5 Tips for Managing Joint Pain and Stiffness This Winter

Joint pain is a common complaint among adults, particularly during the cold winter months. If you’re prone to joint pain, stiffness, and limited mobility issues, preparing ahead of time for dropping temperatures can save you from the persistent discomfort winter weather can bring.

AABP Integrative Pain Care offers comprehensive care for adults with chronic joint pain resulting from injuries or chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis.

The board-certified anesthesiologists and pain medicine specialists work closely with you to find the appropriate pain management solution. They also offer resources to help you navigate the effects that seasonal changes have on your joint health.

The link between cold weather and joint pain

Cold weather affects your joints in several ways, causing stiffness, pain, muscle spasms, and other persistent symptoms. Here’s a closer look at why your joints hurt when the weather turns cold:

Thickening of lubricating fluids

Synovial fluid is a natural substance your body produces to lubricate joints. Cold temperatures cause this fluid to thicken, which can trigger stiffness and swelling in any of your joints. These symptoms can also prevent your joints from moving correctly.

Barometric pressure changes

In cold weather and before a storm, the barometric pressure drops. The pressure change can trigger swelling in the joints, which irritates the nerves and results in persistent joint pain.

Decreased blood circulation

Cold weather causes the blood vessels to constrict and can reduce the flow of blood to your extremities. Restricted blood circulation in the legs may lead to persistent pain in the knee, ankle, and hip joints.

Vitamin deficiencies

If you spend more time indoors during the winter months, your body may be short on vitamin D, an essential nutrient for joint health. Sunlight is a source of vitamin D, and insufficient sun exposure can contribute to joint-related symptoms.

4 effective strategies to manage joint pain this winter

Self-care strategies, such as exercising regularly, wearing protective winter gear, and using heat to warm up cold joints, are effective ways to preserve joint health during the cold winter months.

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and pain relievers, along with physical therapy, can also help improve joint flexibility and strength, thereby minimizing your risk of pain associated with weather changes.

If your pain is ongoing or severe, our skilled pain management specialists may recommend nonsurgical pain management therapies like:

1. Steroid injections

Steroid injections deliver anti-inflammatory and anesthetic medications directly into the inner structures of the affected joint.

2. Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation is an injectable treatment that relieves pain and improves function in the knee joints. Treatment involves injections of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that lubricates the joint, so it can move freely and without pain.

3. Regenerative therapies

Regenerative therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate, utilize substances derived from your blood and bone marrow to stimulate the regeneration of damaged tissues, thereby healing damaged joints from the inside out.

4. Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat energy to destroy inflamed or damaged nerves within the joint.

Our goal is to alleviate your existing symptoms, such as joint pain and swelling. We also focus on the long-term health of your joints to prevent chronic pain and the need for invasive surgery.

Call AABP Integrative Pain Care in Brooklyn, New York, today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for persistent joint pain or book an appointment online.