with those conditions. The flip side, summertime and hurricane season can bring on more storms. Thus an increase in headaches and migraines and pain is generally reported as the barometric pressure drops as storms approach. Cooler weather tends to have an impact on individuals’ joints, muscles and trigger fibromyalgia or chronic pain issues.
Unfortunately, none of us have the power to change the weather!
What you can do to help alleviate some of your symptoms when changes in weather occur: My first recommendation, if you have new onset of headaches, migraines or chronic pain, please schedule an appointment with your physician or medical practitioner; My second recommendation is for you to schedule a Therapeutic Massage appointment. This can help tremendously to reduce your muscle aches and pains, headaches and migraines.
At My Aiken Body Therapeutic Massage (803) 761-1127, Jacki Da Via, LMT and Joy Manning, Independent LMT have many years of experience working with clients who experience headaches, migraines, arthritis and chronic pain. Please look at our biographies on this Website to learn more about expertise and experience.
Jacki often incorporates Marble Cold Stone Massage (on the article “Marble Cold Stone Massage”) in sessions with clients who have sinus and tension headaches, and/or migraines. Cooling down the inflammation in the soft tissues and pressure points around the eyes, forehead, base of the neck, with the ‘cold stones,’ is very effective in stopping or decreasing the intensity of a headache or a migraine immediately. Jacki also instructs clients to press on various pressure points so they can, as well, reduce the intensity of headaches and migraines, in between their Massage Therapy sessions.
If you don’t live in the Aiken SC area to schedule with Jacki or Joy, a suggestion for you is to go to the American Massage Therapy Association in your vicinity (www.amta.org) and locate a Massage Therapist in your area with a strong background with clients who have headaches, migraines or chronic pain and schedule an appointment.
You don’t have to suffer with ongoing headaches, migraines and/or fibromyalgia or chronic pain! Call a Massage Therapist today! Again, My Aiken Body Therapeutic Massage (803) 761-1127, or email us at: myaikenbody@gmail.com.