What can you tell me about barometric pressure?

[left is right]

My mother suffers from extremely arthritic knees. She has rejected the option of knee surgery and is afraid of becoming addicted to pain medication. But she feels better on days of high barometric pressure. Does anyone know of a way to simulate high pressure on low pressure days? I am thinking that inflatables worn around the knees might help. What do you think?

[salvorhardin]

1. I'd think

that simply using ACE wraps would help. Don't wrap them too tightly though as it could affect her circulation.

[hlthe2b]

2. BP is my #1 migraine trigger, so I feel like a human barometer....

However, it appears to be the rapid change in BP and not absolute increase that triggers the vasoactive chemicals that lead to vascular headaches. I'm wondering if it may not be similar trigger for your MOM--i.e., sudden changes and not absolute increase/decrease?

If so, I'm not sure you could really manipulate local pressure to help. Couldn't hurt to try, though as long as she has good circulation (not tight, in other words).

I do understand that accupuncture has proven helpful for some with severe debilitating osteoarthritis that flairs up periodically. Might be worth a try.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. A bit of information

Maybe this will help, maybe it won't, but a rheumatologist friend of mine says that watching the weather one day west of wherever you are will tell you how your arthritic joints are going to feel in the next 24-48 hours.

Yes, the barometric pressure does play a large role in rheumatoid disease (a.k.a., "rheumatoid arthritis"), in that it affects the synovial fluid that lubricates the joints. If your mother has osteoarthritis, that might be a factor, too, although perhaps not as dramatic.

As for simulating weather, I don't know of anything, but make sure your mother stays away from the NSAID drugs, including Motrin and other anti-inflammatories. Heat and Tylenol work for people I know, but, in the end, I guess everyone finds a way to deal.

Good luck to your mother this Mother's Day.

[sweettater]

5. NSAID drugs

Why? (stay away from them)

[Spinzonner]

4. One theory

http://www.allaboutarthritis.com/AllAboutArthritis/layoutTemplates/html/en/contentdisplay/document/condition/arthritis/generalArticle/weather_arthritis_pain.htm

Might also Google: arthritis barometric pressure

There seem to be a LOT of references