Changes in the weather

[Matt88]

I’m a 30 year old male currently awaiting a diagnosis of suspected RA. Aside from the fatigue and poor sleep my worst symptom has been morning stiffness particularly in my back and hips. For the last few days as the weather has been nice I’ve had none or very little morning stiffness. The weather turned yesterday and I was a bit achy in the evening watching tv and this morning pain and stiffness is back full force. Has anyone else noticed the weather affecting their symptoms? It seems weird but I remember my grandma always saying she could predict the weather with her knees!

[Deni52]

sadly yes I have, but who wants to be a the local weather man/woman ...not me 🤣

[oldtimer]

It does seem to vary from person to person. And studies have not been conclusive either way. Personally my symptoms seem to go up and down without any relationship to anything (apart from stress, but that may just be the inability to cope as well as when I'm not stressed). There was an app that you could download to keep a record seeing if symptoms matched weather changes - I kept it for a while and there didn't seem any relationship for me.

[Callabag64]

Hi there, had this disease a long long time and the weather has never been a factor. But I will say that I get very angry when someone says to me “ I bet this weather makes you worse” , RA auto immune disease, nothing to do with the weather !!!!!!!!

[Bhasvic64 in reply to Callabag64]

Totally agree I am lucky enough to spend a lot of time in a warm country people say it must help the joints does it heck! Still life goes on!

[jocascanet in reply to Callabag64]

I bet you are really being angry over the lack of knowledge and understanding many people have about rheumatoid arthritis. Frustrating. It is getting much better in the US. Probably because of all the RA biologic ads that are on TV.

[Hidden]

I can always tell when there's rain on the way, but when it arrives, I feel better.

[wishbone]

Don't want to build your hopes up too much, but RA typically affects joints like hands, knees and feet first rather than back and hips.

[singlecrochet in reply to wishbone]

though, I too have a lot of lumbar and hip pain..my rhuematologist concurred it was likely due to RA. I also have jaw pain!!

[wishbone in reply to singlecrochet]

I probably should have made myself more clear, but I didn't say that RA cannot affect spine and hips, I meant it's far more common to first show up in the joints I mentioned. I've also had jaw pain, which did not last long, thankfully, as it's not a nice thing to have.

[jocascanet in reply to wishbone]

There are a variety of rheumatoid autoimmune diseases that affect the joints in the spine and in the hips.

[PinkLamb]

Hi Matt,

Yes, I feel much better when the weather is warm, that's to do with vitamin D, none of us have enough in our bodies and should be taking a supplement vitamin D, that's what a pharmacist informed me of, and my rheumy nurse also said this to me, so along with all the other daily meds I take a vit d tablet as well!!

I do hope that it's not RA,

I don't get it in my back, but I do get a hell of a pain in my right hip, which could be osteoarthritis, as I have osteoarthritis in both my shoulders as well as RA

Hope that you get some relief 😌 soon, and it's not RA

X

[Hidden]

We are all so different. Hot weather definitely makes me worse. Cold weather is my friend this is how it has been for years until this year ...... because our UK weather has been so changeable this year one day hot next cold and wet I can feel my joints changing even in my sleep I have never had as many flares this year ( since Christmas) fatigue doesn’t even come close I’m like a zombie.GP said with the weather being so changeable his waiting room are full of RA patients . It doesn’t help but misery loves to be shared.

[TheBoys]

Hi Matt

I do find that the cold and damp of s british climate can be an issue for me particularly in my knee.

What i ve also discovered is that at night, the temperature in my bedroom will drop and any part of me exposed will suffer most. I do tend to thrash about a bit so my elbows, shoulders and knee will be more sore. So, I now have the heating on most nights on a low level. I also got a new mattress with a topper that has eased the pressure on weightbearing joints eg hip that are in contact with the mattress. When my back flares I also add a pillow under obe side to give myself some cushioning.

When I m in Spain and provided theres no humidity, my symptoms have actually eased. Its good for my lung as well. I also now make sure i wear PJs in bed as well bo matter where I am. So i guess for me a combination of heat, low humidity all help. This is easier in hot dry climates than in Britain

[Mmrr]

Its the extremes of weather that get me. I've never been a sun worshiper, but find the heat quite unbearable now. My joints get hot and uncomfortable.

The cold plays havoc with my raynaulds, but I find it easier to deal with as I can layer up with clothes and wear cashmere wristwarmers (recycled cashmere from an online company).

Moderation is the answer but difficult to get consistently in Scotland !

[Pawz4me]

I used to think weather had nothing to do with RA, but as I get more experience with it and have paid close attention to my reactions I've changed my mind on that, for myself. I definitely note that my joints that are most affected by RA are worse when the barometer is falling, like right before it rains or snows. I'm in the southern US and the humidity here in the summer definitely makes my symptoms worse. My guess is that for some of us joints that are already swollen become even more swollen during barometric changes or when the humidity is high. It's no different than wooden doors and things that swell when it's hot and humid. My already swollen joints swell a little more, and that means more pain and stiffness.

[Joy_1]

Versus Arthritis have the results of study coming out (actually I have not checked they may be out now) called 'cloudy with a chance of pain' all about the effects of the weather on our conditions.

[Matilda_1922]

I’m off to Dubai for 2 weeks visiting my daughter who lives there. Im hoping the warm will ease my pain. Can’t take co codamol with me as illegal in Dubai

[Hidden in reply to Matilda_1922]

Yes, not being able to take my painkillers prevents any stay over in Dubai, for me. Ridiculous of them to disallow medication that has been properly prescribed!

[pd118]

had to switch my soaps to safeguard - love no itches - also found out lactose intolerant ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Hidden]

Hello, I’m massively affected by the weather, from October last year until April this year, my symptoms were really bad and a lot of days I was so stiff and achy I couldn’t get up. Now I’m doing so much better and was the same last summer. It sucks as we get long winters! We’ve thought a few times about moving abroad but wouldn’t want to leave family and friends. Hope the weather stays warm for you!

[JFlay]

Hi Matt88, I had exactly the same symptoms as you but being a female of a certain age presumed (and was told by my previous GP) it was due to menopause 🙄 After blood tests by my new GP and a rheumy referral I was diagnosed seropositive RA in January.

I work outside as a voluntary groundsman (woman 😂) 2-3 days a week, which I love, but I really have to pace myself now. I was not good during the winter on cold and damp days, but I'm determined to keep doing it. Night time's are my worst for aches and pains in my SI joint areas and my feet and knees. I got an electric over blanket which really helps me. Best of luck!

[IslandLife53]

You betcha!! I retired three years to the Houston area for the great medical opportunities here from an island in the Pacific. My bad! Weather has changed (everywhere); it’s nothing as I expected. I have flare ups continuously. My rheumatologist mentioned that it’s the barometric pressure that is causing the flares. I asked if I should move and his response was that he has never recommended that to a patient but he would make an exception with me. I just completed a loading dose therapy of prednisone due to excessive redness, stiffness, swelling and pain. I usually take 5 mgs of prednisone a day. Best to you! If anyone disagrees about the weather changes affecting RA...ignore that person!

[Hidden]

Yes, the weather affects my arthritis rheumatoid and osteo a vast amount. There is a scientific explanation for this:

Low (meaning less) pressure causes blood vessels to expand; less pressure on the body allows it to expand very slightly. Adult blood vessels laid end to end would measure 60,000 miles!! This is a lot of area in which expansion takes place.

The expansion means that the capacity of the blood vessels increases, the amount of blood has not increased, therefore blood pressure drops. The brain perceives this phenomenon as a reduction in blood supply. It therefore stimulates the production of adrenaline which constricts the blood vessels thereby bringing blood pressure up again.

The increased adrenaline produces a decrease in cortisol production. Cortisol fights inflammation and so areas of inflammation become more painful.

Your grandmother certainly could predict the weather via her knees! My pain and fatigue is much better in warm weather / much worse in bad weather.

Normally, morning pain takes me a good two hours to overcome, despite medication and pain killers. I find a hot bath helps. In a warm climate I'm very much improved; I feel so much better.

I hope that your symptoms will soon be diagnosed and treated.

[LauraJM]

Matt I agree, I feel like a barometer. The sleep and stiffness will improve once you are medicated. Stretching/Pilates also helps relieve the stiffness.

[bear4ble]

Hot dry weather has positive effects on RA. You could try pycnogenol ( pine bark extract ), solgar male multiple and get the book 'Health Defence' by Dr Paul Clayton. His website is at drpaulclayton.co.uk. Also check web sites about RA type diets.