Why do I feel more pain from old injuries when it's cold outside?
While many people are aware of what cold weather can do to your health, extreme cold weather can also affect how your medications can work
Many people complain of aches and pains as the temperatures drop and winter weather sets in. Some go as far as to say that they can predict rain and snowfall just by the aches that occur from an old injury. Is this all in your head, or is there really some truth behind this mysterious ability to predict the weather? This belief has been around since ancient Greece or about 400 B.C.
Photo by Viktor Kern
An Age-Old Problem Still Has No Definite Answer
Hippocrates was the first person to make a note of these bizarre sensations. The old saying "I'm under the weather" came from these strange feelings. There must be something to this phenomenon since so many can attest to its occurrence. However, it’s been more than 2,400 years, and no one has come up with a scientific reason why people’s bodies are so in-tune with the weather.
While there may be no substantial evidence, there are plenty of useful theories and some speculation about why joints ache when it's cold. The best explanation to describe cold weather sensations is a change in the barometric pressure. When a storm rolls in, the barometric pressure in the atmosphere changes. These alterations cause the expansion of the soft tissues around the joints, which increases fluid levels. The development irritates the nerves and causes discomfort. The problem seems to be exacerbated in an area where there is an old injury.
It’s hard for the ordinary person to grasp the theory behind these shifts in pressure. However, these variations can best be compared to a balloon. To fill a balloon, you push air to the inside. There is also air pushing it from the outside too. The same thing happens to your joints.
When the pressure in the atmosphere drops, it causes tension to be felt from the outside of the body. The gasses on the inside of the body also expand. Though the changes in fluid levels are minuscule, they are still enough to irritate the nerve endings, causing discomfort. The brain registers these changes and interprets them as soreness.
How Does the Cold Affect Old Injuries?
Have you ever heard the saying, “aches and pains, coming rains?” This phrase was devised by Dr. Robert Jamison, a famous Harvard Medical School professor. He took the theory of atmospheric pressure and related it directly to an old injury.
Many times, the nerves don’t heal properly, and they still have damage. Though the damage might be microscopic, it’s certainly still there. When the fluid levels change, it puts pressure on the area, which puts a strain on the nerve endings. The result is a feeling of discomfort.
Some feel minor aches and tension from rain and snow, but others are in terrible pain. The muscles are automatically tense in the cold weather. As they become more rigid, they can also put pressure on those nerves causing more significant distress.
Photo by Hugo Roy
Tips To Combat The Weather Related Aches and Pains
Sadly, many turn to medications to combat this weather-related discomfort. If you were to move to a warmer climate, your body would soon adjust. Even if it’s 90 degrees every day where you relocate, whenever a storm rolled in, your body would feel those atmospheric changes, and it would react accordingly.
If you must go out when it’s cold, then you should always stay warm by dressing in layers. Make sure to warm up your car before getting in and driving. Also, many find relief from a heated blanket or mattress pad on their bed.
Heat seems to be the answer to soothe aching joints, and it helps the muscles to relax. While the heat will help with pain, it won’t make the swelling go away. There are other remedies for inflammation.
The Bottom Line
The key is to keep moving even if you ache. Many exercises can increase blood flow and move the fluids away from the sore joints. Relocating the fluids will help to reduce stiffness. If the changes in weather become unbearable, then it’s something you should talk to your doctor about.
An old injury can cause grief for many decades, but you can learn to manage the pain and stiffness and live a productive life. Be sure to check the weather, and know the local forecasts, so you can be prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store.
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