From the article: Weather - Do You Feel the Storm Approaching?
Many people with arthritis claim they are affected by weather changes. Their joints ache when storms are approaching or when seasons change. It's so dramatic for some, they like to say that they can predict the weather. But it's really not funny.
Researchers have studied the effect of weather on arthritis. Essentially, they determined that while weather changes do not affect the course of the disease, some people may experience worsening of symptoms -- and the degree of that is subjective. Are you affected by weather changes? Explain what happens, when it starts, and how long it lasts? What do you do about it?
Share Your ExperienceRain or Snow
- Several hours before a rain or snow storm, I am in so much pain I can hardly move. As soon as it rains or snows, the pain is almost completely gone. What a relief. Usually very humid summer days are bad too. Sitting in the sun helps the pain somewhat.
- —Guest Gail
Weather changes hurt
- I am 15 years old and whenever the weather changes or a storm is coming my ankles start to ache, the aching lasts from 20 min up to hours. Nothing I do seems to help. I have sprained my right ankle and that is the one that hurts the most. Sometimes I have trouble walking when this happens. The aches sometimes runs up my leg as well and affects my knees. Should I be concerned?
- —Guest paige
Absolutely!!
- I had no problems with storm or barometric pressure until after I had a car accident and developed fibromyalgia, disc problems and muscle damage. I don't even have to look at the weather to know that barometric pressure is up or that a storm is approaching. When the pressure is up I absolutely have a crushing pressure in my back hips and neck. Its like a mounting pressure from within. When a storm is coming, the pressure will slowly build as it gets closer and slowly abate as it moves through. Anyone who tries to tell me that weather has no correlation has obviously never experienced this on a daily basis! There is sometimes no amount of medication or anything else that will help with the tremendous pain until the pressure drops or the storms start to move away. I absolutely feel for all who are affected with these problems. Makes life a challenge along with life's normal challenges.
- —JEgerton
BACK PAIN
- IT SEEMS STRANGE BUT I FEEL SO BAD WHEN THE WEATHER IS GOOD AND SO GOOD WHEN THE WEATHER IS BAD.
- —Guest ROSALIE
Dang Tootin'
- I've had neck and spine surgery resulting in 2 types of titanium fixtures and I know for a fact that when the barometer changes, the humidity increases, or it gets colder, I'm in for some misery. I'm only 50 and live in Central Ohio, so I have had lots of occasions to be out in the weather. And lots of chances to be sure that's what is happening.
- —Guest Humidity Rod
My Darwinian interpretation
- If I were a nomad or explorer, joint pain before a storm would be a great advantage!
- —Guest Alejandro
Bad weather increases my arthritis pain!
- I have osteoarthritis in my knees avnd hips plus degenerative disc disease. When a storm is approaching or a weather front is on the way, the pain my knees and hips becomes so bad I am almost immobile. Once the front passes or the rain or snow storm is over, my pain decreases dramatically. I have become my family's weather barometer!
- —Guest Mary Lehman
Absolutely!
- I found this site looking up "Why does weather affect arthritis?" I have arthritis in my knees, ankles, feet, wrists, back, elbows, and most of all in my hands. My hands just began throbbing and I wondered weather rain was coming in... sure enough, the the weather forecast is for rain the next two days. Humidity, cold, and low pressure are significant factors, as any sufferer knows.
- —Guest fower
4 Weather problems
- I have OsteoArthritis and Degenerative Disk Disease. Weather has extreme effects on me in 4 ways: humidity, cold, wind, and rain. Any of these alone is painful but 2 or more in combination are much worse. As far as when a storm is coming, my pain increases as a storm approaches. Sometimes when the storm actually arrives I get some relief other times there is no relief until the storm passes completely. I have moved from the midwest of the US to the desert and this has helped a great deal, (I can tell when I go back for a visit). It's obvious to me that there is a link between the weather and arthritis, I want to know scientifically what is happening and why.
- —Guest Mary
Humidity
- I have arthritis in both hips, especially bad in the left. Much more pain today and I believe it is because rain is on the way. Joints are very tender. Nothing else is different so I think it's the humidity.
- —bklynbombshell
Weather experience
- I've noticed during cold weather my arthritis aches more and also every time my affected areas are exposed, the worse the pain is.
- —Guest angelique
Humidity
- I have arthritis in both wrists. I live on Cape Cod, MA. I am attempting to learn if my difficulty/pain is associated with the rise and fall of the humidity or with the ratio/ or the percent of humidity to the temperature? I have noticed great discomfort when the humidity is higher than the temperature and when the humidity is increasing. I want to better understand what happening to my wrists in relationship to the humidity/ temperature and my arthritis. My wrists swell and ache on very warm/hot humid days in the summer. I have not carefully recorded what happens during the winter, but intend to do so this year. Can anyone offer any information?
- —Guest Jackie
