Is Cold Weather Making Your Joint Pain Worse? Here’s What You Can Do

While there may not yet be much evidence-based research to support the idea that cold weather makes your joints ache more, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence. Just ask anyone who has a joint condition like arthritis how they feel when a storm’s rolling in or when the mercury drops. Chances are, they’re in more pain than when the weather was warm and sunny.

At Interventional Pain Center, Dr. James Stephens offers comprehensive pain management services, including treatments for joint pain, regardless of the cause. If you’re struggling as the temperature drops, there are things you can do to help feel better. Here’s what you need to know.

Common causes of joint pain

Many types of diseases or injuries can cause joint pain. Some of the major causes include:

• Autoimmune diseases: i.e., rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• Bursitis
• Gout (a form of arthritis) and CPPD arthritis (pseudogout)
• Injury, such as a fracture
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Septic arthritis (joint infection)
• Viral infections

Pain can also come from the muscles or tendons surrounding the joint, including sprains, strains, and overuse injuries like tendonitis.

For non-arthritic joint pain, rest and exercise are both important. Try not to strain the joint, and opt for warm baths, massage, and stretching exercises whenever possible.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) may help with any soreness, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can help relieve pain and swelling.

Relationship between cold weather and joint pain

Researchers haven’t pinpointed a definitive reason why joint pain feels worse in the cold, but they have are a few theories:

The first is a drop in the barometric pressure. Changes in air pressure can affect the pressure within the joint space, making the swelling that’s there feel more painful.

However, humidity, precipitation, and temperature usually come with the changes in barometric pressure, so it’s hard to say which factor, or combination thereof, is actually to blame.

It’s also possible that pressure changes can make your tendons, muscles, and any scar tissue expand and contract, which may lead to pain in arthritic joints. In addition, low temperatures can make the fluid inside joints thicker, so they feel stiffer.

The second is decreased circulation. Cold air can reduce blood flow to the extremities, which can lead to stiffer muscles and joints.

The third is inactivity. Many people tend to hibernate to some extent during the winter months, leading to less overall movement. Motion is lotion, so that inactivity can lead to joint stiffness and aches.

What you can do to ease joint pain

Just because the weather’s changing doesn’t mean you have to suffer. Here are some tips to relieve your joint pain.

To keep yourself warm and your joints comfortable, take showers or baths, but don’t make them too hot, or you’ll dry out your skin. Dress in layers during the day, including wearing gloves and warm socks. At night, use an electric blanket, a warm comforter, or turn up the heat.

Try a paraffin bath. Dip your aching joint into the melted wax, then let the wax harden on your skin. This will transfer the heat from the wax to your joint, providing soothing relief. If you don’t have a paraffin bath, you can use a heating pad on sore spots.

Use NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, but talk to your doctor about dosing. Too much of the drugs can be harmful.

As a general means of helping your joints, maintain a healthy weight and stay active. Try gentle exercise, like yoga or swimming; these don’t put undue stress on your painful joints and will help you build up muscle and bone strength. If you want to do outdoor exercise, make sure to warm up with some gentle stretches first.

A healthy diet and a good amount of sleep (7-9 hours a night) support your joints and your overall health.

If you’re still struggling with joint pain, come into the Interventional Pain Center for an evaluation and more tailored suggestions for treatment. Call our office at 405-759-8407, or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephens today.