RA and Cold Weather
How does the cold weather impact your symptoms? Have you found anything that helps manage pain and stiffness during the winter season?
I’m aware that very cold weather really affects my joints, increasing my pain and stiffness. I find that endeavouring to stay warm makes the biggest difference for me - so I will dress in layers such as fleece lined leggings under jeans, thermal vests with long sleeves, wool socks. I use pocket sized heat packs if I have to stand outside for more than a few minutes (collecting grandchildren from school). In the house I use reflective panels behind my radiators to reflect the heat back into the room rather than it escaping out through the house walls (brick) - these look like thick aluminium foil and have a rod with hooks that attach to the radiator. These have made a big difference! I try to only heat the rooms that I am using via radiator thermostats - since the cost of fuel increased so much a few years ago I am more wary of heating costs. I have a heated pad for my back that goes in the microwave then stays warm for several hours, this works both for pain and as a warming device😀 When sitting on the sofa or lying on top of my bed resting during the day I have a variety of rugs, throws and a heated over- blanket.
The colder I get the stiffer my joints get - then more pain, it can be a vicious circle and is miserable 🙁
Having a thermos flask filled with a hot drink (lemon tea being my favourite) that I can drink from, as required, is so helpful !
Trying to make sure that I move around on a regular basis and using ‘range of movement’ exercises with my hands and arms and legs and feet keeps the blood moving around and aids keeping warm and preventing stiffness from setting in.
One of the best developments in ‘car comfort’ for me has been heated seats with back warmers and a complete revelation in my most recent car - a heated steering wheel! I cannot describe what a difference that has made- I have even used it in the summer to soothe very sore, swollen hand/finger joints.
The eternal RA favourite of wax baths for hands or feet are a home treat that really comes into its own in colder weather!
Apologies for a somewhat longer reply than intended - we are in the middle of a very cold snap just now where I live!
Hope this is helpful😀
Go Well,
Cece x
No need to apologize for the long reply! I’m sure many people will find your experience really helpful, as you’ve shared some fantastic ideas for keeping warm and easing pain. But it sounds like you've found a perfect balance of staying warm and managing your pain. Everything you mentioned, from layers of clothing to the heated seat and steering wheel, is such a great idea for making life a little easier in colder weather. And hot tea with lemon is always my go-to! Nonetheless, stay warm, and I hope the weather improves soon for you! 🌟 -Latoya (Team Member)
Parafin dip for arms and hands helps.
Hi
. Thanks for sharing this work around. I'm definitely going to show it to Kelly - always great to see the way community members try to help each other out. Best, Richard (Team Member) 
I find this method works well but it can be really easy to burn so be careful when using it.
I have Reynauds so gloves are very important for me. I have fingerless gloves to read with on my tablet and they are surprisingly effective
oh I appreciate you sharing that, because I do find that surprising. So even though the gloves are fingerless you find that it helps your Raynauds? -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member) Hi
. I know that our contributor Daniel finds fingerless gloves helpful for multiple things. I even recall him badly cutting his finger when he couldn't find his gloves and was trying cut the fingers off a regular set of knives with kitchen knife - he highly recommended not trying that (Daniel likes to mix humor with his input). Thank you for sharing. Best, Richard (Team Member)
Wheat or grain heat packs / mini muscle pillows, warmed up in the microwave oven, help when the weather sets on. I love in Australia so we are opposite of the Northern hemisphere, but the rainy season wrecks my joints. I am a human barometer! But heat packs seem to do the most for me in the weather extremes. Curcumin tablets and ibuprofen help take the edge off as well as inflammation is put at bay.....for a while.
, I love my grain heat packs and use them frequently, too!
I know many folks here joke about being human barometers, able to predict weather changes with the accuracy of a seasoned weather forecaster. It's kind of an unwanted 'gift' (??) that can come with RA!
I hope you are enjoying your summer season and that it's not too rainy or extreme right now!
Best, Erin, Team Member.
