Cold weather and RA

rachelj

Morning all,

I hope you have survived the recent high winds, gales, down pours, thunderstorms and general pants weather.

The past few days my hands have been stiffer and more painful than usual, I can't decide if its the start of another flare up or just the weather? Does cold weather and change in pressure have an affect on RA? I know many people with OA say they can feel the weather changing in their joints. Is it already time for me to break out the gloves :?

Rach

speedalong

Hi Rachel,

I have OA and my joints react to the weather - I HATE what the winter does to mine.

Be interesting to hear what the RA folks say ...

Speedy

pixie01

rachelj wrote:

Morning all,

I hope you have survived the recent high winds, gales, down pours, thunderstorms and general pants weather.

The past few days my hands have been stiffer and more painful than usual, I can't decide if its the start of another flare up or just the weather? Does cold weather and change in pressure have an affect on RA? I know many people with OA say they can feel the weather changing in their joints. Is it already time for me to break out the gloves :?

Rach

Hi Rach,

Morning, I have IA and some OA, but have noticed lower back aching and stiffness which is new for me, maybe it is the weather
My hands have the IA, but they are no different than usual.
Interested to hear others views

Jo x

annic4363

Hi there

I think in common with most RA sufferers I definitely feel more sore when it is cold... But then I swell up like a balloon when it is hot too.. So basically I have 2 weeks in September when I feel better! (JOKE!)

But seriously if you are sore can I suggest you try wheat bags? If no-one has suggested this to you previously they are a great help for sore knees and ankles particularly. A Google search will find lots of suppliers and they aren't expensive. The idea is that you put them in the freezer to keep them cold. I then microwave them CAREFULLY! - to make them hot once they have warmed up so that you can apply hot and cold to your sore joints. I am not sure it has huge therapeutic value but they make me feel better. And as they are wheat you can use them over and over again.

I get mine from a lovely lady in East Sussex who puts lavender in with the the wheat which is very comforting. Also mine have pockets to stop the wheat all ending up one end. I would put the web address here but I think that is not allowed! If you would like it please send me a direct message and I would be happy to do send that to you.

I hope you feel better soon...

Chat soon

Annie xx

angie1973

I have OA but mine definitely get worse in the cooler, damper differing pressures type weather. Put it this way, over the winter I could not walk without a walking stick. During the summer I have so far (touch wood), been stick free.

I am dreading winter....

I hope your pain eases off soon, I am all for keeping the joints warm, hope it helps and gives you some relief.

Ange..

dreamdaisy

I have PA which is unaffected by the weather: it's always rubbish. DD

wibberley

I don't help myself much by tensing up when cold - so I have a thick scarf round my neck pretty much permenantly from September - April!

I've had RA since I was 7 but it was in full remission during my years spent in Jakarta, Houston and Dubai. My joints are obviously happier in warmer climes!

Lois x

rachelj

Well that's it, my best option is to emigrate, do you think the NHS will pay for relcation costs

Annie - I to am a big fan of the wheat bag, I take it to work with me, I take it to bed with me, I sit on the sofa with it, it doesn't stop the pain but I would describe it as a comforter. I think it makes you feel like its something else to do/try before reaching for the pain killers.

I think I am just feeling knarked after my wrists finally settled down and felt a bit more normal to start again in my hand with the aches is just not fair. On the plus side gives the Rheumatologist something to look at on Thursday, I was beginning to wonder if I am not having a lot of discomfort he would send me away and say see you again in 2 months, you ain't that bad yet!

Thanks for your feed back, I will pay extra thought to what I wear.

Rach

dreamdaisy

Any rheumatologist worth their salt knows that our condition fluctuates from day to day: if you are on a good day when you see him stress that fact and tell him what a bad day is like. He should take that into account when reviewing you. I don't play brave when I see my rheumatologist now. It's pointless: tells her nothing, gets me nowhere! DD

lindalegs

When I'm having a bad day I look for something to blame:

the weather overdoing it the day before the weather something I ate the weather something I drank the weather ................. even the hubby :shock:

Luv Legs

dreamdaisy

I blame the arthritis! DD

sillyswede

I have to agree with cold weather effects. In March, I had to pop over to Sweden briefly. They had the worst (as in coldest and snowiest) winter for decades last time round, and temperatures were averaging -15 to -20. My knees ached badly the whole time I was there... :!: