Weather & Arthritis Pain

Patients suffering from arthritis have long noted that changes in the weather can cause them increased levels of pain. Some scientific evidence backs up these claims, but the findings so far are inconclusive.

Expert Insight

• Recent studies conducted by Johns Hopkins concerning the relationship between weather and arthritis pain in Argentina and Florida have produced conflicting results. One study tentatively pointed toward a connection between weather and arthritis pain whereas the other found little to no correlation.

Cold vs. Warm Weather

• Experts at Johns Hopkins note that many people "feel that their arthritis pain is influenced by the weather" and that "some evidence exists" that cold, wet weather is more likely to cause arthritis flareups than dry, warm weather.

Other Findings

• WrongDiagnosis.com reports that some patients may experience "aching during changes in weather," lending further support to the idea that weather does indeed correlate to some extent with arthritis pain.

Theories/Speculation

• Researchers point to two possible causes for weather-related arthritis pain:

  1. Arthritis pain may be triggered by changes in air pressure, causing body tissues to become swollen, adding irritation to already swollen joints.

  2. Arthritis patients suffer from sensitivity of the nerve endings, which could cause a reaction to barometric pressure fluctuations.

Climate Change

• Moving to a dryer, warmer climate might give sufferers some relief from arthritis pain, but the evidence is not conclusive, and results may well vary from person to person. Individuals need to determine for themselves whether damp, cold weather increases their pain and whether dry, warm weather provides relief.