When your grandmother forecasts rain, based on her swollen and painful joints, don’t dismiss her claims as the ramblings of a senile old woman. Scientists have proved that joints stricken with arthritic conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can act as ‘weathermen’.

Joint pain that fluctuates with changes in the weather is felt most commonly in the hips, knees, elbows, shoulders and hands. But what causes it?

Pressure-receptors (baroreceptors) in the joints can sense the drop in atmospheric pressure when the weather changes from dry to rainy. The level of fluid in the joint fluctuates in response to changes in atmospheric pressure. If you have a normally functioning joint, you may not feel the effects of the change in the fluid level in the spaces between your joints. But arthritic joints have less cartilage to provide cushioning, and even a slight fluctuation in the fluid levels may result in pain. Although the slightest change in atmospheric pressure can aggravate joint pain, significant increases in pain occur during severe weather conditions, such as a thunderstorm.

So what can you do to survive a summer downpour? Massages, ice packs and pain relieving ointments can give you temporary relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), and steroid injections administered directly into the painful joint can relieve severe joint pain.

To keep your joint cartilage in the pink, for the cushioning it can provide, you may explore the use of supplements of chondroitin, Omega 3, and glucosamine. And the next time you see your grandmother massaging her knees while looking at the sky, remember to pack an umbrella.

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