Scientists haven't found a clear link between RA symptoms and frigid temperatures, but that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of these pain-relieving tips when the weather has you down.

For some rheumatoid arthritis patients, the onset of winter’s frigid weather means a flare of aches and pains, but researchers have yet to find any concrete evidence supporting the idea that pain increases when the temperature decreases.

It’s more likely that things just appear a bit gloomier when the weather is grim. Dark skies can lead to bouts of depression, which are closely linked to pain, says Kimberly Bennett, PhD, PT, a lecturer at the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. People are also less motivated to exercise when the weather is poor, and exercise helps control pain, Dr. Bennett adds.

"When they looked at the prolonged clinical trials, they did not find a relationship between arthritis and the activity of arthritis and pain," says Abby Abelson, MD, chair of the department of rheumatic and immunologic diseases at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. But that doesn’t mean that what rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are feeling isn’t real.

"The reality is that, for people with RA and other kinds of arthritis, their symptoms can wax and wane," Dr. Abelson says. “Some people notice a pattern in their own body.”

“Everybody is different,” she adds. “I never disregard what people notice about their arthritis. They're living with it – it's their disease.”

Easing RA Pain in Weather Conditions

If extreme temperatures or humidity changes make RA symptoms feel worse, take these steps to ease your pain:

• Exercise. "I always recommend exercise," Abelson says. Avoid high-impact exercises, but engage in stretching and range of motion exercises. Water-based exercise is also great when you’re struggling with RA pain.
• Get plenty of sleep. "Sleep and pain are closely related," Bennett says. One study at UCLA found that insufficient sleep triggers worsened pain and mood in RA patients. Get a full night's rest each night to feel better each day.
• Keep stress in check. Emotional stress can also aggravate pain. Try relaxation techniques, biofeedback, or meditation.
• Warm up to cool down pain. Use a heating pad or a warm bath to control RA pain.
• Rest up. Take it easy when your body is overworked. It can be as simple as babying the painful part of your body.
• Move. Abelson doesn’t recommend moving to a different climate, even if you feel that cold weather worsens your RA symptoms. Instead, dress in layers to stay warm. How you live is more important than where you live in relation to weather and RA pain, she says. "Be where you have a life that's happy, satisfying, and active," Abelson adds.