Does where you live matter at all?

I'm brand new here; sure this has been talked to death but if someone could answer it for me i would appreciate it.

Is there any research, evidence, etc. that where you live can either help or hurt arthritis?

I live in Denver and almost died this winter. It was so cold, for so long. Would moving to a warmer climate help? What role does humidity play? Altitude?

I have OA (I remember a boyfriend calling it "just OA" and that was the end of him). It's all over, in my back, etc and I have two hip replacements. My quality of life right now is not good. Colorado's great, but I look around and see all these people enjoying it and I'm just in pain.

Hi Doety,

I live in Cheyenne and now that we are having warm days I see absolutely no difference.  My pain levels and puffiness are just as bad as they were last winter. 

In saying that, I am unable to work so did not have to go out if I did not want to and maybe that is where the difference lies.

Take care.

Good article Jem, ty.

 

:) Brenda

I live in Seymour/knoxville Tn and it get's alot colder here since we are real close to the mountains.I lived in the MS delta for 24 years and I have been back home for three years and I have noticed that I suffer more here than I did back in Ms.

Hi all. Maybe the dfference in people's experience is the difference between AO and RA. They are different animals so to speak and reading people's experiences there does seem to be a corelation between OA and climate. I don' t know but merely an observation. Here in the uk you often hear older people who have had oa for aeons say that a damp and cold climate exacerbates their condition. I have yet to expeerience this myself.
The Bear

I have PsA - I can't say that there is a huge difference for me between cold and humid hot - both suck. I'm in Canada - and have experience extreme varients of both. What does have an enormous effect is barometric pressure. If there is going to be overcast weather (rain or not) I know 2 days before hand, and am usually physically ill (nausious) from the pain. I have a friend who goes through the same thing with migraines connected to the barometer. I have often wondered though, if the dry heat of a place like Arizona would be an improvement - my grandmother often laments if she wins the lottery she's 'wintering in AZ' or whatever desert she can get to.

I am so envious of all you Coloradoans.  I went to school out there (CSU in Ft. Collins), and I miss it so much.  Was just talking to my husband the other day--asked him what he would do if my job agreed to transfer me to Denver.  He said he'd start packing. 

I've never felt a difference with the weather.  That being said, when my feet and hands get cold, they get very painful and stiff, but I think that's a combination of arthritis and raynaud's (which I do have).  My rheumy told me that many of his patients report that weather makes a difference with their RA, though.  If weather made a difference, I would guess that for me, moving to CO would do it.  Less humidity than where I am now (Washington, DC area).  Dry cold is much easier for me take than damp cold.

Elcamino

We know that a decrease in the barometric pressure decreases the wall tension in an arterial vessel, which allows the vessel to expand. It is believed that this vascular expansion has some contribution to the pain experienced in degenerative arthritis. They believe that a decrease in barometric pressure increases pain in the degenerative arthritic patient population. And rapid decreases in barometric pressure seems to make it more difficult for these patients to cope with daily activities. On the flip side, they also believe that an increases in barometric pressure cause increased pain in my patients with rheumatoid arthritis. There hasn;t been much research done on this topic since the early 1960s. . Relocating to a different climatic environment does not seem to make a difference in the long run. Scientific studies have shown that no matter where people live their bodies seem to establish a new equilibrium to the local climate. As a result, changes in the weather affect the arthritis symptoms in the same manner regardless of the actual overall average weather. Moving is not likely to be beneficial long term. It appears that there is some evidence that the symptoms of certain persons with arthritis are influenced by CHANGES in the weather. This is not true for all people with arthritis, nor is it predictable what type of weather alterations will bother people. The bottom line is that while the exact cause of the activation of arthritis symptoms may not yet be scientifically understood, each patient must make lifestyle and/or medication adjustments according to the particular weather conditions that they note influence their symptoms. It is very important to appreciate that only joint SYMPTOMS, such as pain and stiffness, are influenced by weather. We do not have any evidence that weather changes lead to joint damage. Furthermore, weather changes have not been related to whether or not an individual develops arthritis.
Enough said..
IceDrop