Forecasting the Weather With Your Joints

By Donna Stark

My daughter had a sports injury in high school and needed several knee surgeries to fix a medical mistake. Long story short, the mistake was never able to be repaired and she now suffers from severe arthritis in both of her knees. She's a trooper though, and throughout the entire situation has developed an amazing amount of patience and grace ... as well as a keen sense of forecasting the weather. Because you see, she is able to tell when the weather will change by the amount of pain she feels in her knees. Want to know if it is going to rain tomorrow? Ask my daughter. Can't decide if you should pack an extra sweater? Shoot her a text. She is usually spot on, but that shouldn't surprise anyone because I think it's fair to say that we all know somebody, if it's not us personally, who has the same forecasting skills as she does.

Winter and Joint Pain

For those who suffer from arthritis, their pain can flare up at any time throughout the year, but many will tell you that it worsens during the cold, damp, winter months. So what can you do to help your pain when the temperatures drop and the days are rainy? Here are some suggestions.

• Dress warmly - When temperatures dip and the days are damp, be sure to dress warmly. Bundle up under layers, wear appropriate footwear, and pull out your scarf, hat, and gloves. The majority of your body heat is lost through your extremities, so staying covered up and warm is key.
• Stay active - Stiff joints from the cold can become even stiffer when you add a reduction in exercise to the mix, so stay as active as you can! Besides, we all know that exercise can help relieve arthritis pain, so why would you want to stop now?
• Have a Plan B - In order to get your workout on, you need to be able to get to your workout first, and if roads are closed due to the elements or the weather is frightful, you need a Plan B. So invest in some fitness equipment to have at home or find some videos to follow online. Just plan on staying active no matter what the weather is like.

Brought to You by Your Local Weatherman

Hopefully, you can reduce enough of your pain so that your local weatherman isn't out of a job! By following your doctor's specific treatment plan and suggestions like the ones above, you might be able to get through the colder season of the year with less pain than before!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Huntingdon Valley, Pa.