I have been suffering badly during the very cold weather. Is there any remedy for this ?

[Helz]

[sylvi]

Yes stay in the warm!! sorry my attempt at being funny. I don't go very far in the cold weather to be honest.

sylvi.x

[SarahKate-NRAS]

Hi Helz

Sorry to hear you are suffering in this very cold weather. It is widely accepted that the weather can affect the symptoms of some people with rheumatoid arthritis. Many people who are affected find warm weather better than cold, although damp heat often makes people uncomfortable, but the good news is it does not affect the progression of the disease. The weather will probably also make a difference to how you feel generally – cold, grey weather may lower your spirits so that the pain seems worse, while warmth and sunshine tend to have the opposite effect. However, arthritis and musculoskeletal pain occur in all climates, and although the weather may affect the symptoms of your arthritis or the way you feel, it will not cause the condition or affect the way it develops.

People will often find their own ways of coping with the cold, but these tend to be the typical methods of keeping warm, such as having a hot water bottle or hot wheat bag, some good woolly socks and gloves, lots of layers and blankets, and trying to stay out of the cold as much as possible.

Wishing you a warmer Winter!

Kind regards

Sarah Kate

NRAS Helpline

[Charlie36]

I have just bought a heated throw from a well known high street and mail order company and its fab! Its about 3ft x 5ft. Brown fleece fabric and its washable too. It covers the whole body. It has 9 heat setting and warms up in minites. As its a brown fleece is looks fine over a chair in the sitting room and not out of place. This plus a relaxation CD put me "away with the faries" very quickly. Cost about £39 but worth it. Made by Dreamland and called relaxwell luxury heated throw.

Charlie

[Hidden in reply to Charlie36]

Oh Charlie, thanks for telling us that...I need a heated throw in the evenings, while I watch TV with my cat. That sounds divine.

But alas, I have not seen any advertised here in the US!

Do they come in other colors? Don't think brown would blend so well in my "Peaches and Cream" room. L.x

[sciqueen]

Hi

I also hate the cold and it has also aggravated my RA. I've basically stayed in, used heat treatment (hot water bottle and hot wax baths) for my joints.

Tomorrow is the first day back at work since last friday and it's meant to be horrible with the posibilities of snow fall during tonite. I will do as much as I can and if standing in the cold affects me further, I shall turn back. But I will try!

There is lots of on here, when the temps drops or gets to hight suffer, so you are not alone.

Do the best you can to wrap up warmly and if possible stay inside.

Take care

Sci x

ps. I do feel a bit of a hermit, as I only go outside if I have to.

[Hidden in reply to sciqueen]

Sci, It is Thurs nigjht, is this the day you were going back to work? If so, how did it go?

I will be going to Cleveland tomorrow for the Hand Specialist, so will be back here late tomorrow-Friday. Stay warm!

It really is best to just not go anywhere, but none of us can stand that! We are all in the same boat, even though on different continents. Amazing! L.xx

[susanh]

Stay as warm a spossible lots of thin layers so you are not resistricted. I find a really warm top jumper and body warmer are invaluable in this weather as they keep you warm and do stop you moving

keep well and keep warm

[Hidden]

Also, and I know this is hard for us RAers sometimes, but try to move about as much as you can because exercise is best way of keeping the circulation working - especially if you can dress up really warm and get out for a walk - then you should feel better when you get back inside? TTx

[Jetblack]

What i do is wrap up a lot and move around as best i can, but when i am really fatigued and in a lot of pain, i switch on the electric blanket and retreat under the duvet with my i pod, and if i can hold one, a book, to try and distract me from the pain, and to keep warm, and try and chill out. Hope you are keeping warm whatever you and doing, take it easy x

[LavendarLady]

I find the extremes of cold and heat affect my RA. I have been suffering this last month and particularly this last 2 weeks in the cold. All you can do is keep warm, wrap up well,hot drinks etc and whatever pain killers you need.

Try to get as much rest as you can so as not to overdo the irritable joints. I find a heat pad on the affected bits helps although strangely enough, sometimes it is an ice pack which does the trick. Weird this disease.

I agree with Tilda - sometimes a short walk works and gets the joints moving. Exercise is considered to be very good for RA although the temptation is to hibernate and pull the covers over your head! If I force myself to get up and move around, I always feel better afterwards. Best wishes. LavendarLady x