Does altitude affect arthritis?
I suffer from arthritis, and lately, the pain seems to worsen when I visit my relatives in the hills. Does altitude affect arthritis symptoms, making them more severe?
5 answers
4 months ago
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Living in the hills, I can tell you that sudden changes in barometric pressure and altitude definitely make my joints ache much more. I find that keeping the joints warm with woolens and using a warm sesame oil massage helps quite a bit during those heavy weather changes.
4 months ago
Changes in altitude and cold air can contract the tissues around the joints, increasing stiffness. Doing very gentle Sukshma Vyayama (subtle joint movements) and deep breathing helps maintain blood circulation. Please do not strain, and keep your body warm.
4 months ago
My knees act like a weather station nowadays; the moment we travel to a high-altitude hill station, they start screaming. It is a real struggle, so I always carry my knee caps and pain relief sprays whenever we go up north.
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Consult a rheumatologist
yrs exp
4 months ago
My mother has rheumatoid arthritis and she suffers a lot whenever we visit hill stations due to the drop in air pressure. We always consult her rheumatologist before traveling, and he usually adjusts her medication slightly for the trip duration. Definitely talk to your doctor beforehand.
4 months ago
I recently spent a month at a high-altitude location and my joint pain flared up severely due to the low pressure and cold. Staying active with light indoor movements and keeping hydrated really helped ease the flare-up. It takes a few days for the body to adapt.