What worsens arthritis pain?

Understanding Arthritis Flare-Ups

Living with arthritis means navigating days where pain unexpectedly spikes. Knowing what triggers these flare-ups can help you manage your daily routine more comfortably and protect your joints.

The most frequent culprits behind an osteoarthritis flare are overdoing a physical activity or experiencing a sudden trauma to the joint. Pushing too hard during workouts or daily chores can easily irritate already sensitive cartilage.

Beyond physical strain, several other everyday factors can make joint pain worse:

Stress and emotional tension can heighten your body's sensitivity to pain, while repetitive motions put constant wear on the same spot. Many people also notice that cold weather and shifts in barometric pressure seem to make their joints ache more.

Other significant triggers include weight gain, which increases physical load on weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips, as well as the formation of bone spurs or an underlying infection.

It is also important to distinguish other forms of joint disease, such as Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which is an inflammatory condition impacting both the skin and the joints, requiring a different approach to symptom management.