Why does the fractured area feel uncomfortable when it is cloudy or rainy?

Many people may have had this experience: After an injury or surgery, discomfort in the injured area or wound will appear one or two days before a rainy and cloudy day, just like a weather forecaster. "Doctor, after I get better, it won't hurt on rainy and cloudy days, right?" This is also one of the most frequently asked questions to surgeons.

Many patients have recovered from soft tissue injuries and are basically normal, but they are afraid of cold, wind and weather changes. When the wind blows, the "cold" becomes unbearable. Wearing thick clothes in the hot summer is very painful. It is estimated that many people do not know why this is, so I will analyze it for you today.

First of all, let’s get to know our own skin: skin includes epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. Nerves are found in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. If the damage reaches deep into the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, scarring may occur. New blood vessels and nerves also grow in it.

With weather changes, especially before a storm, atmospheric humidity, air pressure and temperature will change significantly. The nerve endings in the scar can sensitively detect this change. The thinner the nerve fibers, the more sensitive they are to external changes, and local pain or itching will occur.

Vasomotor regulation within scars is different from that in normal tissue. After being stimulated by cold, dampness or low air pressure, blood vessels continue to contract, blood flow is reduced or the flow rate slows down, metabolic products cannot be eliminated in time, local blood supply is insufficient, and the tolerance of scar tissue to pain is reduced. Scar tissue can also shrink in response to irritation, which can also squeeze or stretch nerve fibers, causing pain at the site of the old injury.

How to prevent and reduce pain and discomfort:

1. Add or remove clothing in a timely manner according to weather changes, and do a good job of keeping yourself warm and cold-proof. Especially avoid being exposed to moisture and cold.

2. Adjust the local environment: Try to keep the living or activity place dry and stay away from wet and cold places. You should go out less often on rainy days.

3. Strengthen physical exercise, improve the body’s resistance and adaptability, keep your mood comfortable, and eat more foods rich in vitamins, calcium, and phosphorus.

4. Appropriate massage, massaging, and rubbing the injured area can be used to improve local blood circulation. Soften scars and relieve nerve compression symptoms.

5. If discomfort has occurred, timely treatment should be carried out: rheumatism ointment, safflower oil, etc. can be applied externally; hot towels, hot water bottles, etc. can be used locally for hot compresses; Shangshi analgesic ointment and dog skin ointment can also be used External patch; you can also go to the hospital for physical therapy such as ultra-short wave, infrared ray, pulse wave, etc. to increase local blood circulation, dispel cold and dampness, and relieve symptoms.