Suffer from joint pain?
You have my sympathies. Joint pain can range in severity from mild to mind-numbing and many find that when the weather is wet it gets worse.
If this happens to you, do you know why?
Some people say that those who claim to ‘feel the weather in their bones’ are just repeating an old wives’ tale, but scientists say it is really true. What they’ve found is that it’s not so much the rain that causes them pain: it’s actually the fact that it’s going to rain.
If you pay attention to the weather forecaster, then you know that before it rains the barometric pressure falls. Barometric pressure is the weight of the atmosphere.
You don’t feel it, but it presses in on your body, and that keeps your tissues in place. When the pressure falls there is less pressure on your tissues, so they can swell out, and that puts pressure on your joints.
It’s the same thing that may cause your feet to swell when you’re flying on a plane. At higher elevations, there is lower air pressure, and that lets your tissues spread out.
Though some people respond to the problem by moving to a warm and dry climate, there are plenty of other ways to deal with joint pain.
8 Ways to Ease Joint Pain on Rainy Days
1. Keep Warm
Warmth eases pain and also gives you a sense of coziness and of being taken care of.
Wear layers. If it’s cold outside and you have to drive, let your car warm up for a few minutes before you leave.
Wrap yourself up in a towel or blanket that has spent a few minutes warming in the dryer. This also serves to make you feel pampered so win-win! A heating pad can help too.
2. Wear supportive clothing
To reverse the swelling of tissues, try wearing compression clothing that covers the areas that give you pain. Gloves, knee wraps and ankle wraps are all available in drug stores.
3. Exercise
Even though it may be hard to get yourself up and moving when you’re in pain, if you exercise it will ease stiffness.
4. Try Acupuncture
Studies have shown that the Ancient Chinese practice can ease joint pain.
5. Go for a Swim
Of all the types of exercise, swimming is one of the best for easing pain and boosting physical functioning in those who have arthritis, especially in the knees.
I realize not everyone has access to a pool, beach or lake but if the pain is bad enough it could be worth the investment to join a gym or community center that has a pool. Swimming is a fantastic low impact workout too!
6. Try Capsaicin
The compound that makes peppers hot is also known for pain relief. A study showed that it gets rid of a chemical in the brain that activates your pain centers.
There are lots of creams and ointments that contain capsaicin.
7. Take Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate Supplements
These two compounds are found in human cartilage. Studies have shown that taking it for a few months can ease pain and improve functioning. Just be sure to buy from a trusted source since supplements are not FDA regulated.
8. Eat Fish Oil
Foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids ease inflammation. Good choices include flax seed, salmon, wild rice, and eggs. Here's a great recipe you can try: Salad Nicoise with Grilled Fish
If you want more on knee, back and other joint pain then check these videos out:
2 Tricks to Relieve Lower Back and Knee Pain (immediately)
How to Help Knee, Hip and Back Pain
Yours in health and happiness,
Danette
P.S. Please share this with your friends who dread rainy days due to joint pain. Do your knees always know it will rain even before the weatherman tells you?
