As I sit here and write this article, I feel a large amount of both sympathy and empathy for many of you reading this. That is because it is raining here and my knee is throbbing in pain. I have felt this storm coming for a couple of days now and I’m not sure which was worse, before the storm or now. Due to the fact that I suffer from a form of arthritis, I can use my body like a barometer that honestly is more accurate than the one that is hanging outside. I am sure, dear reader, that many of you feel the same when these storms hit.
Feeling pain when it is raining or snowing is not an uncommon complaint for many people, especially if you suffer from certain chronic joint disorders. Believe me, you are not imagining it. This has been a complaint of many people for as far back as anyone can find. Although we don’t have a full answer, the leading idea as to the reason for this is that when it rains, when the barometric pressure drops, it can cause swelling of the muscles and tissues around a joint. This is specifically found in joints that have arthritis, as something in the disease makes the tissue more sensitive to these atmospheric changes.
Unfortunately, there is no way to stop this internal weatherman from alerting you to the fact of a storm days in advance. However, if you are in pain you can try elevating the joint, resting, icing the area, or using a brace. Small amounts of over the counter medicines are good for this kind of pain as well. If the pain is severe, talk to your doctor and see what other options you may have.
If the basic tricks don’t work to relieve your pain, try coming into DiBella Chiropractic. Chiropractic care has been shown to help reduce the amount of pain felt due to chronic disorders such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. We can work on just about any joint in your body, not just your back. If the main focus of the pain is in your knee or your foot, that’s no worry. Head on in and see how much better you’ll feel when you aren’t a walking five day forecast!
