Why does my knee 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.

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.”

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. 

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.

Stiffness, aches and pains are often associated with changes in weather, especially the falling temperatures of winter. Understanding why certain people react to weather changes and others do not is unclear, but there are several steps you can take to be more comfortable and reduce your risk when the weather turns cold.

Why does the cold cause pain and stiffness?

There is no one explanation for why dropping temperatures affect your joints. One theory relates to drops in barometric pressure, which cause tendons, muscles and the surrounding tissues to expand. Because of the confined space within the body, this can cause pain, especially in joints affected by arthritis.

Are some people more susceptible than others?

Everyone’s body reacts to fluctuating barometric pressure, but people with arthritis and those with chronic pain are more vulnerable to feeling discomfort. Also, bad weather can affect people’s moods; if you are sad or depressed, the perception of pain can be magnified.

When should I consult a doctor?

If you experience any unusual or new symptoms with your joints — such as persistent swelling, redness, difficulty putting pressure on, or using, the joint — it’s a good idea to consult your physician. If you have consistent or severe pain that becomes disabling, seek medical care right away.

Reduce your risk for joint pain

• Ease the shock of cold weather on your body by dressing in layers to stay warm.
• Build up muscle and bone strength through exercise. This reduces pressure on your joints, so they are less prone to injury.
• Maintain a healthy weight to decrease stress on your joints, especially your knees.
• Avoid unnecessary strain on your joints during daily activities.
• Apply heating pads to painful areas. Heat helps relax your muscles.
• Get up, walk around and be active indoors and outdoors. Stretch before going outside to loosen stiff joints. Staying active in the winter keeps your muscles and joints healthy.
• Get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy diet and keep a positive outlook.