StemCell Therapy

The link between weather and aches and pains may not be such an old wives tale after all.

Retired college lecturer Nora Boswell, 68, has arthritis and is one of 13,000 people taking part in a research project called Cloudy With A Chance Of Pain.

Run by Manchester University and Arthritis Research UK, it is studying the connection between flare-ups and weather.

Here Nora, tells how technology is helping her manage her arthritis .

My mother had bad arthritis in her knees and ten years ago mine started playing up. When Id go down stairs, Id get a sharp pain in my kneecaps. Then it became more debilitating.

Nora, from Thornton, West Yorks, continued: I often walk into the village but I started struggling downhill. It wasnt a real surprise when an X-ray revealed arthritis .

Doctors say I may have deterioration in my shoulders and spine.

I dont like taking painkillers. Theyre a short-term fix. But regular exercise has helped me so much.

I use a Fitbit activity tracker to walk 250 steps an hour and as many squats as possible. Ive got to keep my muscles going.

Arthritis Research UK has excellent exercise routines to help manage pain.

On their website I found an article asking for volunteers for a citizen science four-year study called Cloudy With A Chance of Pain. The results will be out next spring.

Early data revealed people reported less time in severe pain across three UK cities from February to April but pain increased again in June.

Its long been a bit of an old wives tale that the weather can makes aches and pains worse. My chiropractor said many more clients come in after certain weather conditions in pain but there was no proof.

I thought it was great someone was researching it so signed up and downloaded the app.

Ive been logging my pain scale every day on my smartphone while my phone is automatically collecting hourly local weather data. It asks questions, such as how stiff you feel, and you can move a dial to the appropriate level. Ive noticed pain is worse if its damp. We had a long, damp autumn and I got fed up as I couldnt go out for walks.

Hot weather also has a negative affect on it. My husband John and I went on holiday to France and it was very hot.

After two days, I ached. And when we had a hot spell back in the UK my arthritis flared up. So summer beach holidays are out and we go in autumn.

I cant wait to see the results of the study. Until then Ill continue to exercise. I go for a walk most days or use the cross trainer at home. I also go to a pilates class once a week.

If you have arthritis , its also important to pace yourself. Yes, everything takes longer but youll be in less discomfort.

Some people might be OK waiting for someone to give them a pill but youve got to help yourself too.

Continue reading here:
Feeling under the weather? Arthritis sufferer explores whether link between aches and weather is valid - Mirror.co.uk

This entry was posted on April 29, 2017 at 12:47 pm and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |