The Cold Weather And Metal Implants

Join Us ☰ Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In The cold weather and metal implants Support Forums>Chronic Pain ✚ New Topic ❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭ Snowbunny21 Veteran Member Joined : Jan 2010 Posts : 3557 Posted 12/15/2013 4:29 PM (GMT -5) Hey everyone,Hope you are having a good Sunday:)...I'm sure this has been discussed in the past but hadn't seen it talked about in awhile...This string of cold weather with snow/ice has really taken a toll on the titanium in my neck...Does that get colder than other metal implants? Or does everyone else who has metal anywhere, have titanium as well?I usually use the Thermacare patches that seem to help when I walk my dog each day outside...but lately, it seems nothing is helping...BRRRR....LOL Merrida Veteran Member Joined : Jul 2013 Posts : 4771 Posted 12/15/2013 4:48 PM (GMT -5) I have two total hip replacements (titanium and ceramic), as well as L1-L5 fusions/cage (so a significant amount of titanium in there as well). Heck, I feel part bionic now.I've never noticed any of the metal feeling any colder than the rest of the body.I love the snow and cold, and it's not uncommon for me to even walk the dog in the winter while wearing shorts, boots, and a jacket. So I'm pretty "exposed" in that regard.Do wearing thick scarves and keeping your neck warm that way while outside offer any help?What I feel more, temperature-wise, are my dentures. Now they get colder, or feel that way. But none of the metal.Be kind to yourself,...it's been exceptionally cold as of late, lots of snow, ice, and bitter wind. So it could be your body just telling you: "I'm cold, take me inside, and let's do hot cocoa instead!" M. rocckyd Veteran Member Joined : May 2012 Posts : 1115 Posted 12/15/2013 5:00 PM (GMT -5) My TMJs are titanium and the cold is AWFUL in that area. There isn't a thick layer of skin/fat in that area. Hate it. nvrthesame98 Veteran Member Joined : Jun 2008 Posts : 6706 Posted 12/15/2013 5:05 PM (GMT -5) Good question SB. I've got a titanium knee and the reason I moved to Florida was the sheer fact that thing aches like an abscessed tooth when the temperature drops under 50! I mean nothing helps that I've found kind of ache.Im not positive it's the metal but I've got arthritis in both knees ans other joints and they dont do that.I also notice that knee just takes on the whole feel of a cold hinge? Snowbunny21 Veteran Member Joined : Jan 2010 Posts : 3557 Posted 12/15/2013 5:31 PM (GMT -5) Thanks everyone for your thoughts!!! You are lucky Merrida that it doesn't bother you at all:)I do love the fall/winter months even more than the dreaded heat and humidity of summer....It's probably a combo of it getting more stiff in winter when it's colder so therefore I get more sore and it becomes a catch-22.I do have a balaclava that keeps me fairly toasty most of the time. I think it's just because we had such a string of days with so much ice/sleet, I have been out as much walking the dog so then when I do go out, it just "seems" even colder and a shock! Rocckyd, I can imagine implants in the TMJ area are bad as well:( Vickie, I'm definitely envious of those in warmer climates right now as it's probably pretty nice during the days!And yes, having any type of arthritis or previous surgeries even without metal the weather can affect our joints.Thanks again for your thoughts folks:) Betsey Ross Veteran Member Joined : Mar 2011 Posts : 1056 Posted 12/15/2013 7:28 PM (GMT -5) I have a total knee implant that is chromium and the cold makes it throb and nonbendable.

Florida does make it feel better. I am still in cold, snow and ice and I really need to get down south but it isnt happening. Not enough money to fly down and back.

I have tried the therma wrap on my knee but it doesnt help.

Hope everyone has a lower pain day soon.

Betsey Chotti Veteran Member Joined : Oct 2013 Posts : 618 Posted 12/15/2013 7:34 PM (GMT -5) Boy u all sound familiar. I can't deal with the cold the older I get and barometric pressure. I get migraines.I have all kinds of itisis. As well as two hip joint replacements. My legs & butt are always cold. My back is fused and shoulders rotator cuff issues. I use microwave Velcro therapy gel wraps to fit each area. Two generally does the trick in this weather. One wrapped around my neck, one around waist. They are from a online source. There's one for every area of the body. They last for years. I even have gel warmer gloves. The heat lasts for hours. (( hugs ))CHOTTI Snowbunny21 Veteran Member Joined : Jan 2010 Posts : 3557 Posted 12/15/2013 7:38 PM (GMT -5) Thanks for sharing Betsey...I think times are tight for many of us to travel right now. I know that you always enjoyed your trips down to FL for the winter so I'm sorry it isn't happening this year:(I think the absolute thing I would enjoy the most is having a hot tub!!!! I used to have a friend who has moved who had one and we would hang out in it at least once a week in the fall/winter!!!I had a neighbor back in the 80's who had neck fusion surgery and back then, she actually got a prescription for a hot tub and had it covered by insurance!!!! Not that I would wish anyone having surgery just to get one...LOL

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 12/15/2013 6:04:07 PM (GMT-7)

Merrida Veteran Member Joined : Jul 2013 Posts : 4771 Posted 12/15/2013 7:55 PM (GMT -5) I didn't realize how lucky I have it!I wonder if I don't feel it because all this metal is relatively new (the past 18 months or so). Maybe it gets worse with time?Even before all my surgeries, when it was just CP/ortho issues, the cold rarely bothered me.I thank God that I love the cold and winter and snow. I find things, for me anyway, flare up when it's warm and especially humid. I'm counting my blessings knowing things could always be worse.Well, I have a new perspective now....M. Blessedx8 Veteran Member Joined : Aug 2008 Posts : 3193 Posted 12/15/2013 8:43 PM (GMT -5) SB,I have metal in my foot - and I feel it when it's cold. While I absolutely prefer fall/winter to ANY heat........ my body feels it for sure. It's hard to move (stiff)....... and I literally hurt from head to toe, lol. Ahhhh, a hot tub. A neighbor has one - and has invited me over NUMEROUS times. I seriously think it's about time to take her up on it, lol.(But it's all perspective........ I live in California, lol).......... that said, I've also lived in Denver, Colorado - so I do know true cold too!--Tina nvrthesame98 Veteran Member Joined : Jun 2008 Posts : 6706 Posted 12/16/2013 5:20 AM (GMT -5) You all can put away the envy for the day!! I awoke to Central Florida being 52 this morning!! And since the vast majority of housing here has air and No heat, I'm froze!! I feel like the tin man!! And when I can unbend and get out of bed I'm going in the kitchen to pull a chair up in front of they oven.I can see my breath lying in bed and my cat's, all four are even under the blankets!!If this keeps happening this year I'm going to have to get some kind of heat!!The good thing is it will likely rise back to the 70's if that southern sun shows today. UserANONYMOUS Veteran Member Joined : May 2011 Posts : 4525 Posted 12/16/2013 11:18 AM (GMT -5) Hi SB, I don't have any implants but the coldness sure does affect me. I can tell when it's going to rain and I live in a warm climate area.Tina: I think you should take up your neighbor's offer. The hot tub should give you some relief. UA Tirzah Veteran Member Joined : Jul 2008 Posts : 2323 Posted 12/16/2013 9:27 PM (GMT -5) Love this thread. Explains a lot. Thanks, Snowbunny.I used to just be bothered in my neck with the horrible cold. Felt this awful burning/stabbing pain in my neck, but leads are also at site of prior surgery with scar & no hair there, so I figured maybe that was part of it. And my SCS device always bothered me. Gets worse both in heat because I swell and it crushes a nerve & the cold.Now I've got a new set of leads & omg it is awful in the cold. I shouldn't even have pain at that site & it's just horrible. :( So glad to know I'm not alone) tatterdema Regular Member Joined : Nov 2013 Posts : 29 Posted 12/17/2013 4:07 AM (GMT -5) Wow, glad I was not the only one. I shattered my wrist about 20 years ago, and they rebuilt it with some type of fairly large metal plate and 6 screws. It healed well, and the doctor said that it would be in me for life. At the time, I worked in the produce department of the grocery store. The cold temperature of the coolers and always being in cold water caused me awful pain, constantly. I kept going back to the doctor and telling him about it, but he said there was nothing he could do, and that it should not be causing me that much pain. I put up with it for 2 years, and went back and basically camped out in the doctors office. I told him that either he take it out, or I would. He finally agreed, but would not guarantee that my wrist would remain stable. It took him about 10 minutes with local anesthetic, scalpel, and a screwdriver. Healed within days, and I have never had an ounce of pain in that area again.I keep the plate and screws in a bag at home, and every time I look at it I am shocked that a plate that size could have fit in my skinny little wrist. mallardmark Regular Member Joined : Sep 2013 Posts : 386 Posted 12/17/2013 8:51 AM (GMT -5) i have issues with the cold weather too. even before my fusions. let only walking as careful as can be to avoid slipping/falling i found that even walking was a hard thing to do. actually had one night i was in my car and when i got out i just locked right up. it was a cold winter night also. been in the single digits for a few days/nights here so had some extra pains. through the pain though i still enjoy the winter months. Snowbunny21 Veteran Member Joined : Jan 2010 Posts : 3557 Posted 12/18/2013 2:55 PM (GMT -5) Thanks again for all the great comments, thoughts, and suggestions...Glad I'm not alone in feeling like the Tin Man at times...LOL 22Ti.Karper New Member Joined : Jan 2014 Posts : 2 Posted 1/28/2014 11:54 PM (GMT -5) This cold weather is very hard on me, at times I feel like a robot walking because of the rods in my femurs... and metal in my ankle. My electric blanket helps me relax when I tense up in pain. Merrida Veteran Member Joined : Jul 2013 Posts : 4771 Posted 1/30/2014 9:30 AM (GMT -5) I wanted to update my comment.I still maintain, for me, I don't feel the metal in my spine or in either hip,....buuuuut,...I do feel the rod I have in my foot. A lot. I didn't make the connection really. I don't know if it's the location or a combination of things, but so far, that's the only metal in my body that I can "feel" get cold.I can also feel my dentures get cold (but they're not metal)! ;PM. MalteseMom3 New Member Joined : Jan 2014 Posts : 3 Posted 2/17/2014 9:50 PM (GMT -5) WOW, so glad I saw this ! I have 6 bolts and screws and a casting around that, with 2 failed surgery's L3, L4 and L5. I sometimes think I am crazy, because that metal is so darn cold, I'm in Georgia and we've had a terrible Winter. I also know when it's going to rain. SunnieDawn New Member Joined : Apr 2016 Posts : 1 Posted 4/7/2016 6:34 PM (GMT -5) I have titanium rods inside all three leg bones (femur, tibia, fibula) also an attachment to my hip. The ache is unbearable when it is cold, or when the barometric pressure is up (about to rain)! I have friends around me who do not understand and often underestimate how debilitating it is. I cannot just "deal with it"...any ideas on how to alleviate this pain? Also, does anyone "know why" this happens?Thanx, SunnieDawn~ straydog Forum Moderator Joined : Feb 2003 Posts : 20110 Posted 4/8/2016 11:04 AM (GMT -5) Hi SunnieDawn & welcome to Healing Well. You have posted on a very old thread that has not had any activity in several years & most of these members are no longer active here at Healing Well.You will get a better response to your questions by making a separate intro post. Not many people tend to read these older threads. I will lock this thread so others do not post on it, as we like to keep the older threads off of the main page. Thanks. ✚ New Topic

More On Chronic Illness

Painsomnia: Getting A Good Night Sleep With Chronic Pain

Navigating Health Forums: Guidelines for a Positive Experience