USC Health Now

Q: Sometimes when it is rainy or cold weather, my knees and hips ache. Is this a sign of arthritis?

A. According to Daniel G. Arkfeld, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, joint pains or “rheumatism” can be exacerbated with cold, moist weather. “A good example are people being able to ‘predict’ rain due to aching in their joints,” says Arkfeld. “This is based on an increasing barometric pressure which is felt in the joints.” He says that having arthritis certainly would increase the discomfort in such conditions. However, he points out that there are over 150 different types of rheumatic disorders, with only some being sensitive to shifts in the weather. “Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and is one of the conditions that barometric pressure can affect,” says Arkfeld. “I have had OA patients who move to the desert in an attempt to feel better by living in a dry arid environment with low barometric pressure.” But before packing up and moving to the desert, he recommends telling your doctor about any new or unusual joint discomfort. That way a proper workup—possibly including x-rays and a blood test—can be performed to look into these complaints further.