Every year, millions of people look forward to enjoying some time in a winter wonderland. But while some people are planning ski trips and having snowball fights with the kids, others are stuck inside trying to get the chilling pain out of their bones.
Winter isn't very fun for people with joint pain. The icy temperatures and damp chill in the air mean difficult days of getting around to work or running your errands. Those long winter nights suffering in pain can be even worse.
What Causes Joint Pain to be Worse in Cold Weather?
When you have joint pain, cold weather can make your joints feel stiff, and moving around can be cumbersome. And that's on your good days.
On the bad days, the cold feels like it penetrates through your flesh and right down to your bone. The ache or throbbing pain can go on for hours, despite the liberal use of analgesic creams, heating pads, and anti-inflammatory medication.
Winter wreaks havoc on the joints because when the temperatures drop, the fluid in your joints that act as a lubricant becomes thick and less effective. Cold weather also causes muscles to become tight, lending to stiffness. Some scientists believe barometric pressure may also contribute to winter joint pain problems.
Tips for Getting Through the Cold Months with Joint Pain
Keep Moving—your first instinct may be to curl up under a warm blanket and stay there, but this can exacerbate stiffer muscles and lead to more joint pain. It is better to get up and get moving to keep your muscles loose and keep those joints working. Take time to do some low-impact exercises such as yoga, walking, or riding a stationary bike.
Watch Your Weight—keeping your body moving will also help you with this objective. You might tweak your diet as well in the winter to help with the pain. It is common for humans to pack on a few pounds this time of year because it used to help with survival; now, it just makes for more stress on your joints, so continue a healthy diet.
Drink Plenty of Fluids—it is just as important to hydrate yourself in the winter as it is in the summer. Remember that winter air is arid and can lead to dehydration. If those cold water bottles don't seem as appealing when it's cold outside, try staying hydrated with warm teas that are naturally caffeine free.
Keep Warm—it may seem like a no-brainer, but the warmer you are the better your joints will be. Stay indoors with the heater on, and a fire going, or bundle up in warm quilts to keep your muscles and joints warmed up. If you must go out, consider thermal underwear, leg warmers, arm warmers, and lined gloves to keep you warm.
Break Out the Heating Pad—when joint pain is nagging in the winter, a heating pad can be quite a relief. If you don't have a heating pad, get yourself a hot water bottle, or soak in a warm bath with some Epsom salts every day.
Let Us Help
Joint pain that flares up in the wintertime is usually due to more than just the cold. Usually, some joint damage, old injuries, or misalignments of the spine are the root cause of the pain that you experience. Chiropractic care can help alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and improve the range of movement.
Dr. Gordon Elder of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas helps joint pain sufferers with a three-step plan. The first step involves a thorough health screening and 3D diagnostic imaging scans. The second step involves low-pressure corrections of the spine to alleviate undue pressure on the joints and muscles. Finally, the third step involves ongoing preventative care through regular chiropractic check-ups.
Dr. Elder is a specialist in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a modern technique that utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give the doctor a better picture of what is going on with your anatomy. Once the doctor can pinpoint any problems, he can make corrections with gentle manipulations in more precise, strategic places. The Blair technique offers a natural, drug-free, non-invasive treatment for joint pain to help you through those winter months.
If you suffer from joint pain, contact Dr. Elder for a consultation. Our areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.