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The best place to live in the U.S. for osteoarthritis

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Posted 8/27/2014 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
nono Arizona is not better than Humid climate. I have Osteoarthritis and Migraines, and live in Arizona. Always in pain here.. Hawaii was actually perfect climate for these ailments. Not sure why, but as soon as I was back in Arizona the pain started again. I truly think summer is the worst season for pain here. Sharp changes in barometric pressure is to blame.
Posted 10/18/2014 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
I live in a place with very cold winters and I don't notice any change in my arthritis in the winter. In any case many people spend most of the day indoors in the winter.

I hate heat and humidity. I once researched the climate, living conditions, etc. of most of the U.S. in search of a place to live that would be cool and dry and beautiful and have a good quality of life. My top choice was Bend, Oregon, which is in the rain shadow of the Cascades and quite dry. The summers are comfortably cool. Read about Bend weather at http://bendchamber.org/weather/

Oregon is an extremely beautiful state with very nice people. There is a tremendous variety of topography to explore---mountains, lakes, the ocean, the high desert, volcanoes. It's hard not to be happy surrounded by that much beauty, and I believe that happiness has a big impact on osteoarthritis.

For me personally an important factor is being in a climate where I can exercise year round as being sedentary makes my arthritis and my state of mind worse. Many people live in two states (summer/winter) to get the best climate.

Joan M mentioned global warming. Unfortunately we can no longer think of New England as cool in the summer. It's blazing hot and humid clear up the coast of Maine. The summer heat and humidity will keep you imprisoned indoors as much as the winter cold.
Posted 11/13/2014 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have suffered from arthritis since I was a teenager. With age it got worse. Right now we live in North Carolina and the weather is killing me. When it is just cold, dry and cold, I can hop around outside for hours with just minimal pain, on the hottest, driest days I just enjoy my life. Sadly, most of the time it is just humid and hot or cold and I am in so much pain that I have a hard time sitting, standing, moving or just laying down. Right now we are looking for options to live with as little pain as possible. I do remember that when I visited San Diego I got along with only very little pain, sadly it seems to be very expensive. On this forum I heard for the first time ever that the Smokey Mountains are great for arthritis pain, or any mountain for that matter! I love the mountains, but avoided them in fear of pain.
However, my husband and I have decided that, when it is time to leave here, we will grab hold of a RV, stuff our furniture into a storage and just start driving and see where I can function best with the smallest amount of pain.
I believe that the mountains moved to the top of my list and we will start there.

To walk or not to walk is not the question, will my body support my decision to walk, that is.
Posted 11/26/2014 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
Trouble is it would be nice for you to have the heat and your family around you. But your health sounds rather important too after those surgeries. Very difficult decision. I know Florida can be quite cold Jan to March time. The humidity though is awful but it is still warm if you keep indoors or cool, have access to a pool. Plus Florida gets storms and heavy rain at times. Could you afford to try Florida first and see if it suits you then Arizona as an option down the line. Perhaps stay with your family or rent near them for a year.

Totally coincidental we are retiring to Arizona in two years then just diagnosed with Osteo all over. We have a house lined up with a pool. In the bad heat the pool is a wonderful place to be to keep cool and for movement for the joints. I hate humidity, and have it in out present State. Mich prefer dry heat. Noticed on visiting Arizona I felt much better. Got to be able to afford central heating though......
Posted 12/2/2014 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there!!

Im new to this, I was actually doing a general search for best places to live with arthritis. This is not for me, but my husband. Im unsure to what kind of arthritis it is, because the Dr.'s are not super helpful. they just told us he has degenrative arthritis, offered pain pills and the chance to try the shot in the neck...which helped for maybe a week. He will never ever do that again. He is a strong man and that about put him down. He was 37 when he got told if he continued doing the job he was doing he'd be in a wheelchair in 10 years :/he was a commercial plumber/pipefitter. Devestation to not only his pride as the head of house but alos to our familes income. His union put him on a medical layoff which started last Dec. but his time is up with unemployment. We filed for disability in Sept and have yet to hear anything (crazy as it is, his sister has the same stuff going on but a little worse and she's on disability) I work a FT job, plus a very little PT job just to keep us barely afloat. The thought of moving makes me sad because all of our family is here. (IOWA) Its all we know, but it is horrible for him. He knows days in advance when its going to do anything (snow,rain). Cold does not help at all either. He has no idea im posting on here, but trying to see how I can help him. He goes through emotional roller coasters because he hurts so bad and there's not a darn thing I can do about it.

So this being said Ive taken into account the different places to live, I would just need to figure out financially what we can do, cause....we poor! Does this act as a support group for spouses that are dealing with this??? if not could somebody direct me to one so I can help my hubby out more :) Thanks

Posted 5/8/2015 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't read where anyone mentioned living in Colorado Springs! I visited my friend there last year and realized I wasn't experiencing hardly any pain. She lives in the mountains of Colo. Springs at a higher elevation. I can't remember exactly what the elevation is.

I just got back from Houston, TX where I visited another friend. My pain was intensified greatly. This is the month of May (as was the month I went to Colo. Springs). It wasn't very hot and the humidity was about as high as it gets in Dayton, OH where I live now. But, of course the elevation is sea level. I'm not sure what Dayton elev. is.

So, I do believe the drier climate and higher elevation in Colorado really made the difference. I had steps to climb and we walked a lot too. This was before I looked up anything on higher elevation being a factor.

Just thought I'd share this with anyone considering moving. Unfortunately I'm planted in Ohio. I have stenosis in the lumbar region of my spine. I also have it in my knees. sad
Posted 5/11/2015 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hello: I just moved to AZ from living in CO for several years over 20. Anyway, I suffered for 5 years with a mild osteoarthritic hip and was always in pain when the barometric pressure changed. I thought it was the cold, but when I got to AZ realized that it was actually worse here. I have had a hip implant done since moving here, I am only 53. Pain is an ugly slippery slope. Buy a cold laser, if your osteoarthritis is in fact only mild, a cold laser (buy equine) it hasn't had to go through all the bureaucracy for certification but does the same thing at a fraction of the cost. It works, trust me I should know.
Posted 4/25/2016 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
I don't have arthritis but I thought I'd share my experience of taking care of my fiance who have chronic pain -osteoarthritis, some nerve damage on his upper body, fused cervical spine, and bilateral knee surgery . I read few comments about living in San Diego for maybe "better" relief but I don't think that's necessarily true. We live in San Diego and he still complain of pain all over his body. Prior to living in San Diego, he was living in Scottsdale, AZ for a year and a half, but he had to move to SD because he was allergic to some vegetation and dust! In my opinion, it is also important to consider other health issue you may have before moving to certain places. If you have some respiratory problem, talk to your doctor or if you can, visit the place and see how you feel. It might be best to visit more than once and in different times of year. It is also important to keep in mind that mold spores in dry area is bad to some people. Anyway, I hope the article I am sharing helps on deciding the "best" place to live for arthritis sufferers. Good luck!

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/07/us/for-chronic-pain-sufferers-change-not-weather-may-hurt.html
Posted 4/25/2016 8:06 AM (GMT 0)
I am not in the states, but I adapt to what I get. warm much better on arthritis and nerve pain, cold.........well. with el nino and el ninyo the planet is just in a huge flux. sadly because we have polluted it to buggery..........there is nowhere to hide.
Posted 6/12/2016 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
There is no where to hide is right!

I am in THE GREAT NORTHEAST. The only time I am feeling good is in the fall. I live near THE MIGHTY HUDSON which has been the dumping ground for our illustrious corporation GENEROUS ELECTRIC.

Heat and humidity is bad, spring is whatever, winter is horrible. But we have our fall which is quite beautiful.
Posted 9/5/2016 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
I live in both Oregon and Texas. My pain is there in both places, but the constant cold of the winter in Oregon is torture. We were going to move fully back to Oregon but now we aren't due to the way the cold makes me feel. Worse than the barometric cold of the dfw area.
Posted 12/26/2016 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
I can not find where it is worse in the cold than the heat on the internet. I was born with dislocation of the hip and hammer toes and I AM SICK OF THE MESS. Some say the the cold is worse but the heat is not good either...a humid mess near the mighty Hudson and then chilly when it is cold.

I miss the beauty of the ocean and think it is better in the very hot weather. The air is better for asthma than the thick humid air of the river.

My osteoarthritis is year round and the medical people are not very helpful here. THIS IS THE WORSE PLACE I HAVE EVER LIVED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT...WORSE THAN TEXAS AND CERTAINLY WORSE THAN MASSACHUSETTS, WORSE THAN NEW YORK CITY.

THIS IS UPSTATE NEW YORK...BAD FOR MEDICINE.
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