From healthline.com
Over the years, I’ve found strategies to help prevent rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups and reduce symptoms during the winter months.
For a lot of people living with arthritis, it may seem as if your flare-ups occur more frequently or more severely during a particular season. For some, like me, colder weather and rain may trigger disease activity.
When I was 26 years old, I learned that cold weather triggered my flare-ups, 6 years after my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis. Since childhood, I have always loved watching and experiencing the rain. Often, this led me to enjoy storms a little too closely and come home soaking wet.
At 26 years old, I learned the hard way that I couldn’t do that anymore after a severe flare-up, despite warming myself again after coming inside after being in the rain. I learned that it might not be the best idea to push my body’s limits when spending time in the cold weather.
If you experience more frequent flare-ups or more severe arthritis symptoms in the colder parts of the year, here are some tips that could make these months easier. Learning what to avoid and incorporate into my daily routine has given me a little more control over my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
While some strategies have provided immediate relief, others have had a more long-term impact on me. Now that I understand how to manage my RA in the colder months, I experience fewer flare-ups, even during the winter.
If the cold triggers your symptoms, this is the most important tip. Rather than finding ways to warm yourself when you’re already cold, look for ways to prevent getting cold in the first place.
I dress as warmly as possible by layering my clothes. I focus mainly on keeping the areas of my body that experience the most pain — my hands, knees, and legs — warm.
Remember to wear gloves and a hat every time you venture out into the cold. On days when it’s especially cold, rainy, or both, I try to decrease the time I’m in the cold altogether.
Warm water is a quick (and low-cost) way to ease pain in the body caused by low temperatures. I recommend investing in a hot water bottle. You can fill it with hot water and place it on your joints and other areas where you feel pain.
If you live near a heated swimming pool or hot tub, you can incorporate exercise and warm water. The combination of gentle movement and warmth may help relieve stiffness and pain in your joints.
To make hydrotherapy even more beneficial, you can ask a doctor or occupational therapist about particular movements that can help you swim with less pain. Also, after swimming, be sure to completely dry off and put on warm clothes quickly to avoid becoming cold.
If a heated swimming pool is not available, you might find relief in warm baths. I often add Epsom salt.
According to 2018 research, daily movement can help lessen symptom severity and reduce your risk of systemic manifestations
While limiting your outdoor activities in cold weather, you could try indoor exercises that are also gentle on your joints. Walking is an effective exercise for pain management. You can find guided walking videos on YouTube that will get you moving. You can either follow along while walking in place or around your home.
I also have tried low-impact indoor exercises classes like guided yoga. This can be great if you feel like socializing. But if not, YouTube is a great resource for free tutorials on many forms of exercise.
If you feel stiff when exercising, some gentle stretching could be helpful before, during, or after you exercise. Ensuring your body has warmed up and cooled down may help prevent injury and increased pain.
Remember, everyone’s body is different, and it may take some patience to find what you enjoy most and what movement feels best for your body.
A healthy diet is vital to fuel your body throughout the whole year. It’s critical to prioritize maintaining a balanced diet during seasons when you are more prone to flares.
I like to eat more fruits and vegetables than I do during the rest of the year. You can try frozen fruits and vegetables if fresh produce is harder to come by in the cold months where you live.
Vitamin B12, found in beef, eggs, yogurt, and many types of fish, has been shown to help lower levels
Because people with RA often have higher homocysteine levels
Research from 2003 on 37 patients suggests that high inflammation levels among individuals with RA may be associated with lower levels of vitamin B6 and that vitamin B6 deficiency may contribute to symptom severity.
Likewise, vitamin B6 may help reduce levels of inflammation
During times of the year when my risk of having a flare is higher, I’m especially careful to avoid foods that may worsen inflammation, like alcohol and refined sugars.
Drinking enough water is essential to help your body function. Among other benefits, being sufficiently hydrated may help regulate your body temperature, aid in digestion, and boost your immune system.
However, it’s common not to drink as much water when it isn’t hot outside and you don’t think you are sweating as much. If you find it challenging to remember to drink plain water, you can make it more interesting by adding ginger or fresh fruit. Ginger is also an anti-inflammatory food
Plus, the additional walks to the bathroom, thanks to taking in more water, are an easy way to add a bit more movement to your day.
On the days when the pain is unmanageable, you may want to try alternative remedies. You can visit a massage therapist or try out acupuncture, which some believe can help reduce pain.
Research these options before you book your appointment and reach out to a doctor if you are unsure whether the treatment may help.
Finally, make sure to listen and respond to your body’s needs during the winter months.
In the northern hemisphere, the holiday season falls during winter. Make sure that you try as much as possible to honour your body while taking part in the festivities around you. Prioritize limiting stress around you, even if this means saying “no” to some invitations or activities.
Also, try to remember not to feel guilty about taking breaks if you need to. It’s essential to focus on your health to enjoy the end-of-year events without risking a flare-up.
Fiske Nyirongo is a freelance writer based in Lusaka, Zambia. She is currently studying communications remotely at Mulungushi University in Kabwe, Zambia. While she prefers a quiet corner of a café with a good book to most activities outside, she is working on getting more acquainted with outdoor excursions. When she’s not writing from the comfort of her desk, she loves checking out new restaurants, perfecting her swimming skills, and exploring the malls and streets of Lusaka.
https://www.healthline.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/how-to-manage-arthritis-pain-this-winter
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