Why do my knees hurt when its cold

Do your knee and joint pains feel worse in winter? Well, don't blame the season because knee pain in winter is shrouded in myths. Read on to know!

Aayushi Gupta

Do you find it difficult to squat? Is it difficult for you to run fast? Do you feel pain in your knees? Can you feel the stiffness in your joints? If your answer is YES, you may be struggling with joint or knee problems. As the mercury drops and the chil sets in, all of a sudden one may develop uncomfortable aches and pains in the body. Knee pain is especially common in the winter season, making life difficult especially for arthritis patients.

But one wonders if winter really is responsible for your joint pain? As it happens, it is just a myth!

In fact, there are a lot of myths that people believe when it comes to knee pain in the winter season. That’s why we’re here today to dispel the most commonly held myths around the knee or joint pain in winter, so you can better understand how to manage pain.

Knee pain is common among people. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

HealthShots reached out to Dr Rakesh Nair, consultant knee replacement surgeon at Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur, Mumbai, to break some myths!

Fact: “It is always believed that cold weather-induced knee pain is associated with arthritis. But, changing weather conditions doesn’t impact joint health,” says Dr Nair. As the atmospheric pressure drops when winter rolls around, this pressure change can cause your joints to swell more than usual, leading to increased pain.

He adds, “Those with arthritis may have problems during winter as the lower barometric pressure tends to create room for tissues in the body to expand, and that creates pressure on the nerves and joints, leading to inflammation and even unbearable pain.”

Myth 2: Painkiller is the only way to manage pain

Fact: Even short-term pain and swelling in the joints can affect your quality of life. Whatever the cause of joint pain, you can usually manage it with medication, physical therapy or alternative treatments. The only problem lies with the regular consumption of painkillers. Regular consumption of painkillers can have side effects, and some of those can be serious. Instead, you should follow a healthy lifestyle such as following a healthy diet and doing the right exercise. Exercise helps one in restoring knee function and alleviating pain while a healthy diet helps to maintain a nutrient deficiency in order to treat inflammation.

Fact: The knee is the biggest joint in the body and we use it for several activities such as walking, running, and climbing. Therefore, it is most vulnerable to injury and pain. Especially in winter, many people get stuck with orthopedic challenges that winter brings with it. However, exercise helps one in restoring knee function, alleviating pain and leading to weight loss. Dr Nair says, “It will only aggravate your pain and stiffness. In fact, simple exercises like leg stretch, knee squats, and step-ups when done under the supervision of a doctor can help in rebuilding the strength of your knees and reduce joint stiffness.”

You can exercise, even if you have knee pain. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Myth 4: People should avoid undergoing knee replacement surgery in winter as the post operation recovery is painful

Fact: “This statement is completely false. There is no connection between knee replacement surgery and weather. Moreover, the pain due to this surgery is similar to other surgeries. Now, the pain can be controlled with the help of a modern approach. Now, the surgery can be done in minimal time, the efficacy has gone up, and the hospital stay has reduced. So, one will be able to resume his/her daily routine with ease after undergoing surgery,” says Dr Nair.

Do not postpone surgery just because you fear pain. You can even speak to your doctor and get all your doubts cleared. The pain should clearly not stop you from undergoing surgery. The condition of your knee will worsen if you delay seeking treatment.

Myth 5: Only old people with arthritis are affected by the weather

Maybe your grandmother knew a storm was coming when their knees started to hurt. But do only old people with arthritis tend to struggle with joints ache when the temperature outside drops? Well not! The way we’ve mentioned winter doesn’t the only reason that cause pain, in the same way not only old people with arthritis experience knee ache due to the chill weather. People with more intense arthritis may notice more pain and swelling due to low atmospheric pressure and high humidity in the air.

So ladies, stop believing these myths.

Posted in DOC Updates, Treatments.

Why do you feel the cold in your knees?

Once we reach a certain age, it seems like cold weather makes everything hurt. If you’ve been noticing a bit more knee pain than usual this winter, it’s not your imagination. Cold weather really does cause knee pain, and here’s why: The barometric pressure changes. This is the primary factor that leads to winter knee pain. Right before cold weather arrives, the barometric pressure – the weight of the air around us – drops suddenly, making the fluids and gases in your joints begin to expand. That’s what causes the unpleasant feeling of pressure on your nerves, which is what causes the pain in your knees. The combination of cold and humidity create pressure. When lower temperatures and higher humidity combine, these two factors influence the cellular structures of the bone and cartilage. As a result, it can cause a feeling of expansion and contraction, which creates an aching feeling in the joints. Injuries can cause nerve sensitivity. If you have past knee injuries, you may experience symptoms like inflammation, adhesions, or scarring that are particularly sensitive. The nerves in knee joints become increasingly sensitive when it’s cold outside, and the lower temperatures can agitate that sensitivity. Cold temps can thicken joint fluids. The fluid within your knees essentially absorbs shocks and impact. But when temperatures drop, the fluid can begin to thicken, inhibiting the free flow of fluids and making joints stiffer. If your knee pain is frequently triggered by cold weather, there are a few ways for you to reduce that pain quickly and easily: Keep warm. This is a simple – and pleasant – way to ease your cold weather knee pain. Take a nice, hot shower or bath, sleep with an electric blanket, and make sure to keep the heat going. If you have to leave your house, try to warm up your car before you have to hit the road. Dressing in layers when you’re outside will also generate and retain some extra heat. Combat swelling. For most people with knee injuries, swelling is the primary cause of pain. Compression bands work really well at reducing swelling while also improving stability. Stay active. Many of us choose to stay indoors more often during the cold and dark winter months, which can also mean we get a bit more sedentary. Lack of activity, especially for seniors, can be detrimental to joint health. Move your workout inside – or to the warmest part of the afternoon – to keep active.

If your joint pain isn’t improved by these simple remedies – or if your pain isn’t limited to cold weather – you may want to visit an orthopaedic specialist. Since 1972, the specialists at DOC Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine have been committed to providing exceptional orthopaedic care through innovative techniques, quality services, patient communication, and education. With specialties ranging from general orthopaedics and physical therapy to sports medicine, joint replacement, and more, the doctors at DOC Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine can provide local expert care for any orthopaedic disorder or injury and help put your life back in motion.

Winter brings lots of outdoor fun, but at the same time, cold weather can make knee pain more symptomatic. Being fit and active is essential to maintaining healthy knees. Whether you are planning to hit the slopes, snow shoe, go sledding with the kids, or try out cross country skiing, “boomeritis” knee pain can limit your ability to do the things you love.

For many with knee problems, outdoor winter activities can lead to more knee pain and even injury. Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Nicholas DiNubile coined the term “boomeritis” to describe the wear, tear, vulnerabilities, and injuries that baby boomers are experiencing as a result of lifelong commitments to staying active. In many cases, repeated stress on the knee can lead to osteoarthritis.

Dr. DiNubile offers the following preventive tips from his book, FrameWork: Your 7 Step Program for Healthy Muscles, Bones and Joints, for maintaining healthy knees while you enjoy outdoor winter activities:

Motion is lotion. Motion helps reduce the risk for osteoarthritis. It both lubricates and nourishes your knees.
Camel up. Drink plenty of water. Drying out reduces flexibility and increases wear and tear. On average, you need to drink eight glasses of water (eight ounces each) each day. When you exercise, you will need substantially more water to balance fluid loss.
“Good” pain. A little discomfort may occur and will lessen after regular exercise. But watch for “bad” pain. Stop if you have more severe, sharp pain, especially if you are limping.
Get strong. Do leg lifts that strengthen your quadriceps (front thigh) muscle, which is the main protector of your knee.
Warm up, then stretch. Break a light sweat, then stretch to help maintain mobility and reduce joint stiffness.
Stay warm. Knees are like barometers and cold, damp weather can make them more symptomatic. Try keeping your knees warm with a neoprene sleeve or knee wrap.
Chill out. Ice your knees for 15 minutes after activity or exercise if you tend to develop soreness.
Eat for healthy joints. Lose extra pounds to take stress of your knees. Avoid sugary, processed food, as well as foods high in saturated fat, in order to minimize inflammation.
Lube job for your knees. For osteoarthritis, surgeons often use viscosupplementation to lubricate, and improve cushioning properties of the knee. Ask your doctor if you are a candidate.