One of the most common things we hear when we ask patients what makes their pain worse is “the cold” or “the damp”. Many people who suffer from arthritic conditions also report that the weather affects their joints. In fact, two out of three people who have musculoskeletal pain report that the weather makes their pain worse, but how true is that and what kind of weather change affects people’s pain levels?
There is no doubt that the environment and weather affect our health. For instance, an increase in localised air pollution results in an increase in heart, lung, and cancer mortality, whereas an increase in temperature results in more common deaths from heart attacks and coronary heart disease. Even though many people consider the weather as an exacerbating factor for their pain, there hasn’t been a lot of research done to fully support this.
Temperature and Pain
The most common weather people mention that worsens their pain is the temperature. A recent review, however, showed this not to be the case when considering the pain from osteoarthritis and low back pain. They did, however, find that temperatures above 21ºC combined with low humidity (under 60%) doubled the risk of a flare-up of pain in people who suffer from gout. Some studies suggest that temperature fluctuations, especially cold weather, can intensify chronic pain, particularly for those with arthritis. This may be due to changes in joint fluid viscosity, where colder temperatures thicken the fluid, making movement more difficult.
Humidity and Pain
It’s common to hear people say that “the damp affects my joints”. The same review showed that an increase in humidity does produce a small but significant increase in general musculoskeletal pain when humidity rises. For more specific conditions like osteoarthritis and low back pain, however, symptom severity reporting remained the same. High humidity might worsen swelling in arthritic joints, which could lead to increased pain.
Other Weather Factors and Pain
If cold and damp weather produced more pain, then it would be reasonable to expect people living in colder and wetter countries to experience more pain. In fact, the opposite is true, with people living in colder climates and suffering from osteoarthritis reporting less pain than those in warmer climates.
There is also no real increase in symptoms reported when the barometric pressure (air pressure) changes. Two studies in the review measured a reduction in musculoskeletal pain symptoms when the air pressure rose. However, some people with joint pain, especially arthritis, may be sensitive to changes in barometric pressure3. This could be due to the nerves in exposed bones becoming more sensitive to pressure changes when cartilage wears away3. Another theory suggests that changes in barometric pressure may cause tendons, muscles, and scar tissue to expand and contract, leading to pain in affected joints.
Here in the UK, we have plenty of rainy days, but according to the review, rain has absolutely no effect on the reporting of pain of any kind. Strangely, an increase in wind speed does result in a very small increase in the reporting of low back pain.
Why Do People Believe Weather Affects Pain?
So why do people commonly report that the weather affects their pain levels? The answer may be that these people have other features that influence their pain, such as psychosocial complications and/or other medical conditions.
The answer to the question “does the weather affect your pain?” appears to be: not directly, but it may affect how you view your pain and what you associate changes in your pain levels with. Even so, a number of my patients have said that they get a headache when a storm is coming, so who knows?
It’s important to note that the impact of weather on arthritis symptoms can vary among individuals and differ depending on the type of arthritis. If you’re concerned about how weather may be affecting your pain, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional for personalised advice.
If you are experiencing pain and would like to explore how osteopathy can help, contact The Osteopathy Centre today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced osteopaths. We offer a range of treatments to help relieve pain, improve mobility, and enhance your overall well-being.