Did you know that the weather can affect your spondylitis symptoms? Changes in weather, such as rain or a sudden drop in temperature, can make lower back pain or discomfort in joints and ligaments worse. You might even notice flare-ups in areas outside the spine, such as your hips, knees, or shoulders, or feel more fatigue and stiffness than usual.

Understanding the effect of weather patterns on your symptoms can help you and your health care provider create a plan to manage them effectively. Together, you can explore treatment options that address your specific needs and keep your quality of life high. Some people even choose a new place to live because they experience fewer symptoms there.

Why Does Weather Make Your Spondylitis Symptoms Worse?

Researchers have found that weather may worsen ankylosing spondylitis symptoms. Many people with spondylitis, including members of MySpondylitisTeam, have shared personal experiences on the influence of weather conditions on their symptoms. “Weather definitely affects me. Any changes, except warm weather, are usually rough for me,” one member shared.

Another wrote, “I can tell hours before that a storm is in the near future. ... Hurting so much more.”

A third member explained, “If I choose to go somewhere that’s cold and damp, then I know increased pain/stiffness is the price I must pay.”

Why or how weather affects spondylitis disease activity isn’t very well researched, though a few people have theories. Because spondylitis is a form of arthritis, some of the research on other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, may apply.

For example, people with spondylitis often have a more rigid spine, which increases the risk of fractures. These fractures can lead to neuropathy (nerve pain) that might feel worse in cold weather. Additionally, those with inflammatory diseases like spondylitis may also have degenerative joint pain, such as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is known to worsen in cold weather, which can make it challenging to differentiate between inflammatory and degenerative pain.

The weather may affect spondylitis symptoms for several reasons:

• Cold temperatures — Cooler weather might thicken joint fluid, increasing pain and stiffness.
• Lower activity levels — Cloudy or rainy days can make people feel down or less active, which might worsen stiffness and pain. Staying indoors during colder weather often means less physical activity, which is vital for managing symptoms.
• Atmospheric pressure — Changes in air pressure can cause bones and connective tissues to expand or contract, potentially increasing discomfort.

While these ideas haven’t been definitively proven, they offer insights into why weather might influence your symptoms. Discussing your experiences with your health care provider can help you find strategies to manage these flare-ups, no matter the weather.

What Types of Weather Can Affect Spondylitis?

Various weather conditions can influence spondylitis symptoms. Following are some common culprits.

1. Rain

Have you ever wondered, “Is it normal for your body to hurt when it rains?” or “Why does my body hurt when I get wet in the rain?”

Rainy weather may, in fact, make your symptoms worse. A 2021 study showed that damp weather seems to worsen ankylosing spondylitis symptoms. Other research has shown that overall arthritis symptoms worsen when humidity is high. Humidity tends to be higher in rainy weather.

One MySpondylitisTeam member who experiences worse symptoms on rainy days said, “I have definitely noticed a difference with my pain in the last week. It has been foggy, humid, wet, cloudy weather, and boy, I have felt it in every muscle and bone in my body.”

Another shared that, “The cold weather or rain kills me. … My entire body aches, and nothing helps.”

2. Cold or Hot Temperatures

If you’ve wondered, “Does hot weather make arthritis worse?” “Does cold weather affect arthritis?” or “Why do I have neck pain in cold weather?” you’re not alone. However, the answer isn’t crystal clear because the research has been mixed.

For example, one study linked warm weather to worse ankylosing spondylitis symptoms. Another suggested higher temperatures may improve them. Additionally, other research has shown that general arthritis pain may worsen in lower temperatures.

What’s clear is that temperature does seem to affect spondylitis symptoms, but individual responses vary. You may need to keep track of how you feel to figure out what temperature is best for you.

MySpondylitisTeam members have shared how they experience temperatures differently:

• “I can tolerate heat better than cold. My joints stiffen and pain increases with cold weather.”
• “Both cold and heat are enemies of mine, but cold is easier to fight. It’s easy to grab a blanket and warm up, but in the heat, it's impossible to get cooled off.”
• “Cold, damp, hot, all of them bring some sort of discomfort.”

3. Humidity

Some people living with spondylitis find that high humidity aggravates their symptoms. Some research has shown that arthritis symptoms may worsen when humidity is high.

MySpondylitisTeam members experience this, too. “I don’t find the cold as bad as the dampness, which we get a lot of,” one member said.

Another member said that they feel “achy and fatigued on humid and cloudy days.” They added, “I still like to move around, just a bit slower.”

4. Changing Weather

Some people find that changing weather worsens their symptoms, regardless of whether it’s getting colder or warmer. Research into this phenomenon is limited, but it may be related to changes in barometric pressure (discussed more below).

One MySpondylitisTeam member shared, “When it goes from cold to hot or the other way, it just makes me hurt.”

5. Barometric Pressure

The barometric pressure (also known as atmospheric pressure) reflects how much the air in the atmosphere is pressing down at any given time and place. One study showed that high atmospheric pressure made people with ankylosing spondylitis feel worse. Another indicates similar patterns for people with arthritis in general. As noted above, this pressure may change the size and shape of bones and tendons, causing pain.

Members of MySpondylitisTeam have noticed that changes in barometric pressure affect their symptoms. “Weather troughs cause severe flare-ups, so barometric pressure affects my body in some way,” a member shared. Another said, “Barometric pressure has my body aching.”

How To Cope With Weather-Related Pain and Stiffness

Managing weather-related spondylitis symptoms involves strategies similar to general spondylitis care. Physical activity or exercise therapy has been shown to significantly improve the severity of spondylitis symptoms. Exercise can also help you feel warmer, which may help if cold sensations worsen your symptoms. You can prevent weather-related symptoms by exercising more often during cold weather. Wearing proper clothes to keep the body warm can also be useful.

For pain, over-the-counter pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve), may help. Taking your prescribed medications, such as biologics, is also important for slowing the progression of spondylitis. Following your treatment plan with your health care provider can help keep pain and stiffness in check.

Some MySpondylitisTeam members have also shared their best advice for managing joint pain and stiffness related to weather:

• “How I deal with the cold is using two blankets and a radiant heater in my room with the heat on.”
• “I spend a lot of time using a heating pad and taking hot baths. I also use a lot of lidocaine on the joints affected.”
• “Heat does not help my pain. I ice three to four times a day.”
• “My heating pad and Biofreeze are my greatest friends.”
• “My electric heated blanket is my best friend.”
• “I have a heating pad that is extra long, which works really well for keeping my spine loose. I also wear a heavy shirt inside the house to keep my body warmer than normal.”
• “At work, I keep a space heater next to my desk just to keep warm.”
• “Tylenol helps a lot. I usually take it before bed so I can sleep at night with some comfort. But all in all, my Humira is a lifesaver for me. Without it, I cannot move or walk or get around.”

If you think the weather is causing a spondylitis flare-up or worsening of your symptoms, talk to your doctor about the treatment options and home remedies available to you.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MySpondylitisTeam is the social network for people with spondylitis and their loved ones. On MySpondylitisTeam, more than 98,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with spondylitis.

Does weather affect your spondylitis symptoms? What has helped you? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on MySpondylitisTeam.