How to Alleviate Arthritis Pain in Cold Weather

While science may not have established a concrete link between flare-ups of arthritic pain and colder weather, many of those who suffer from arthritis can certainly vouch for a connection between the two. With the cold winter months in full swing, if your spinal arthritis symptoms have been increasing in frequency or severity, here are some tips for managing symptoms in colder weather:

• Get plenty of rest, especially after exercise.
• Maintain your diet - winter months also mean the holidays are here and all the tempting food that comes with them. Stick to a healthy diet to avoid making arthritic issues worse.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Keep up with medication and other treatment plans - don't let holiday plans or the cold weather outside get you off track with your exercise, medicine, or other doctor-approved treatment regimens.
• Try hot or cold therapy - heating pads and/or ice packs can be great ways to help mitigate pain, and a hot pack can feel especially therapeutic when the temperature outside plunges.

Do you have any tips for dealing with arthritic pain and other symptoms that can seem to worsen during the cold winter months? If so, be sure to join in the conversation on the Laser Spine Institute Facebook page and share your advice with other users.