Rainy Day Knee Pain

Chances are you know someone who has experienced increased joint pain brought on by a change in weather. Or maybe you have experienced it yourself. This phenomenon is especially common during cold wet months during the winter. The scientific reasoning for the cause of this increased pain is a subject up for debate. Although there is no concrete evidence to show why this occurs, medical professionals have some very strong theories on the issue.

1. Wet weather conditions occur with a drop in barometric pressure. When a low pressure system moves in, usually rain is in the forecast. Less pressure means gas and fluid has more room to expand. With inflamed joints, this means that air and fluid within the joint may expand, causing increased inflammation and pain. In some cases, where pain is caused by lack of fluid in the joint such as bone on bone pain, high pressure weather systems have been reported to cause increased joint pain in some patients.

2. Cold weather causes circulatory changes. In the hot months of summer, the body has mechanisms in play to increase blood volume by increasing the water content of the blood. This can help with decreasing the risk of dehydration during the warmer temperatures. In the winter, blood volume decreases causing the blood to become more viscous and slowing down circulation throughout the body. This increased viscosity can increase the risk for certain medical emergencies such as heart attack and stroke, and also cause an increase in joint pain with less oxygen and heat flowing throughout the body. It can be especially problematic for people with autoimmune or circulatory issues such as Raynodes syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.

3. People tend to be less active during the winter months due to the cold weather and lack of daylight. With conditions such as arthritis, keeping moving is key to pain management. There is also some evidence that links decreased levels of vitamin D to increased pain.

Here are some tips to help survive the cold winter months:

- Make sure to remain active and avoid becoming sedentary during the winter. Consider joining a gym and working out indoors. Swimming in a heated pool can be one of the best options for pain relief.

- Pay attention to diet. Especially if there is any risk for heart attack or stroke, maintaining a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is extremely important during the winter months. Also, make sure to stay hydrated. It can be more of a challenge to keep drinking water during cold weather, but it is still important to try and get approximately half your bodyweight in ounces of water during the day. So if you are a 150 lb person, try and drink at least 75 ounces of water each day. Avoid excess of caffeine and alcohol as these can be dehydrating.

- Consider taking a vitamin D supplement during times of less sunshine.

Joint pain can really put a stress on everyday living. Take care of yourself and follow these tips for a happier healthy winter.

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