Why My Knees Hurt More in Winter & What Can I Do to Help?

You know what joint really acts up for me when cold weather hits? My knees.

Every. Single. Winter.

I’m talking about that deep, aching pain that makes it hard to stand up or walk down the stairs without holding onto the railing for dear life. Some mornings, it feels like my knees are filled with cement. Sound familiar?

Let me tell you—I used to brush it off as just “getting older,” but there’s a lot more going on. So, let’s talk about why winter seems to have it out for our knees and what we can actually do about it.

🌬️ Why Do My Knees Hurt More in the Cold?

1. Cold Weather Tightens Everything Up
   When it’s cold, the muscles and tissues around our knees tighten up. Less blood flow means less flexibility, and that stiffness turns into pain. I feel it worst in the morning—getting out of bed feels like bending frozen pipes. Yikes.

2. Pressure Drops = More Pain
   Before a winter storm hits, the barometric pressure drops. That makes the tissues in your joints expand, putting extra pressure on your knees. I swear, my knees are better at predicting the weather than the news. 😅

3. We Move Less in the Winter
   Let’s be honest—when it’s cold, we’re not moving as much. I catch myself lounging under a blanket way more than I should. But staying still too long makes those knee joints stiffen up, and the pain gets worse.

🏃 What’s Helped Me Tame Winter Knee Pain

Here’s what I actually do when my knees start acting up in the cold:

1. Warm Them Up First Thing 🔥
   Before I even get out of bed, I stretch my legs and do slow knee bends. Sometimes I even use a heating pad while I drink my morning coffee. Trust me, warming up those knees before starting the day makes a huge difference.

2. Keep Moving (Even If It’s Just Inside)
   I make myself get up and move every hour. I’ll do light stretches or even march in place while watching TV. Sounds goofy, but it keeps my knees from locking up.

3. Hot Showers and Warm Baths 🚿
   A hot shower loosens me right up. And when my knees are really bothering me, I soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts. Pure relief.

4. Anti-Inflammatory Foods Are Key
   I noticed my knee pain gets worse when I’m eating more junk. So, I focus on foods that fight inflammation—like salmon, spinach, and walnuts. I also cut back on sugar (even though winter makes me crave warm cookies).

5. Managing My Uric Acid Levels
   My knees used to throb because of high uric acid. Once I started managing it naturally, I felt so much better. One thing that really helped me was adding our Lifetones Uric Acid Support Capsules to my routine. If you're dealing with that same sharp, aching pain in your knees, it might be worth giving it a try.

🤔 What About You?

Do your knees give you grief when it gets cold? What do you do to ease that pain? I’d love to know—I’m always up for trying something new.

Let’s keep moving this winter. Our knees may complain, but we don’t have to listen! 💪

Brandon