Why do my joints seem to know when it will rain?
Most people with joint pain notice it, so you are not imagining things. The honest answer is that what we know about weather and joint pain is mixed, and no one has settled how it works.
What we do know is that joints that are already sore, stiff or worn tend to be the ones that complain. Ipoh’s pattern of hot mornings and heavy afternoon rain gives you plenty of chances to notice.
What might be going on?
There are a few ideas, and more than one may apply to you.
- Changes in air pressure may affect already sensitive joints.
- Rainy days keep you indoors, so you move less and stiffen.
- Cold air-conditioning can tighten muscles around a joint.
- Low mood on gloomy days can make pain feel stronger.
- Damp clothes and cold floors make you shiver and tense up.
You do not need to know which one it is. Each has something you can do.
What helps on a rainy afternoon?
Keep moving inside. Walk up and down the corridor, march on the spot while the kettle boils, or do simple chair exercises. Our guide on keeping active in Ipoh’s rainy afternoons has ideas.
Warmth soothes stiff joints. A warm shower, a warm towel or a hot-water bottle for ten minutes is gentle and cheap. Avoid sitting in damp clothes, and dry your feet well.
How do I handle the air-conditioner?
Set it a little warmer if you can, and move so the air does not blow straight onto your knees, hips or neck. Wear a light layer or put a blanket over your knees in the office.
Stand up every thirty minutes and walk for a minute. A joint that sits still in cold air stiffens quickly.
How can I find out whether weather matters for me?
Keep a simple diary for a month. Each evening, write the pain level from zero to ten, the weather, how active you were and what you did about it.
After a few weeks, look for patterns. You may find that the sore days are the days you sat the longest, not the rainy ones. That is useful, because activity is something you can change.
When is joint pain more than weather?
See a doctor if a joint is swollen, hot and red, or if you have a fever with joint pain. See one too if pain wakes you at night and keeps getting worse. Joints that stay stiff in the morning for more than an hour may need a check for inflammatory arthritis.
Read about wear and tear in the joint, called knee osteoarthritis, joint stiffness and rheumatoid arthritis. A physiotherapist can build a plan to keep you moving in any weather; see our home physiotherapy page.