Why do my knees hurt in the cold

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.

Table of Contents Show

Busting myths around joint pain in winter:
Why Does Cold Weather Affect Joint Pain?
Barometric Pressure
Nerve Sensitivity
Thickness of Joint Fluid
Cold & Humidity
Which Knee Injuries Are More Susceptible to Cold Weather?
How Can You Reduce Knee Pain During Cold Weather?

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!

Busting myths around joint pain in winter:

Myth 1: Knee pain increases in cold weather

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.

Myth 3: People suffering from knee pain should never exercise

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.

The good news is that cold-related knee pain can, like the warning lights in your car, be a wake-up call to investigate the problem. All orthopaedic surgeons will recommend that you seek specialist medical advice if you have any ongoing knee problems – mainly because the sooner you diagnose a knee conditions, the easier it is to treat it.

If only one of your knees hurts, for example, and you are not just experiencing generalised joint pain, there’s a chance that it is caused by an injury or knee problem. Many people who suffer from arthritis also complain of more pain in their joints when it is cold.

So what does the science say?

Why Does Cold Weather Affect Joint Pain?

While there are a number of theories, there is no clear evidence for the reason our knees may be more painful when it’s cold. The chances are, all of the following may have an impact:

Barometric Pressure

When air pressure drops, it causes the gases and fluids in your joints to expand, which can press on surrounding nerves and cause pain. Colder temperatures can also shrink the tissues in our joints like our knees and hips, which can cause them to pull on the nerve endings and cause joint pain.

Nerve Sensitivity

It is well known that nerve pain increases as your circulation decreases. When the temperature drops, it can make people’s pain receptors a lot more sensitive.

Thickness of Joint Fluid

When the temperature drops, the fluids that enable friction-free movement and cushioning in your joints get thicker. This is likely to cause stiffness and possibly pain as you move your knee joints.

Inactivity

During the winter, we are generally less active than in lighter, warmer summer months. The less we use our joints, the more likely they are to stiffen up, especially as we get older and the structures in our knees become more brittle and start to deteriorate.

Cold & Humidity

Sufferers from arthritis are aware that their pain gets worse when there is more dampness in the air. There is no evidence as to why this is, but it is likely that cold, damp days will affect you more than cold, dry weather.

Which Knee Injuries Are More Susceptible to Cold Weather?

Any knee conditions can be susceptible to the cold – from arthritis to cartilage damage. Two common running injuries that become more painful during the cold are:

Runner’s Knee – this dull, aching pain behind the kneecap can be caused by a number of conditions, including osteoarthritis, tight or unbalanced muscles, IT band syndrome, cartilage damage or foot problems.

Patellar Tendonitis – the tendon that connects your kneecap to the muscles in the front of your lower leg can get sore and inflamed as a result of repetitive actions, overuse or unbalanced muscles.

The specialist orthopaedic surgeons in the Capital Orthopaedics team are highly experienced at diagnosing, advising and providing the right treatment for these and any other knee conditions. If you are concerned about any knee pain, get in touch here.

How Can You Reduce Knee Pain During Cold Weather?

If the cold makes your knees hurt, you may be able to manage with the above techniques.

Stay Active – the more you move, the less likely your joints will stiffen up. Yes – we know it’s winter, and it’s not particularly motivating to exercise, but it will help to keep your joints supple.

Keep Warm – ensuring that you warm up properly is key. The better your blood circulation around your knees, the less likely they will be affected by the cold. We recommend dynamic stretching – such as moving lunges and squats – to help get your heart and limbs warmed up. Also – wear warm clothing when you exercise outdoors, especially on your legs. While we all get warm once we start exercising, it is important to keep your joints are cosy from the moment you go outside.

Prevent Swelling – if your knee swells up after exercise, make sure you take the time to rest, ice and elevate it as much as possible to reduce the swelling. If you get ongoing swelling during or after exercise, you should seek medical advice.

Take Pain Medication – NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen can help to reduce pain and inflammation – counteracting the effects of cold.

While these techniques can help with cold-related knee pain, if you have had an injury to your knee, or you suspect you may have rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, the best thing you can do is get an accurate diagnosis.

For more information or to book an appointment with our team of highly experienced knee specialists, contact Capital Orthopaedics today.