How to Relieve Achy Joints in the Winter 

Winter is a difficult time for a lot of people. The cold weather can be brutal, and so can the achy joints that come with it. If you are looking for a way to relieve those achy joints this winter, then you have come to the right place.

Why Winter Can Cause Achy Joints

While there is no one explanation for why dropping temperatures affect your joints, The University of Chicago Medicine explains that it could be related to drops in barometric pressure. This drop can result in tendons, muscles, and the surrounding tissues to expand. Due to confined space within the body, this can result in pain, especially in joints affected by arthritis.

Further, colder weather can cause achy joints for additional reasons. For one, the cold weather tends to dry out your skin and joints. This can lead to pain and a lack of mobility. Additionally, the cold weather can make you more sedentary, which can also lead to joint pain.

Additionally, the winter months tend to be a time when a lot of people catch colds and other respiratory illnesses. These illnesses can also lead to joint pain.

How to Relieve Achy Joints in the Winter

If you are experiencing achy joints this winter, there are a few things that you can do to relieve the pain. Before beginning any at-home remedies, however, you should consult your doctor to make sure there is not a more serious issue happening.

– Make sure to drink plenty of water, as achy joints can be a symptom of dehydration.

– Get a humidifier to help hydrate the air in your home.

– Use a heating pad and apply it to achy joints for a few minutes at a time a couple of times a day.

– Make sure that you are getting a good night’s sleep every night. If your achy joints are keeping you up at night, try an over-the-counter pain reliever before bed so that you can get a full rest while you sleep.

– Exercise regularly. Even a light exercise routine can help to keep your joints mobile and flexible. For beginners, walking or cycling are a great place to start.

– Eat a healthy diet. Eating foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon or walnuts, can help to reduce inflammation in the body.

When to See a Doctor for Achy Joints

If you have been trying home remedies and are still experiencing achy joints this winter, it may be time to call Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center. Here at our Austin Clinic, we offer anti-inflammatory joint injections. These anesthetic shots can help relieve nerves that keep sending out pain signals. This medicine relieves inflammation in general, reducing swelling, heat, and pain.

Benefit of Anti-Inflammatory Injections

If the provider at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center decides you are a good candidate for anti-inflammatory injections, you may enjoy benefits like:

• Localized pain relief – irritation in just one knee can be solved without affecting the rest of your body.
• Rapid relief – the pain could start fading before you even leave the office.
• Long lasting results – one injection could last weeks.
• Few side effects – you will not have to miss work for weeks, as you will with surgical options.
• Restored range of motion – relieving inflamed muscles and nerves could help you move more freely.
• Dependability – these injections usually work even for patients that do not respond to other pain killers.
• Quick – there is no need for long healing periods or hours of treatment in the office.
• Stop arthritis progression- adding a replacement substance to a knee joint can help decrease further deterioration caused by arthritis.

Further Treatment for Achy Joints

While anti-inflammatory injections are great temporary treatments for pain, they cannot resolve the originating cause of the problem.  Here at our clinic, we use these injections to help you feel better quickly, while investigating the true cause of the problem with further diagnostics. With us, you could discover that you are free of swelling and pain when the injections wear off and the other treatments have resolved the issue. Don’t wait to find out!

Get Through Winter with Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center

The achy joints in winter can be a nuisance, but they don’t have to last a lifetime. If you are experiencing achy joints in the winter months, contact Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center. Don’t let achy joints ruin the winter season for you. To learn more about your relief options with our Austin Clinic, contact our office today for an appointment: (512)-806-0015.