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 xthank you so much Christine- I will give those a try😀
Cece xxSo sorry to hear about your terrible pain.
Your ideas were great and I will definitely keep them in mind. Do you use any type of medication cream? I have used Bio-freeze and find it helps. It is certainly not a cure all but does help.
God Bless You-
ScoobyDumFan
Parafin dip for arms and hands helps.
when it's cold the pain increase same here!!
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
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) yes I have a number of pairs of fingerless gloves including some fingerless ones😀
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 respectfully beg to differ. I rely on my "calming" med at a very low dose to keep me sane. I too have lost a husband of 25 years and am an only child, both parents deceased. I have 2 grandsons ages 20 and 15 that I am struggling to raise. Long story to say I'm in this alone basically. My 2 0.5 mg has already been reduced from 3 mg a day because of the pain meds. I am 71 years old and at my wits end. Thank you for letting me vent I’m sorry that life is so tough for you right now - that sounds like a lot to be carrying on your own. It’s hard to be raising grandchildren, I have 4 little ones (2,5,5 &8 years old) that I help out with after school and for a full day on Mondays with the 2 year old and I find it exhausting! I feel some dread at the thought of the long summer vacations from school and nursery when I spend 3 x12 hour days with them whilst their parent are at work.
I brought up my 3 younger siblings on my own from the age of 18 so I know all about wrangling teenage boys! Do feel free to direct message me - I’m not exactly sure how you can do this on this site but I’m sure that one of the Admins can advise on how to do it😀 I don’t like to think of you all alone with this, I’m not up to much physically these days but can always manage a listening ear and a chat.
Hugs,
Cece xx
