Simple ways to prevent joint pain in cold weather.

The changing seasons, especially from autumn to winter, create favorable conditions for the appearance and recurrence of musculoskeletal diseases, with joint pain being a common occurrence.

So, what should we do to prevent joint pain during seasonal changes?

Characteristics of bone and joint pain

Typically, when the weather changes, especially with heavy rain, cold, or frost, people with bone and joint diseases often experience pain, aching, numbness, and stiffness in their joints, particularly at night.

For those in difficult economic circumstances, lacking warm clothing, blankets, and mattresses, living in poorly ventilated houses, and with inadequate nutrition in both quantity and quality, bone and joint pain becomes even more agonizing and distressing.

Joint pain and numbness can range from mild to serious conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or joint stiffness. In some cases, intercostal neuralgia is caused by spinal degeneration, often mistaken for cardiovascular or lung disease, leading to increased anxiety and worry, especially during the transition from autumn to winter (rain, cold, freezing temperatures, etc.).

It's worth noting that the more pain and aching in the bones and joints, the more afraid patients become to move, leading to stiffness and difficulty in movement of the joints, especially the knees, wrists, and fingers.

Supplement your diet with calcium-rich foods that are good for your bones and joints.

Why are joint pains more common during cold weather?

The reason for joint pain in cold weather is that cold air penetrates the body through the skin via pores, causing blood vessels in the skin to constrict. This restricts or significantly reduces blood flow to the joints, leading to insufficient blood supply to nourish them. The synovial membranes and cartilage are also irritated, causing pain.

Therefore, in cold weather, if you don't dress warmly enough, your house isn't well-ventilated allowing drafts, and your blankets and mattresses aren't warm enough, joint pain is more likely to occur, especially in older people with pre-existing joint conditions. Additionally, some people with osteoporosis experience joint pain, and overweight or obese individuals also suffer from weight-bearing joints, making joint pain worse when exposed to cold.

If these conditions are not gradually addressed, they will lead to joint degeneration, especially in weight-bearing joints such as the lumbar spine, knee, and ankle joints.

How is it treated?

When experiencing joint pain, especially in cold weather, patients should see a doctor, preferably a rheumatologist, to determine the cause (physical damage, osteoarthritis, or simply reactive arthritis) and receive early treatment.

Do not be complacent or underestimate the condition, do not self-diagnose (if you lack medical expertise), and do not self-medicate. It is especially important not to self-medicate with corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone, etc.) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam, mobic, etc.).

The reason is that some pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs can have undesirable side effects. For example, in people with asthma, using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can trigger asthma attacks, sometimes life-threatening. Similarly, in people with joint pain accompanied by stomach or duodenal ulcers, using corticosteroids (prednisolone, methylprednisolone, solu-medrol, etc.) or aspirin can cause acute stomach bleeding, which, if not detected and treated promptly, can be life-threatening.

Is disease prevention difficult?

Regarding prevention, it's important to keep your body warm. To do this effectively, dress warmly, wear a warm scarf around your neck, gloves on your hands, socks on your feet, and a warm hat on your head. When going outside, dress even warmer to avoid catching a cold that could negatively affect your joints, causing pain, aching, numbness, and tingling.

When experiencing joint pain, numbness, or fatigue, especially upon waking, warm the area around the affected joint by scraping or massaging with oil (such as medicated oil or balm). This helps dilate blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily to nourish the joints and reduce pain.

It is necessary to bathe daily with hot water in a draft-free room. After bathing, dry yourself thoroughly and put on clothes immediately to avoid catching a cold and causing joint pain.

According to Vietnam.net