Our funny old bones

We stand united

I was reading a blog posting from Harvard Health by Dr. H. Shmerling MD on the question, Does weather affect arthritis pain? He cites three studies in his discussions. His article and research you can check out.

He believes weather effecting arthritis pain is a myth. He cites a heath commercial which claims “I don’t care about the research. I just know what works for me.” People often ignore research and except the word of thee commercials. "Silly ain't we" I watch enough old people TV with all the gadgets to improve health with similar claims. I wonder what is the percentage of medical commercials there are on TV today. It has to be one out of four. I always liked the listings related to common catastrophes if you take the medicine. The announcer with pressured speech rapidly goes over the terrible side effects. The bottom line of all catastrophes, "If you take this product you could die!” 

Well, are generations of self reporting by old people with arthritis wrong that their bones ache more in bad weather? Have these studies missed something? If older people with arthritis have always complained of the weather should we dismiss their report? The doctor in the white suit and science is to be believed over an old codger barking complaints. Ah how we view older people may be part of this discussion. 

We are more likely to keep an appointment already arranged than making an appointment

When is pain most felt?

on a rainy day. In light of the extreme cold weather that we have had, most older people wise beyond their years will choose to stay inside in cold weather and probably on rainy days also. They would most likely choose to visit a doctor on good weather days. Of course we can't always choose. But I think weather is a factor as to when we go to the doctor. I think this is true with chronic pain that we have to deal with. The studies may not have accounted for when the complaints began and when the visit to the doctor occurred. 

When are we likely to be aware of our pain? Late at night? A bright sunny day or a rainy day? When we are alone or with people? Pain is a funny thing.

I think the doctor makes a fair point that when we discover new information that improves our health it can create a new reality. But as of today I think weather does affect arthritis pain and my fellow old codgers the bones do hurt more on a rainy die. We have to stick together on these things. To help those old joints, keep walking

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/author/rshmerling
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/acr.22378
https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/359/bmj.j5326.full.pdf
https://www.clinicalkey.com/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S0002934306010266?returnurl=null&referrer=null