Many people know what joint pain feels like, and whether it was caused by an injury or a condition, the stiffening symptoms usually worsen in cold weather.with a little effort, though, those who suffer from joint pain and movement limitations can ease the problems themselves.People with forms of arthritis may deal with pain on a daily basis, but as winter weather intensifies that pain, it’s important to protect yourself against the chill, to stay active and to keep healthy and fit.Dr. Bruce J. Menkowitz, Chief of Surgery and Orthopedics at Montgomery Hospital, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in total joint replacement surgery and adult orthopedics. Menkowitz practices at Montgomery Orthopaedic Associates on Germantown Pike in East Norriton.“anyone who has an arthritic joint will tell you that a hot shower and a nice warm room make them feel better, because both increase the circulation,” Menkowitz said. “and increased circulation helps decrease the inflammation in the joint.“in wintertime, when it gets cold and your blood flow really moves away from your extremities and into your body’s main core, in cold situations you see how your hands get whiter looking because there’s not as much blood flow. Now if you take someone who has arthritis who relies upon good blood flow to keep those joints warm and the inflammation down, they begin to hurt and feel stiff.“What can you do? you live up here — you’re stuck up here,” Menkowitz joked.“There’s no question that staying on routine medications like anti-inflammatory pain relievers will help,” he offered.another way to keep joints warm during wintertime, Menkowitz said, is wearing several layers of thin, breathable, non-absorbent clothing. in order to retain body heat outdoors, don’t be afraid to throw on some long johns and heavy socks to protect your joints on a particularly cold day.“the idea of wearing extra layers is definitely beneficial,” he said. “Nowadays you can have polypropylene underwear as opposed to cotton. with cotton, you can sweat and it gets wet; then you’re cold. the use of neoprene knee supports also helps retain heat.”Menkowitz said simply making an attempt to stay indoors when your joints are aching will help. “do some mall walking as opposed to walking outside.”because exercise is important, he said. “If you have arthritis you want to keep the joints flexible. just because it’s wintertime, you don’t want to sit around and not move your joints. the lack of motion leads to further stiffness and restricted wear on one area.“Attending fitness courses or going to participate in activities — like tai chi — that don’t require stress but do emphasize motion, is very important.” Menkowitz said walking and swimming are also beneficial activities. “you have to be careful about water temperature, though. If you have arthritis, you want to be in an arthritic water exercise program so the temperature is a little higher than a recreational swimmer would want it.”Menkowitz noted how easy it is around the holidays or in the dead of winter to “acquire a few extra pounds.” but “it does nothing good for your joints,” he said. “keep the weight down and the joints moving.”in order to manage your own pain it’s important to be aware of when your joints are becoming stiff, Menkowitz said. “Consider what other medications you’re on and consult with your physician first. but assuming that there’s no other restrictive reason (like a stomach problem), the use of an over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (like Ibuprofen or Naproxen sodium) is your first line.“also, if you have limitation of motion of a joint in snowy or icy conditions, you really have to be extra cautious. Utilizing a walking stick or a cane and especially proper footwear are all very important,” Menkowitz said. “Without proper shoes with adequate soles to grip the surface, you may not have the ability to move quickly enough if you slide.”Menkowitz said people with a new injury or who are newly diagnosed with arthritis could benefit from physical therapy as a way to learn about stretches and exercises — essentially long-term treatment they can eventually perform themselves.“Of course you can say, ‘I have arthritis and that’s the way it is.’ in that case it will probably get worse. but if you’re a little pro-active and keep your joints moving and do some other little things, then you can make it better on yourself.”

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