How Do Weather Patterns Worsen Pain?

Ever feel a storm coming in your knees? Maybe you notice it in the hips. Or lower back. You’re not imagining it. Weather changes 100% influence the body. Especially when it comes to pain. I hear it all the time as a holistic chiropractor. It’s a very real thing. Humans have noticed it for thousands of years. But why does it happen? What’s the connection between weather changes and pain? It’s fascinating, really. 

Here’s How the Weather Influences Pain

Pain isn’t just a sensation. It’s a physiological response. That triggers a conversation between the body and brain. And the nervous system plays a major role. It starts with receptors called nociceptors, which detect any damage or potential damage to the system. Electrical signals then travel up the spinal cord to reach the brain. This manifests as pain. 

The body is a finely tuned system. Everything is connected. And everything is energy. Including you. You might not feel energetically connected to the natural world. But you are. Deeply. This is your energetic body. When something changes in the environment, something changes in you. These changes can shift pain perception. Affecting the nerves. Joints. Lighting up areas of the body where you store stress. Here’s a breakdown of weather changes that can make pain worse. 

Barometric Pressure Drops

The calm before the storm. Barometric pressure drops just before it rolls in. This is the biggest reason most people experience discomfort with bad weather. Lower pressure equals less force on the body. When pressure drops, tissues in the body slightly swell. Meaning if your lower back is already inflamed, it’s going to get worse. Even a little bit of swelling can feel like a big deal. Especially when joints and nerves are already stressed. 

Think of it like this. Your body is already doing its best. Then the pressure drops. So you feel things more. Maybe your hips feel tighter. Your back is stiffer than usual. Old injuries flare up. Arthritis seems more painful than usual. It doesn’t rain much in Southern California. But when it does, I see a flood of patients. With their back locked up. With excruciating neck pain. Knees that feel three times their normal size. 

Get this. It even affects your emotions. A pressure drop can cause serotonin levels to dip. Affecting mood. Making you feel anxious. Sad. Irritable. Fatigued. More difficult to cope with depression. The physical and emotional pain is totally real. Completely normal. And all connected to the nervous system. 

Temperature Drops Cause Muscle Tension

Cold weather literally tightens things up. Have you ever lived where temperatures fall below freezing? It makes everything contract. Car doors even become more difficult to open. Need to heat up before they can run smoothly. Your body is the same. When temperatures fall, your muscles contract. This helps keep heat close to the body. But it causes serious tension. Makes you stiffen up. This changes how you move. Hold yourself. Both can increase pain. Circulation slows down. Making stiff joints feel even stiffer. This can cause serious discomfort during the dark, colder days of winter. 

Humidity Increases Inflammation

Moist, heavy humidity. Some people love it. For others, it triggers pressure in the body. Humidity can increase inflammation. Which can lead to pain. You might feel it if you’re prone to migraines. Nerve pain can get worse when it’s humid. Sinus issues can flare up. Past injuries make themselves known. 

What Should You Do When the Weather Makes Pain Worse?

Hear me out on this. That pesky weather-driven pain can be a blessing. Why? Simple. It shows you what areas need more support. It could be a “bad back” that you continue to cover up with pain meds. Or screaming muscle knots. A crick in your neck. Here’s where holistic chiropractic care comes in. Dr. Suzanna and I use a gentle technique called network spinal chiropractic. There’s no cracking. Just soft, precise touches along the spine. 

So, how does this work for pain? By reducing tension in the nervous system. Gentle adjustments are known as entrainments. And they can reset the entire system. This increases resilience. Improves circulation. Moves emotional energy that’s become stuck in the body. All of this makes you stronger. So you can weather the storm. Balanced. Free from pain. Sometimes we combine chiropractic care with breathwork. We use a special technique called SRI breathing. Known as Somato Respiratory Integration, it connects body and mind through breath and movement. This deeper connection can help the body handle weather changes more gracefully. 

Final Thoughts on Weather and Pain

Pain is personal. It’s real. Because you feel it. The body is just doing what it’s designed to do. Protect you. But here’s the thing. Your nervous system responds to threat. And weather changes can be super threatening. But your body isn’t really working against you when the weather shifts. It’s simply responding to a changing environment. Say there’s a cold snap that causes a painful flare-up. It’s the nervous system asking for support. The same thing can happen in high humidity. Your body lets you know what it needs. Consistent chiropractic care can help you become more resistant to change. When your nervous system settles, you’re less reactive. Seasonal swings aren’t so intense. You can’t control the weather. So, why let the weather control you?