What Causes Aches During Cold or Cool, Damp Weather?

What Causes Aches During Cold Or Cool, Damp Weather?

Aches during cold or cool, damp weather can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'needs attention' to 'serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose aches during cold or cool, damp weather, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "aches during cold or cool, damp weather" as a symptom. Here are four possibilities:

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

having a CFS diagnosis

constant fatigue

having excess body fat

frequent morning stiffness

recent onset neck pain

somewhat disturbed sleep

irritated eyes

dry eyes

major joint pain/swelling/stiffness

non-specific arm pain

nasal congestion

metallic taste in mouth

... and more than 50 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of aches during cold or cool, damp weather:

Cause	Probability	Status
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis	99%	Confirm
Osteoarthritis	15%	Unlikely
Chronic Fatigue-Fibromyalgia	2%	Ruled out
Rheumatoid Arthritis	1%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate problems caused by cold/damp weather, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Does cold or cool, damp weather cause increased muscle, joint, or bone aches or pains?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No
→ Yes, slight achiness, not a problem
→ Yes, very noticeable increased pain
→ Yes, severe, debilitating, intolerable pain

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate no pain in cold/cool/damp weather, minor pain in cold/cool/damp weather, pain in cold/cool/damp weather or major pain in cold/cool/damp weather, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Cold, damp weather can worsen the pain at fibromyalgia tender points. Fibromyalgia produces a shortening and tightening of muscle fibers; cold weather also contracts muscles, making symptoms worse.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Cold, damp weather is well known for aggravating aching bones. Rheumatoid arthritis can flare up during winter months; what might be a dull ache during the summer can become a shooting pain during the winter.

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