The five secrets to relieve joint and muscle pain

Many new patients come to us at this time of year searching for help and advice on sciatica pain relief, how to relieve joint pain, lower back pain, muscle pain and more. Is it the weather that makes it worse? Hard to say!

Numerous studies have shown slim associations between pain factors such as temperature, wind speed, humidity and barometric pressure and their effect on pain. Whilst the research is inconclusive, we know that for many of our patients, being in pain make us sensitive to weather changes and those with conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis tend to be amongst the worst affected.

Chronic pain can leave our nerves more sensitive to stimuli, and if you’re feeling chilly, you’re likely to tense up against the cold which in turn can cause muscle pain and joint pain.

So aside from cranking up the thermostat, what can you do to stay warm?

Five secrets to staying warm this winter

Secret 1: Dress warmly and in layers.

You might be tempted to reach for a warm baggy jumper, but don’t forget to wear a close-fitting base layer. This will help keep that body heat close to your skin. Layers will help to trap other pockets of warm air to help insulate your body, which a single thick and heavy layer simply won’t do. This will help keep you warm and cosy, avoiding aches and pains as it gets colder outside.

Secret 2: Chilli Peppers

Capsaicin (the active ingredient in chilli peppers) is safe and effective when applied on the skin in a cream or rub. It can be helpful for soft tissue pain, back pain and more. Using muscle rubs is often easier than a hot water bottle but the warmth from thos will help too!

Note: Ask us about our Hotspot Muscle Rub next time you’re in clinic- it’s completely natural, more effective than comparative products and contains clove and devil’s claw (for reducing pain and inflammation) with capsicum to leave you feeling warm for hours afterwards.

Secret 3: Watch out for hot toddies.

Christmas is the season for mulled wine and hot toddies! Whilst these might make you feel warm and toasty for a brief second, alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate. This brings that nice warm blood up to the surface of your skin, giving you a temporary warm glow. This” glow” is quickly replaced by a drop in core body heat as the warm blood is diverted away. If you then walk home after an evening in the pub, be aware that you’ll have a lot of warm blood on the surface of your skin, so you’ll lose heat very quickly and easily- which could be dangerous. (More here)

Secret 4: Relieve back pain by lining your shoes.

If you’re standing around in the cold, it’ll quickly creep up into your legs and give you the chills. This can aggravate ankle, knee and lower back pain so make sure you have an extra layer between you and the ground. You can pick up lambswool insoles from high street shoe shops and online.

Secret 5: Ditch the gloves, and opt for mittens instead.

Keep your fingers together in mittents. This means your fingers share their collective heat in an air pocket rather than being isolated as they are in gloves. Makes sense, doesn’t it? This is a great tip for people with arthritis or poor circulation.

How can we help?

Chiropractic care is gentle, safe and effective for a range of conditions and can help alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with a range of conditions including osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, sciatica, lower back and neck pain, and joint pain. We also provide you with specific advice and exercises you can use to help alleviate your condition.

Did you find this interesting? You might also want to read our blog on falls prevention, which covers who is at risk, how to avoid falls, and what to do if you do have an accident this winter. Read the blog here.

Plus, six top tips on how to boost your immune system! Read here.