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Weather changes can mean increased joint pain, doctor says

PHOTO PROVIDED Dr. David Bulbin talks with a patient recently at his office in Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. The rheumatologist says the coming of cold and/or wet weather often can cause those suffering with arthritis to feel more pain.

For some people, cold weather means more than just uncomfortable frigid air.

It also can mean increased misery from already aching joints.

Dr. David Bulbin, a Geisinger Medical Center rheumatologist, said there’s certainly medical research to support a correlation between dropping temperatures and barometer readings to arthritis flare-ups.

“If your grandmother told you that it’s going to rain when she aches, there is truth to that,” he said.

The good news is that steps can be taken to help relieve or lessen those arthritic episodes.

Studies have shown that cold weather may shrink tissues, causing them to pull on nerve endings and resulting in joint pain. Nerve endings become more sensitive in colder weather and the muscles surrounding the nerves tense up.

“Changes in temperature and barometric pressure actually change a patient’s recognition of pain,” Bulbin said.

The joint capsule, he said, is a closed space, and a drop in the barometer seems to change pressure in that capsule. Barometric pressure refers to the weight of the surrounding air.

Research at Tufts University in Boston revealed that every 10-degree drop in temperature can bring incremental increase in arthritis pain. In addition, the research found low barometric pressure, low temperatures and precipitation can heighten pain.

That research linked certain atmospheric conditions to a swelling in the joint capsule.

Bulbin said for most people the increased pain resulting from weather conditions is normally not excruciating.

“It’s more of a nuisance type of pain. Patients will be more stiff,” he said. “It’s not incapacitating by any stretch.”

Bulbin said being physically active is among the best ways of warding off or at least diminishing the pain of the arthritic episodes caused by weather changes.

A regimen of exercise that concentrates on strengthening the muscles and joints is a good practice.

“If the muscles aren’t strong, the joints won’t stay in their natural place,” he said. “The better you keep everything in line, the better you’ll feel.”

Swimming, he said, is an excellent exercise regimen, as it alleviates pressure from the joints.

Stretching muscles is a good practice as well.

And, bundling up in cold weather can help keep muscles and nerves warm, minimizing muscle contractions and pain.

But not in all cases.

“Some people don’t like what heat does to the joints,” he said. “If a joint is swollen, ice can bring down swelling.”

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