Chronic conditions
Why Do My Joints Hurt More in Cold Weather, and What Helps?
Why many people feel stiffer when it is cold, simple ways to ease joint pain through winter and when pain is worth checking.
Why joints ache when it is cold
- Air pressure drops before storms may let tissues around the joint expand slightly.
- Muscles tighten in the cold, putting more strain on joints.
- Less activity in winter leads to stiffness.
- Mood and sleep often dip in winter, which makes pain feel worse.
What helps
- Dress in layers, with gloves and warm socks.
- Warm up before going out: a warm shower or gentle stretches.
- Stay active indoors: walking laps, stationary cycling, swimming in a heated pool, tai chi or yoga.
- Use heat packs or warm baths for stiff joints.
- Keep a healthy weight; every pound lost takes several pounds of pressure off the knees.
- Try topical anti-inflammatory gels, which are gentler on the stomach than tablets.
Treating the underlying arthritis
Osteoarthritis responds to exercise, weight management, physical therapy, pain relief and sometimes joint injections. Inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, needs specific medicines from a specialist. Getting the right diagnosis makes a big difference to winter flare-ups.
How we can help
We assess which joints are affected and why, help you build an activity plan, and offer in-office joint injections when appropriate. Our regenerative medicine and joint care service looks at longer-term options for persistent knee and shoulder pain.
Questions people ask
Is it all in my head?
No. Many people report it, and studies suggest weather affects symptoms for some, even if the effect varies between people.
Should I move somewhere warm?
Warm climates help some people, but staying active and treating arthritis well usually matter more.
Do supplements help joint pain?
Evidence for glucosamine and chondroitin is mixed. Exercise and weight management have stronger evidence.
Talk it through with Lydia
Joints stiffening up this winter? Let us help you stay moving. See a board-certified nurse practitioner virtually anywhere in Virginia, in our Woodbridge office, or straight to your front door in much of Northern Virginia.
Visits start at $85, and every membership comes with a 30-day trial.
Prefer to ask first? Text us at (571) 402-2102 or message us on WhatsApp.
