Do not give ‘cold’ shoulder to knee pain and arthritis

ALLAHABAD: The chilly conditions are here to stay and so those suffering from arthritis would be among the worse affected. Coping with this often debilitating disease can be even more challenging when the weather turns cold, making joints feel even more stiff and painful.
Talking to TOI, Dr K D Tripathi, orthopedic surgeon of the city, said in fact, rheumatoid arthritis that first appears in the winter or spring may be more severe than arthritis that emerges in summer and fall, according to a French study of arthritis patients.In addition to cold temperatures associated with winter, viruses—which are more prevalent during winter—may play a part in the increased severity of winter-onset arthritis, the study had concluded”.
In fact the city witnessed severe chilly conditions just in the starting of December which was replaced by warm conditions during the later half of the month, but with these rains and chilly conditions, the patients of arthritis are sure to get troubled as these conditions are the best suited to increase the pain of your joints, said the Doctor.
But winter's chill should not strictly keep you indoors until it really gets chilly as walking outside in the winter has many health benefits for arthritis sufferers, including burning calories and helping you feel positive and motivated, he added.
Moreover, inactivity can often associate with an increase in pain, suggested the medico. Exercise can help keep joints moving, strengthen muscles connected to joints, preserve bone health, and improve your overall health and fitness.
If you are one of the patient suffering this painful ailment and less active during winter, smallest movement could be painful. Maintain your prescribed exercise as much as possible during winter months as continues movement will help fight off the stiffness that cold weather brings to your joints, he added.
Talking of the diet that one should follow, Dr S K Shukla, former head of the department of medicine, MLN Medical College, Allahabad said that our body tends to become heavier in colder weather as our bodies instinctively crave warmth-generating and fat-building fare to help us stay warmer. But it is important to maintain a healthy diet throughout the winter and controlling excess weight, which puts undue strain on already sore joints, is a key element of managing your arthritis.
In case the outdoor temperature is too cool, it is advisable to stay indoors and if you really want to go outside then it is important that you dress in layers. Instead of relying on single thermocot it is better to wear extra layer of thermals and do take the prescribed pain relief medicines, said Shukla. This will be helpful in controlling your pain and allow free movement. It is also observed that people tend to inactivity during winters which leads to frequent flare-ups. Hence it is advisable to perform regular exercises and keep yourself mobile.