Arthritis and the weather…Is it just me?

Does it make a difference whether it’s OA or RA. I know many people are affected by the weather but I can’t understand it as I don’t notice any difference. Perhaps the bad weather makes people less active and they stiffen up

I’ve got aching joints as well, especially knees and especially first thing in the morning. Do you have Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osteoarthritis (age related). I have the latter, but my friend has the former and she is on steroids etc. Mine is manageable with anti-inflammatory tabs. I dont take them daily, just as and when required.
And yes, the damp weather doesn’t help. So I stay in the warm most of the time.

I have osteo arthritis, yes the cold weather does affect my knees. In the summer I am fine.

Wet and damp weather affects me most osteoarthritis is a miserable pain that is hard to describe. I have it all over the place I find it hinders my movement and frustrating to say the least.

I have osteoarthritis all over the place and find the amount of pain and stiffness I’ll have in a day very unpredictable and frustrating. Wet weather doesn’t seem to affect it but hot weather does make it worse.

I also have OA all over and extremes of temperature affect me.

I have OA and Fibromyalgia, I function best and am in much less pain in Spring and Summer, I cannot take extremes of temperature either way, but the damp, wet, cold weather really makes my bones hurt.

It’s probably due to the plunge in barometric pressure that accompanies the storms we are having at the moment. It puts pressure on the synovial fluid around joints, which can cause pain, especially if you have arthritis.

I check the barometric pressure on my weather app, and it’s currently at 983 mb, lower than yesterday, when it was 993 mb.

www.directorthocare.com/does-temperature-and-barometric-pressure-affect-joints/#:~:text=Barometric%20pressure%20is%20the%20weight,on%20joints%20and%20cause%20pain.

My DH has OA in his shoulder and presently is suffering from bursitis and a frozen shoulder in the same place. Is frantic with pain and just been referred.
I have OA in my hips and fingers. Aching a lot but try to stay active or I just seize up.

NanTheWiser

It’s probably due to the plunge in barometric pressure that accompanies the storms we are having at the moment. It puts pressure on the synovial fluid around joints, which can cause pain, especially if you have arthritis.

I check the barometric pressure on my weather app, and it’s currently at 983 mb, lower than yesterday, when it was 993 mb.

www.directorthocare.com/does-temperature-and-barometric-pressure-affect-joints/#:~:text=Barometric%20pressure%20is%20the%20weight,on%20joints%20and%20cause%20pain.

Ah, that is interesting. I am usually fit and healthy, apart from the odd twinge in my knee or back, but this last few days my knees have been noticeably stiff and aching; out for a walk yesterday I was very aware of my knees. I thought maybe it was because I hadn't been out for my lengthy walks due to the weather and had stiffened up a bit.

I am also an arthritis sufferer, OA as well as stenosis and osteopenia. The cold and damp most certainly aggravates my condition but what are we to do - shopping needs doing, appointments to be met, - but GP and Physio both state that movement and exercise are good for me.

I have recently been prescribed Amytriptiline (think that's how to spell it) and I am not getting on at all well with it. Anyone else have any knowledge of this please?

I have arthritis in both hips. I find it is better when I do the exercises from NHS website and my physio has told me strengthening the muscles supporting my hips is the best thing to do.
I walk quite a lot and I'm not in as much pain after doing the exercises on most days.

To answer the OP I used to find I was worse in winter but I have been no worse this winter.

Astitchintime

I am also an arthritis sufferer, OA as well as stenosis and osteopenia. The cold and damp most certainly aggravates my condition but what are we to do - shopping needs doing, appointments to be met, - but GP and Physio both state that movement and exercise are good for me.

I have recently been prescribed Amytriptiline (think that's how to spell it) and I am not getting on at all well with it. Anyone else have any knowledge of this please?

My DH was prescribed this and stopped taking it because it made him feel woozy and didn’t help with the pain.

I have both RA and OA. The pain is different for each condition, but nothing dampens my RA despite gold standard medication. It is like a toothache which consumes my whole body.
Cold weather definitely impacts on my conditions. Hot water bottles, heat bags and a TENS machine are my friends.

It is difficult not to let it define, who you are.

Rapid or large changes in atmospheric pressure can have a painful effect on me: sinuses in the case of a sudden drop (like on the day before Storm Eowyn hit recently) and in my costosternal joints and right jaw (!) when it's rising significantly. MrB just thinks I'm a walking barometer and taps me on the forehead.

My knees were objecting before Storm Eowyn too. They don't usually.

So, yes, weather can make a difference and it's not just you MayBee.

Astitchintime

I am also an arthritis sufferer, OA as well as stenosis and osteopenia. The cold and damp most certainly aggravates my condition but what are we to do - shopping needs doing, appointments to be met, - but GP and Physio both state that movement and exercise are good for me.

I have recently been prescribed Amytriptiline (think that's how to spell it) and I am not getting on at all well with it. Anyone else have any knowledge of this please?

I had it for nerve pain due to shingles. I found it very good particularly at night. I don't take one at bedtime or I wake up a bit groggy so take one a couple of hours before bed and then 8 hours straight through. I'm normally a very poor sleeper.

I've been having huge problems with one knee- and the weather certainly makes a huge difference. Can hardly bend it at the moment and very painful. So no, not just you.

I find the weather effects my OA. I’m feeling quite fed up at the moment. In a lot of pain, especially in my knees and I can’t take anti inflammatories of any description. I need a knee replacement, but can’t have that either because of my medical history.

I have carpel tunnel problems in my right hand. It is definitely worse in cold weather so I've been suffering lately. I barely noticed it last year as I was away in sunnier climes over Christmas and we didn't have such extreme cold. I was referred for treatment abour 18 months ago but have heard nothing. I think I must have fallen off the waiting list and having had no problems last year didn't chase it up. Now I wish I had!

The weather seems to affect my OA in my right hip. The pain was so bad just before Christmas that I could hardly walk. I had to ring the doctor's up to get some stronger painkillers. It is a bit better now but I find it difficult to get to sleep at night because of the pain. Because I am on blood pressure tablets I can only take paracetamol and codeine which I try not to take too much of. I do exercises everyday but I cannot walk very far because of the pain. I haven't yet found a gel that works. I have an appointment to see a specialist about having a hip replacement next Monday.

My GP told me that the weather cannot affect arthritis according to the experts, but that recent results have shown that it's when the air pressure is low. That makes your soft tissues expand with the pressure being lower enabling the solid structures such as bones to press harder on the tissue causing pain. I really don't mind what the reason is personally but I'm glad they are beginning to accept that we are experiencing more pain.

That makes total sense to me. Today I went for long walk with dogs, and I walked normally, no limp, no pain, no knee 'giving in' - the change is incredible from day to the other.

NanTheWiser

It’s probably due to the plunge in barometric pressure that accompanies the storms we are having at the moment. It puts pressure on the synovial fluid around joints, which can cause pain, especially if you have arthritis.

I check the barometric pressure on my weather app, and it’s currently at 983 mb, lower than yesterday, when it was 993 mb.

www.directorthocare.com/does-temperature-and-barometric-pressure-affect-joints/#:~:text=Barometric%20pressure%20is%20the%20weight,on%20joints%20and%20cause%20pain.

I was told this some years ago by a doctor. We tend to think 'it is better in warmer climes' but that is because the atmospheric pressure is higher.