What to do to stay pain-free in winter

Osteoarthritis pain increases in winter for several reasons. During this time, the density of the fluid inside the joints, or synovial fluid, increases, while the atmospheric pressure decreases. Due to this, our body weight is felt more, especially in the knee joints. Those who have a lot of body weight have more problems.

 

Arthritis problems can increase in winter. Arthritis is basically an inflammation of the joints in our body. The joints swell due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure. In addition, during this time, the joint fluid decreases and the joints become stiff, which is why pain is felt when you move.

In winter, due to the stiffness of the elderly and the lack of movement of the joints of the body, the joints become stiff or hard. And that is why they feel pain whenever they want to move. Apart from this, pain due to injury can occur at any time. However, in winter, even a small injury seems to cause more pain.

 

Things to do to stay pain-free:

1) Keeping yourself active or functional will keep the blood circulation in the body good and will help you stay pain-free. It is good to make a habit of walking for 30 to 45 minutes regularly.
2) If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems or any other hormonal problems, you should try to keep them under control.

 

3) The elderly should exercise their joints. If necessary, massage with lotion. This will reduce skin roughness and at the same time, blood circulation in the muscles will remain normal.
4) Hot compresses provide relief from winter pain. This also increases blood circulation in the muscles and the function of the joints. Either hot water or hot cloth can be used for compresses.

 

5) Weight control is very important for those who are suffering from long-term osteoarthritis. The more weight you have, the more pressure there will be on the knee joint and the problem of osteoarthritis will increase due to damage to the thin lining inside the joint.
6) Eat vitamin D-rich foods (milk, cheese, mushrooms). These play a role in controlling our bone structure and calcium levels. At the same time, by eating less sugary foods and more protein and fiber-rich foods, our weight and diabetes can be kept under control.

 

7) Sleeping on a bed that is too hard or too soft is not healthy. In this case, you can use a normal mattress.

Advised by: Dr. Md. Ahad Hossain, Consultant and Pain Specialist, Bangladesh Center for Rehabilitation, Dhaka.