Pain Relief Tips For Arthritis In Cold Weather

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Pain Relief Tips For Arthritis In Cold Weather

Here is some arthritis pain relief tips when your aching joints act up in winter:

Dress warmly. If it’s cold outside, keep yourself warm with gloves over hands that ache and added layers over knees and legs.

Exercise inside. A study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health that measured physical activity in 241 adults with arthritis living in Chicago (a city known for its bitterly cold winters) found that the amount of sedentary time increased by over three hours between November and June. But while it's understandable to want to avoid winter chill, people with joint pain should still stay active — and the best way is with an indoor exercise plan.

Enjoy warm water. Swimming in a heated pool is both great exercise and soothing to joints. You can also get relief from warm baths. Just don’t go right out into the cold after your soak. Let your body temperature normalize a bit first.

Supplement vitamin D. Being deficient in vitamin D might make osteoarthritis worse. You are less likely to get enough vitamin D in the winter, so this is a good time to take a supplement or make sure your diet is vitamin D-rich.


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Stay safe. Particularly when the weather turns icy, people with arthritis need to protect their joints from further damage. If you’re going outside, pick solid, supportive shoes with good treads and try to walk on a surface that doesn't look icy.

Try a glucosamine-chondroitin supplement. Although there are no herbal supplements that have been proven to provide arthritis pain relief in clinical studies, some patients do report relief from these supplements.

Add fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids do have some benefit because they seem to reduce the level of inflammation. You need about 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day to get benefits. Make sure to let your doctor know if you try omega-3s, as they can increase the risk of bruising or bleeding.

Take NSAIDs. (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) It’s okay to take an over-the-counter pain reliever when your joint pain is worse due to the weather.

Get a massage. Yes, you have permission to indulge yourself. A lot of what’s happening in terms of pain is, some is emanating from the joint and some from the muscles around the joint. A massage can help ease those cramped muscles.

Go under the needle. Acupuncture is another option for those willing to consider non-traditional treatments. It does seem patients derive some benefit with regard to pain. You may need several sessions to get the joint pain relief you seek.