April Showers and MVA Aches

April Showers and MVA Aches

April springs in with rain soaking Kentucky farms and roads while patients walk into Chambers Medical Group, one of the highest rated car accident medical care programs in the area, with a familiar complaint. Old injuries sometimes flare up when the skies get angry. A patient can progress through treatment, loving their progress, and the first downpour feels like their progress took 3 steps back. Is it just a mind trick or does wet weather really stir up the pain in all injuries? Spring showers bring more than flowers. They may also make the old injuries flare up and your new injuries hurt more. Dr. Aaron Workman of Chambers Medical Group discusses the rain and pain connection and if anything can be done for relief.

Weather and Worn Joints
Rain does not just make our roads slick but also changes the air. Barometric pressure drops before a storm and that change can affect the body. Joints with old damage from traumas such as whiplash or a banged knee from a motor vehicle accident (MVA) can become more sensitive to these changes. If you have chronic conditions or various forms of arthritis, that pressure can lead to increases in pain sensitivity around the joint. There is no true scientific consensus on the matter, but many research articles support this thought. A study published in The American Journal of Medicine in May 2007,  “Changes in Barometric Pressure and Ambient Temperature Influence Osteoarthritis Pain”, found more aches when pressure dips. If you have experienced MVAs and had chronic problems, then you may be in that group.

Why MVAs Matter
Motor vehicle accidents leave lasting marks. A sudden impact can strain your spine or twist a shoulder leaving weak points. Years later those spots might stiffen or give rise to degeneration and arthritis. Rain turns that slow burn into a fire. Most slips, falls and MVAs will recover to a certain point with time. Your body will patch up what it can, and you will continue with residual problems. The changes in pressure take those residual problems and make them feel new. Wet roads also mean more MVAs, so April could stack new trauma on old issues if you are not careful.

Dreary Days
It is not just the joints that are grumpy, but rain can ruin your mood. Gray skies zap your energy making old pains feel heavier. If you suffered a trauma due to wet driving conditions that memory can pile on some stress throughout the rainy months of spring. That extra stress amplifies what you feel. A stiff back from a rear end hit years ago might throb more when you are tense. April’s wet streak keeps that vicious cycle going.

When to Be Concerned
A few days of extra soreness can be normal. If those days turn into weeks or months, into changes in pain type, or into numbness, it is likely more than the rain. Inflammation could be too much and should not be ignored. Persistent pain needs to be checked out by a health care provider.

If you find yourself dreading movement on a rainy day, it is likely time to start moving. You can enjoy a warm shower or moist heat on the achy joints for relief. Heat can loosen what the rain makes stiff. Ease into the day with some stretching to get the joint pumping. If you notice additional swelling, then application of an ice pack can curb the problem. Take your time on wet roads so your stress levels are not adding to the pain. If you find yourself in a new accident, then the doctors at Chambers Medical Group can help. We understand how old issues can make new trauma feel unbearable. Do not let April showers wash out your spring enjoyment.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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