Muscle Functioning in Cold Weather

[mike]

I am a C5 imcomplete walking quad. When the weather gets very cold,below 35 degrees, I notice that my legs get tired very easily and after walking any great distance, they become almost like rubber. Is this a normal phenomena? Does anyone else have this problem?

mike

[betheny]

Hi, I'm same level and function. And it does happen to me. I hadn't put the 2 together. Interesting, plus it sucks, huh? Betheny

[SCI-Nurse]

The cold temperature could indeed lead to a greater muscle fatigue. Let me confer with one of my physical therapists about this complaint and get back to you. PLG

[gvinton]

Weather doesn't get that cold here, but even in cooler weather I notice a difference. I get increased spasms and a general "stiffness" of the muscles.

I am a c5/6 walking quad.

[cindy]

C5-6 incomplete SCI, and walking, cold seems to increase my spasticity, heat seems to weaken me.

I don't know about tiring will have to pay attention to that one.

I use to use warm moist heat on neck area to relieve the increased spasticity. For some reason don't do that anymore.....maybe because weather hasn't been as bad over the last 3-4 years, maybe some healing.....who knows, not me that is for sure.

//

[juliez]

I know how the cold affected my muscles. I lived in Vermont and going out at 0 degrees, my body just go into a giant spasm. That's why relocated to FL. I can survive the heat better than cold.

Julie

[BBaker]

I have been having to travel alot for work lately and every where I have gone is Cold and it sucks, my legs and hips get tight and if I start to shiver give it up.

[FREEJ]

Hi, although most of u on this thread are walking sci's, i am not. I'm a c-4/5 non-walking quad. However, i will say that the cold weather ''definitely'' effects my body.

,,,,,It's like i'm 2 different ppl in hot/cold temps. i live in north nj; from may - sept. my body feels great, my stretch'g/ROM workouts respond real good and my energy levels increase greatly, even in 85-95 temps. My spirit soars. From late october progressing through early april, my body is always tight/chy to varying degrees, my str/rom workouts are not nearly as effective. I work hard at trying to keep a positive state of mind during the cold mos, but february/early march really test my will.

,,,,,PLG,,,all respect to you; ''I will say that that the it is not only the actual cold temp that negatively effects sci[[i speak for myself]], it is what the cold brings with it; less/poor results in ROM,,,compromised circulatory system=less tolerant to cold temps==alotta time indoors===not good for the psyche,,,dealing w/ snow/slush/ice=can b downright dangerous gett'g around, soo, you stay indoors again==''not good.''

,,,,,Hopefully one day, real soon, i'll get to b like ''juliez'' and move to a warm/hot sunny clime.

[Wise Young]

I was wondering how many people take vitamin D and also try to expose themselves to sunshine (or tanning lamps) during the winter months, to activate the vitamin D in their skin.

Wise.

[whiterabbit11]

I'm not a walking quad, just straight C-7 and the older I get the less I like either heat or cold. Up until about age 50 something, the cold didn't bother me much. I was much more active, alert, energetic and raring to go, muscles included. I naturally didn't like constant below zero stuff and deep snow, but the heat has always just made me and all muscles wilt in a few minutes to the point of leaning into a sink full of ice-cold water or dousing in it. AC is necessary even in Northern Wyoming.For what it's worth most of you have heard of SADS, seasonal affective Disorder syndrome, (I think) Basically just winter depression caused by lack of sunlight,too long indoors, no robins chirping etc.It affects everyone supposedly.Now that I'm old, the cold kills me too.WR

[Jeff]

Julie - I spent my first thirteen years after injury living in Vermont which is where I grew up. I got my degree at UVM and continued living in Burlington. I worked at GMP.

I finally ended up in Florida, too. In addition to the climate it's nice that Florida is flat as a pancake. And it's easy to get into most people's homes.

Interestingly, I'm liking New Jersey rather well. Being close to family offsets the change back to a colder climate. And I like my job.

But, man oh man, I can't wait for Summer. What I wouldn't give for a day at the beach! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

~See you at the SCIWire-used-to-be-paralyzed Reunion http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/wavey.gif ~

[dunwawry]

I am a C3/4 walking quad, and find that cold weather increases my spasticity significantly,which in turn increases my fatigue and ability to get around. Movement wise, I do much better in the summer or warm weather, although I also have found my tolerance for heat to have gone way down, I get overheated more easily. Can't seem to win. I have taken to wearing long underwear in the winter, that seems to help. Even though I don't feel cold, I can go out in freezing temperatures with just a sweater and feel perfectly comfortable (my thermostat seems to be off by about 20 degrees), my muscles notice the cold, and become rigid, them knees won't bend anymore, and them hips don't want to move. I don't notice the rubber phenomena, I don't think I ever get enough relief from spasticity for that to occur. The only time I ever noticed that was when I took my first dose of zanaflex, and I thought it felt pretty cool, nice change from the norm for me, but maybe I wouldn't if it happened more often. That same dose also knocked me on my butt. Since then, I have developed a tolerance to that reaction, and I have some spasticity at all times.

[AngelaandKC]

I am an incomplete T 10/11.

I have noticed that when the weather does get cold, my legs get as stiff as a board, thus my dosage of baclofen almost triples in the winter. Same with my pain meds.

And to add to the misery, when the weather gets warm, my right foot (the weaker one) gets very painfully swollen.

No rest for the wicked. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[cindyg]

C4-7 rolling quad, here. Humidity kills me too. My body perceives dampness as cold. I spent 40 years in sunny southern California, always within 25 miles of the ocean, but after a few years as a SCI, I could not handle the clouds, fog, and temperatures. No more shorts for Cindy.

I moved to the dry climate of warmer, sunnier southern Utah and felt great in the 115 degree temps. Now I can't tolerate the heat either. I feel great between 70-85, 90 degrees.

The winters here are very dry, so my most uncomfortable, non-shorts months are mid-Oct to mid-April, February I feel the coldest. My biceps lock up, my shoulders are stiff and ache, my body wants to tighten up into a ball, and I feel like an old, hunched over woman.

I too suffer seasonal depression. Is that a SCI side effect or something?? Clouds don't stay long when they're here, but it only takes 2 days of no sun, and I'm toast. But it is sunny here at least a little almost every day, and my house has lots of windows.

Having no driver and being stuck at home a week at a time almost drives me over the edge, too. But hey, next year [or maybe next week?] will be different people AGAIN, and maybe one will have a license AND be old enough to add to my vehicle insurance.

A question. What do y'all think the effects of a cure will have on this problem that our bodies have with the cold now?

This is the hand I was dealt; I must play it to the end.

[This message was edited by cindyg on 02-17-03 at 17:39.]

[janny]

Originally posted by Wise Young:

I was wondering how many people take vitamin D and also try to expose themselves to sunshine (or tanning lamps) during the winter months, to activate the vitamin D in their skin.

Wise.

Wise, I make sure I get Vitamin D along with everything else. My soy milk is fortified with it and it's in my Spiru-tein Sport powder. It's not as good as sunlight probably, though.

Jan