Moving parts depend on lubrication. This is true for both machines and the biomechanics of your body. You may not think about it, but synovial joints in your body function inside a capsule full of lubricant.
Your body’s joints work best in warm temperatures for the same reason that your car’s engine prefers temperate days over cold winter weather. The lubricants in your body get thicker when the weather cools down. This can be a problem when you’re fighting the effects of arthritis.
Dr. James A. Nassiri and our team at Westside Pain Specialists in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, and Rancho Cucamonga, California, keep the seasons in mind when helping our patients develop arthritis management plans.
Patients and practitioners alike are turning away from an exclusive reliance on medication to manage arthritis. Understanding more about the condition and how it affects your body can help you stay active and on top of your symptoms.
Arthritis is an ailment or disorder that causes inflammation in one or more joints in your body, usually resulting in pain, reduced mobility, and swelling. The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, a wear-and-tear condition, and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder.
Osteoarthritis results from the breakdown of the smooth cartilage covering on the ends of bones where they meet at joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which your body attacks the joint capsule around synovial joints.
Though the root causes are different, symptoms are often shared, including:
You may also feel weakness or instability in or around an affected joint.
Colder temperatures affect your body and joints in several ways, such as:
Cooler weather can curb outdoor activities. Staying active is often an effective part of arthritis pain management, particularly with osteoarthritis, so you may be more prone to pain and stiffness if your activity level drops.
You can counter the effects of cold weather on your joints by choosing one or more of these strategies:
Vitamin D levels tend to fall when you’re not outdoors, and since vitamin D deficiency is linked to bone loss and increased pain, we’ll assess your condition and recommend ways to boost vitamin D levels if necessary.
Contact us at Westside Pain Specialists at our nearest location for a personalized arthritis pain management assessment. Call or click to reach the office of your choice today.
