New research from across the pond shines some light on the correlation between some weather patterns and expression of chronic pain.

For their study, researchers conducted a study called the Cloudy Project that involved more than 9,000 patients with chronic pain. Each day, patients would track their levels of daily pain through a smartphone app. When pain levels were entered, the app also recorded the local weather at that date and time. Patients recorded their pain levels for a total of 18 months.

Pain and the Rain

After looking at the data, researchers uncovered a link between poor weather and greater expression of pain. As the cold winter months turned to spring and the sun was up longer and more often, researchers noticed that pain levels dropped and severe pain was experienced far less frequently. They also noticed that pain levels spiked again during a rainy stretch in June. Researchers said there certainly is a correlation between chronic pain expression and the weather, but they want to conduct future studies to better understand why this correlation exists.

“Once the link is proven, people will have the confidence to plan their activities in accordance with the weather,” said Will Dixon, a professor of digital epidemiology at Manchester’s School of Biological Sciences. “In addition, understanding how weather influences pain will allow medical researchers to explore new pain interventions and treatments.”

Dixon called for individuals with chronic pain to reach out to the Cloudy Project about the chance to participate in future studies and help medical researchers better understand the mechanisms behind chronic pain.

“To work out the details of how weather influences pain, we need as many people as possible to participate in the study and track their symptoms on their smartphone,” Dixon said. “If you are affected by chronic pain, this is your chance to take do something personally — and easily — to lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of pain.”