Osteoarthritis and the cold weather ( uk)

[Dijg]

I have osteoarthritis and I'm having trouble keeping the pain under control in the snowy weather...... any suggestions welcome please

[Rienij70]

Hi Dijg all I can say is keep warm and moving as much as you can. Hopefully spring is on the way.😊

[Hidden]

Hi Dijg, I've experienced osteoarthritis pain both ways, with flares from very cold weather in this country, and very hot weather when I lived in the tropics, so I think it's probably simplistic to say 'try to keep warm' generally. But spot heat may help. Do you have a hot water bottle/electric heat pad that you can use where the pain's worst. Keeping up movement is often not welcome when you are in pain, but actually it does prevent the worst 'seizing up' sort of discomfort you can get from things like sitting for too long at a time.

As Rienij70 has said, perhaps the best hope is just that spring is just around the corner!

Best wishes and I hope some of your pain eases soon.

[katieoxo60]

Hi there, I have osteo too, during this cold spell I have been using a wheat pad under my feet like an hotwater bottle& a microwave hottie under my fleece while sitting. Pain seems so much better if you are snuggly warm. Just took me half an hour to take down a light shade ,dust it and put it back up due to pain in my hands& lack of power in the muscles. Hope you feel more comfortable soon, but do appreciate how it feels.

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Dijg, welcome to this supportive community. As you have seen the folks here are very willing to come alongside you, and share from their experiences on what helps.

Osteoarthritis can be very painful and as Callendar'sgirl has said that flare can happen whether it's cold or hot weather. It has been a hard winter for many of us, and the sudden changes in temperature doesn't help. Yes hopefully Spring will begin to bring warmer days. When you can, wrap up warm and try and get outside for a short walk and fresh air. Even if you are inside your home, layering your clothes such as using thermal underwear e.g. Long sleeved vests, and long Johns, woollen tights or long socks, then thinner, warmer top layers, can really help keep your body heat in. Marino wool is very warm, light, thinner and not bulky. Then you can peel off the layers to adjust your body temperature. Also using fingerless gloves keeps your hands warm when using the computer etc. If you are not so mobile, keep your home, or the room you are most in during the day heated. As folks have said, use microwave heat bags, hot water bottles, small electric heat pads to place on the areas of most pain. If you are sitting down a lot, put a warm blanket over you. If you can get up and move about that will be good to generate heat and keep your limbs moving. If sitting, wiggle your toes, do passive exercises like tightening your calf muscles to keep things moving.

Here's some advice on pain management and daily living tips from Arthritis Research UK:

arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,

MAS Nurse

[Cas70]

You poor thing - to help with my pain I use Olbas Oil - I rub in circular motion on each joint that hurts. I take Turmeric too. If you go to turmericforhealth.com there is advice. I have so improved since I started it and so has a friend. Good luck