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I lived in Canada for 18 years, so I’m no weenie when it comes to winter. Then I moved to California for a while, and now that I’m back in a place that actually has winters, it’s a lot less fun.
Does anyone else get horribly aching joints when the weather gets cold? What are your best tips for joint pain reduction? I can’t take a handful of ibuprofen every day of the entire winter. (Yes, I’m aware I sound like I’m 90.)
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Try cutting out sugar. That has eliminated almost all of my joint pain. I’m only 36, but I actually went in and got tested for rheumatoid arthritis. The test was negative and I just assumed being in pain all the time was my new normal. Then I cut out sugar and I felt/feel twenty years younger.
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Mine started with my joints aching when the weather turned cold, but it became year-round.
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AnonymousI don’t know if sugar messes with my joints but if I eat too much it gives me a swollen stomach/intestine issue. I’m pretty sure sugar is why I keep pants that run between 4-8 for those days when I am a little bit extra!
I have to keep myself covered up. I keep a jacket on nearly all winter. I also keep my feet covered because when my feet get cold there is no hope for anything else.
Stretching muscles that tighten up helps a lot too.
I’m going to make some warmable bean bags this week for me and my daughter. The local save-a-lot has black beans in bulk and I’m going to stock up, or if they don’t have those some pintos. I’ll have to make sure to use cotton bandanas since I don’t have a microwave but this year we’re gonna have some warmers!
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Daisy, you could try incorporating some warming spices like cinnamon into your diet. Now would be a good time to start drinking chai (if you like it), and cooking with curries. Turmeric is supposed to be good for achy joints. You could try a curcumin (found in turmeric) supplement. Also, New Chapter makes a supplement called Zyflamend which I’ve heard works well for joint pain.
Or you could try soaking in a hot bath with some epsom salt. If nothing else, it would warm you up!
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Great suggestions.
I have to confess that I’m a sugarholic straight through from October through December, so that is going to be quite the challenge. But I’d do just about anything to get rid of the winter pain. I had also considered being tested for RA because it’s pretty severe and it really slows me down. I’m going to do the sugar thing first. I have all that Halloween candy sitting here waiting for me and the Trick or Treaters, but the day after Halloween, I’ll drop it off it the food pantry.
I have a white lasagna ready to go into the oven tonight, but tomorrow I’ll make some dal and maybe some samosas to get my curry on.
Crazy Me, it’s 40 degrees, and I’m already wearing longjohns. Like you, once I get cold, warming up is not easy. Have you had your thyroid checked? If your thyroid levels are low, it can mean your body temperature is a degree or two cooler than most people’s. This can cause difficulties in staying warm and getting warm.
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@Homesteading Mama, quick question – are you able to have honey and maple syrup in moderation? Or is it all sweeteners that cause your joint pain?
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@Homesteading Mama, quick question – are you able to have honey and maple syrup in moderation? Or is it all sweeteners that cause your joint pain?
That’s a good question. I’m not sure. I don’t take honey in my tea (and I cut out things like pancakes as part of the sugar purge) so I haven’t really tried honey or maple syrup since cutting out the sugar. I would hope those would be easier on my system, but I don’t know.
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AnonymousDaisy, last time I had my levels checked they were all good.
I’m just cold and a human barometer for rain, the pressure drops and I get icy! It is better now that I have gotten older and put on a few pounds, a little fat helps, who knew :). My daughter is the same way, she is cold nearly all year round, she’s still a bit twiggy.
My husband is the complete opposite and I joke he keeps an ember from the fires of hell in his pocket cause he is always hot!
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I’m a barometer for the weather.
I have started drinking chai tea in the morning and it helps till about noon. -
Oh my gosh ya’ll I haven’t used a forum in SOOOOOO long. Daisy I feel your pain I am a human barometer, headaches joint pain the whole shabang. Nearly 20 years ago severe pain every day became my new norm. I got some relief when I cut out fake sugar. Now I think that was a DUH thing but I have learned alot since those days. Don’t get me started on the evils of Splenda.
Have you tried fire cider? I know that sounds a little crazy but it would warm you. And could help with whatever it is that is causing your pain. I add whole cloves to mine as they are a natural pain reliever. From what I read everyone is giving great suggestions. One other thing I do, I make a herbal salve that has cut my use of narcotics in half. I still need it just not as often. I am looking into EOs and more raw foods to try to help. But has of yet I can’t say how those actually work. -
Daisy, the 2 cheapest things I do for arthritis pain is to use a hot water bottle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LXVZZP3/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1 and something called a Heat Blanket (but it’s the size of a throw), which is non-electric, it is a space blanket on one side and fake fleece on the other. I sandwich it between my top sheet and the blankets. Other people sandwich it between the mattress and bottom sheet. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001K2HSGG/ref=dp_prsubs_2 I am not achy and stiff when I wake up. Be warned, reviewers say that cats and dogs absolutely love the Heat Blanket. Of course you could use a heating pad and electric blanket.
I don’t use creams much, so dang messy.
I have evolved quite a regimen of anti-inflammatory supplements to control arthritis pain. It includes fish oil, krill oil, astaxanthin, curcumin, and MCT oil. Sometimes I add probiotics and aged garlic. It is a sadly expensive routine. I probably pay $2000 a year in supplements. But my regimen keeps me pretty much pain-free. I buy all my supplement from Life Extension and Dr. Mercola. I don’t trust the drug store supplements.
Just using the kitchen curry from your spice rack will not help much. What you need is the active ingredient, which is curcumin. Also, curcumin is normally not well absorbed by the body, so look for a brand that says it is more absorbable or more bio-available.
I am sure other people are right when they say that cutting sugar will decrease the pain. I have been trying to eat low carb, but it is such a difficult diet to maintain. No bread, oatmeal, rice, potatoes, all those staples that stretch meals.
However, for the past two weeks, I fasted every other day, and it really did help quickly clear up a sudden severe arthritis attack. Not that I like fasting, but I sure liked the pain relief.
Honestly, moving to a hot climate might be a good idea, if your aches and pains are related to cold weather. Your idea of moving to Panama on day might be good for your aches and pains. I too consider moving to someplace warmer (and cheaper).
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Honestly, I’m not a new age/energy healing person, but I recommend just a few minutes of Tai Chi or Chi Gung/Xi Gong. Based on the “Gate Theory” of pain, gentle motions will stimulate the mechanorecptors and diminish pain. The type of exercise doesn’t really matter so long as it is gentle and not with a lot of joint compression. You could easily substitute some slow motion kata of any martial art you’ve studied. I find it helps me loosen up after too many days of still hunting and not sleeping enough – I start waking up really stiff… just 3 minutes, along with some deep breathing while performing the motions, really helps.
Beyond that, an anti-inflammatory diet. Turmeric is getting great reviews as well.
CBD and Chaga I am less impressed with. Evening Primrose Oil works, but that is because it is an actual prostaglandin inhibitor – which means it probably has the same detrimental affects as NSAIDs do.Of course your mileage may vary.
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Wow, some great suggestions on this thread! Hot water bottles, with a moist, not wet, towel have helped me.
Also, like John Park, not into new age practices, but yoga and Qi Gong shaking exercises have helped me. For the shaking exercise, I was taught to roll my shoulders first in one direction, then another, while breathing, then shake my arms, then my legs, than all together. Can’t find a video like that, but here’s one that’s similar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh0ZLeQNfrM
Physical therapy has helped with knee and feet arthritis pain. I’ll try to scan the exercises I was prescribed–they really help by strengthening the muscles around the joint.
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@john_park @fina thanks for reminding me about the benefits of yoga and tai chi. Others have recommended that to me too as great for arthritis. I need to just go sign up somewhere and be faithful about attending.
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Wow, thank you! Such amazing suggestions. I’ve been working on the “less” sugar thing (as opposed to none at all). I’ll keep cutting it but going cold turkey was just making me cranky.
I’m going to look into all these other suggestions. With a cup of chai in hand. 🙂
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Turmeric in tea or in capsules has been a lifesaver for my husband (he rigs and climbs way in the air to pull motors-has a very bad knee and turmeric helps him tremendously.) My best buddy has arthritis and turmeric is the only thing that helps her with the aches and swelling. 🙂
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Great suggestions – Ginger helps with arthritis pain and digestion as well. Some ways to try it is to make your own Ginger tea or dink Gloden Milk. You can make the mix or buy it. It contains tumeric, cinnamon, ginger root and black pepper. Mix it with hot water, warm milk or warm almond milk.
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I also have joint pain, but in my hands. Had tendon release a year ago which helped with that but the joint pain is bad. I have osteoarthritis. Was told I need knuckle replacement. Not happening at this time. I use a tens machine as well as both heat and ice. Ice does help a lot with swelling. Heat helps with the pain. I also use blue emu and wear a glove when I am not cooking or anything. the glove is a fingerless one that puts pressure on the painful areas. It helps to keep me from rubbing my eyes with the blu emu on it.
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