does atmospheric pressure effect lymphedema?

kriserts

The pain from my lymphedema seems pretty random, and sometimes I wonder if it has anything to do with changing atmospheric pressure. Does anyone know any studies about this?

I'm not talking about the pressure of flying in an airplane. I'm talking about whatever atmospheric pressure changes exist on the ground. My arm's been killing me lately and I know that apparently a tropical storm is moving this way (although it won't hit for at least 2 days). Is there any evidence that local air pressure changes effect lyphedema?

Binney4

I hope one of our research gurus comes along with some references for you, but GOODNESS YES our LE is affected by barometric pressure! And not just pain, either, but hard-to-control flares. We had a whole thread about that last year in tornado season because some our gals were having real trouble from the storms. I'll see if I can find that one for you and bump it.

Here's StepUp-SpeakOut's page about air pressure, mostly referring to air travel, but the effect is the same:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Controversial Studies on Compression Garments when Flying.htm

And here (from that page) is an easy way to understand what air pressure does:

There was a program on PBS's NOVA show about the design of space suits. The first four minutes of that program is the best explanation of the effects of air pressure that we have seen.  Check it out:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/space-suits.html

Next to the picture of that cute aerospace scientist wearing her classy new-fangled spacesuit, click on "Watch Next-Generation Space Suits" and watch at least the first four minutes. If you keep in mind they're talking about people with normally-functioning lymph systems, you begin to see how air pressure can be a special disaster for those of us with compromised lymph systems.

Hope all of you in the path of Hurricane Sandy stay safe and well throughout the next several days!
Binney

kriserts

thanks Binney! I saw the thread you bumped, too. Yes, that sounds like me. Good to know I'm not crazy.

Lee7

Maybe this is why my arm has swelled up during the summer here in Florida last year and now again this year. Not just the heat but the daily thunderstorms ! 

Ginger48

I live in Ct and am really feeling it today as hurricane sandy approaches so I think it definitely affects LE!

Lee7

Ginger48,

Hope Sandy won't affect you too much where you live.  Stay safe!

carol57

Waaaay over here in west Michigan I can feel it in my arm!  We're having a weather change that will culminate with secondary effects from the hurricane.  Just when I was celebrating no-aches with the cooler weather.  Drat!  Seriously, I hope everyone who is in a storm path takes care to take care of yourself. Binney posted preparedness strategies in another thread that is well worth visiting.

Carol

Blessings2011

I don't have LE, but I can tell you my TEs felt miserable when a low pressure system was on its way in. Now I have the same problem with my saline implants. OW!

New job: Meteorologist.....

kriserts

Yes, I feel it in my chest, too. I have a silicone implant that has always caused problems but I thought died down lately. Now, chest and arm, killing me. But it started about a week ago--I could hire myself out to the weather channel as a perdiction tool.