How to Better Manage Arthritis During the Winter Season| Advanced Ambulatory Surgery Center

At Advanced Ambulatory Surgery Center of Altamonte Springs, we strive for excellence in healthcare to bring people healthier solutions to living a sustainable life through research, tips, and advanced procedures.

Did you know arthritis is the nation’s #1 cause of disability? We understand the debilitating pain that arthritis can cause people and as the winter months are approaching AASC would like to offer our patients a few healthy tips to better manage their arthritis pain. 

First, it is important to speak to your healthcare provider to ensure you are seeking the right solutions for your diagnosis. Pain from osteoarthritis will be experienced differently than pain from gout.

There are plenty of ways to preserve your joint function with the help of advanced research, technology, and modern healthcare solutions.

Changes in barometric pressure, also known as changes in the weather/atmosphere, can have a negative effect on arthritis pain. The cooler temperatures may also cause someone to experience a thicker fluid in their joints – which causes them to be more tender and stiff. The cooler temperatures can also cause your blood to circulate slower than usual and allow for more frequent muscle spasms. But don’t worry, there are ways to combat these effects by taking control to prevent these aches and pains. 

Some useful tips include staying bundled up in the cooler months. Layering will help keep you warm and not only prevent hypothermia but prevent the thicker joint fluid that causes your joints to be stiffer and cause pain.

You should also avoid or limit your outside exercise time and try to bring any physical activity inside to stay active but avoid the aches caused by the cold temperatures. You may even experience more pain just by not moving around as you frequently do in the warmer months – so it is important to stay as active as possible.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, incorporating fish oil supplements into your daily wellness regimen can also help reduce inflammation and stiffness. The Omega-3s cannot be produced naturally by your body, which is why it is important to ensure you receive an adequate supplementation of them each day. 

Depending on the severity of your arthritis, another great way to relieve arthritis pain can be acupuncture or pain management injections such as cortisol shots.

These are used to treat swollen or painful joints and are a quicker way to relieve any intense pain. It is also important to keep in mind that everybody is different, and some people may experience more stiffness and pain in these cooler months than others.

Pay attention to your body, and symptoms, and continue to stay hydrated even in the cooler months to continue flushing any toxins out of your body. 

If you or a loved one is still experiencing debilitating pain after working these tips into your winter routine, give us a call at (407) 332-9871. You can book an appointment today with one of our renowned physicians to create a customized pain management plan for your symptoms.