Cold Weather Pain Management That Works

Summer is over, and fall is here, which means winter isn't far away. If you're living with chronic pain, winter is a dreadful season because of the cold.

Many people living with chronic pain find they feel worse during cold weather. The good news is that there are lifestyle tips and professional treatments to help.

At Delmarva Pain and Spine Center, Dr. Shachi Patel and her team offer various treatments for issues like neuropathy, CRPS, and sciatica. She's an experienced pain management specialist providing joint injections, ketamine infusions, and regenerative medicine to kick pain for good.

How cold weather affects chronic pain

Chronic pain comes in many forms and affects people for weeks, months, and even years. The pain may come and go or be relatively constant, depending on its cause.

Although chronic pain happens all year, it's awful in the colder months – but why? There are various reasons that pain worsens with cold weather, and they include:

Barometric pressure changes

Barometric pressure changes happen when there are variations in atmospheric pressure. These changes cause the body tissues to expand, leading to stiffness and discomfort.

Reduced circulation

Cold weather causes slower circulation, which increases joint stiffness and muscle tightness, contributing to chronic pain.

Increased fluid viscosity

The cold causes various body fluids to thicken, including the supportive synovial fluid. When it thickens, stiffness and pain follow.

Muscle rigidity

Cold air causes muscle tightness, which contributes more to discomfort and chronic pain conditions.

Lifestyle tips to decrease pain in winter

Although you can't stop the cold from coming, there are ways to protect yourself and your body from worsening pain. These tips are essential in preventing chronic pain conditions from worsening during the winter months.

The main way to prevent pain from worsening in the cold is by staying warm. Layer clothing and utilize electric blankets or heating pads to warm yourself up. Other tips to avoid pain in the cold include:

• Get regular, low-impact exercise
• Consider working out indoors
• Stretch daily
• Stay hydrated
• Manage stress
• Eat an anti-inflammatory diet
• Get plenty of sleep

Although these tips aren't a cure for chronic pain, they help you manage pain flares when cold weather strikes. Following these tips throughout the winter helps prevent painful flares until the warm weather returns.

Professional treatments for cold-weather pain

If lifestyle tips aren't enough to ward off cold-weather pain, Dr. Patel offers other treatments to help. She evaluates your health and pain condition to determine the best route of treatment.

Nerve blocks, joint injections, and epidural steroid injections are all treatments that help manage chronic pain. These treatments offer long-term pain relief for conditions such as arthritis, particularly during the colder months.

She also offers trigger point injections for increased muscle stiffness and knots from cold weather. IV vitamin therapy is another option to ensure you're getting the proper nutrients to fight off inflammation and pain.

To learn more about our pain management treatments, call our Newark, Delaware, office to schedule an appointment or request a consultation with Dr. Patel on our website.