This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Venous ulcers ahve a seasonal characteristic

HERE is our favorite researcher at it again....

Seasonal variation of onset of venous leg ulcers.
Marian Simka
EWMA Journal 2006; 6(2):23-24
ICID: 470065
Article type: Original article
IC™ Value: 2.00

Background. Many vascular pathologies exhibit circannual fluctuation, and perhaps are climate dependent. In Central and Western Europe, where four distinct seasons exist, vascular pathologies related to thrombosis have their peak of frequency during winter, while clinical symptoms associated with chronic venous disorders are most severe during summer.
Methods. There were reviewed medical documentations of 213 consecutive patients with active venous ulceration managed in a leg ulcer clinic from January 2000 to December 2005.
Results. There were two peaks of frequency of ulcer’s onset – in spring and autumn, and two nadirs – one in winter, and the second (smaller) during summer. These fluctuations were found to be statistically significant (p

ulcers onset more frequently in spring and autumn. MS exacerbations are ore common in spring as well. interesting

My relspases happen in the fall and winter. I am not heat sensitive and I actually lay out in the 100 degree heat here in texas to heal myself to feel better. But I am affected by the change of seasons, just when it cools off I start to feel poorly.

Fall is my worst time too. I was not heat sensitive for some years after diagnosis. It is interesting though that there is a seasonal quality to venous ulcers...

I had this since 1985 and still 1.5 on EDSS. I had some bad relapses and I dread the cooler weather. I moved from colorado to texas. I thought about going back to colorado because I am not fond of texas but the cold I think would paralize me.

The whole paper is available HERE It is the fall of '06 issue.

The whole issue is available online so one can see how the field of wound care related to stasis/venous ulcers views the issues related to that.

Cold makes me spasm-y and has done since early on in the disease. The heat was only an issue when I started to progress.

Nerves are always reduced in terms of transmission in the heat for normal people as well as MSers, but in MSers, once they have a lesion burden that means they have more nerves that are demyelinated or scarred and not transmitting the nerve impulses well to begin with, heat makes that even worse. Add to that the fact of veins draining the heat away from the brain through the emissary veins and you have a double whammy for the MSer in terms of heat management.

For some years I thought the diagnosis of MS might be in doubt because I was not heat intolerant....

Oh, to be still in denial.............those were the days.........

Thanks for this Simka paper, Marie...interesting how the "flare" times are seasonal, just like MS. There is an underlying genetic issue at work, as well as environmental issues.

Jeff's heat issues were probably related to congestion in his hypothalamus and brain due to venous reflux and slowed perfusion. Since the stent surgery, he's sweating more and heat doesn't knock him out. And it's hot here this week!
cheer

ohh I am not in denial, after a couple relapses I realized how serious this disease is and scares me. For me when the temp starts to drop below 70, I get stiffer. When it rains I feel poorly. There is not a day that goes by where I am not grateful I can still walk, but I know because of how long I had this disease, things could turn ugly quickly now.

I did call John Hopkins and they said I would be a good canidate and asked for me to send my most recent MRI. I might get around to it next week, I will see what they say, but like I mentioned before I think I will wait until sept and might go this route first, mainly because every other treatments tried for MS doesnt seem to do as much as I hoped. This one I have a good feeling about and I have no reason to. This is coming from someone who had this disease almost forever and has only been on one medication. I never been one to rush out and try the latest and greatest and most extreme treatments for MS. Mainly because we always end up back at square one.

I just feel something really positive about this, something I never got from other treatments offered in the past.

123