While it’s obvious that hurricanes can cause massive physical damage, when one is brewing many people complain of increased joint pain, headaches, and painful flare-ups of older injuries.  In fact, when Hurricane Irma recently hit Florida, the Naples News advised their readers to blame the hurricane if they noticed severe headaches and migraines.   It is not uncommon for people who live near or even farther away from the storm to complain of increased musculoskeletal symptoms.

But claims of weather-related pain aren’t confined to hurricane season.  Many people insist they feel aches and pains, including neck, back, and even chronic widespread pain whenever a front is on the way.  At the extremes of temperature (very cold or very hot) the more pronounced this can be.  And that’s why some claim they can predict an approaching storm when they feel pain in one or more joints. You may have an aunt who can forecast stormy weather when her trick knee starts hurting, or a grandmother who says her arthritis always flares up before damp weather.  This is more, much more, then a wives tale.