Is Your Spinal Stenosis Worse In The Summer?

Home / Back Pain and Spinal Stenosis / Is Your Spinal Stenosis Worse In The Summer?

The summer months often make people more active by going for longer walks and participating in many more outdoor activities than during the rest of the year.  Often these activities can increase pain levels because they include movements that can aggravate spine conditions such as stenosis.  Although stenosis isn’t strongly tied to changes in the weather, or during a change of the seasons, there are some indirect factors that can impact the pain experienced at different times of the year for individuals with spinal stenosis.

Increased Activity:

The desire to get out and enjoy the weather could lead to increased pain if you stay out longer than you can manage.  This could be as simple as a longer-than-normal walk in the park, an unexpectedly longer game of golf, or finishing that last section of the garden, when you knew it could have been better to leave if for another day.   If this is the case, be sure to monitor your time and energy level closely, schedule breaks in your activity, or bring walking aids such as a cane, Nordic poles, or walk in an area like a park that has abundant sitting options to take a break when needed.

Heat, Humidity, and Fatigue:

Although heat itself does not often increase one’s pain from stenosis, it can greatly accelerate your fatigue and force you to work harder than normal.  This is particularly important if you become dehydrated.  To avoid this, make sure you dress appropriately with good sun protection and carry fluids on a strap across your body, or other pack that keeps your hands free.

Exercising too frequently, or not allowing sufficient recovery between days:

For many Canadians, summer is over too quickly and many of us want to get as much out of the season as possible, leading to “weekday warrior” habits.  Going from zero to hero with daily walks, multiple games of golf, tennis or pickle-ball per week, or long hours in the garden, can have a significant impact on your pain levels if you don’t manage your activity well.  Making sure that you ease into new or returning activities in the summer, planning sufficient rest breaks, and taking days off when necessary, will go a long way to increasing the quality of your summer experience.

Barometric Pressure Changes and Back / Joint Pain:

Although highly anecdotal, the transitional seasons are often blamed for back and joint pain caused by changes in barometric pressure that occur more than at other times of the year.  Often self-care activities such as stretching and exercise, doctor-prescribed medications, or other nutritional strategies can be of help, but their effectiveness is also highly individual.  Before attempting any new therapeutic approach for pain that you feel is related to the weather, seek the advice of your treating therapist or doctor for direction and possible referral as necessary.

The impact of the summer weather on spinal stenosis pain levels can be highly individual. Some people may not notice significant seasonal differences in their pain.  But it is important to recognize that as a degenerative condition, managing stenosis pain is a long-term progress. Exercise therapy, lifestyle modifications, and sometimes medications, can help maintain your freedom of movement with as little restriction as possible.

If you’re experiencing increased pain specifically during the summer season, it might be helpful to track your symptoms and discuss them with your healthcare provider or reach out to us for a hand!  We can help you develop strategies to manage your pain throughout the year. 

This service pro­vides gen­eral infor­ma­tion and dis­cus­sion about therapy, health and related sub­jects. It is not meant to replace advice and/or treatment from your health care professional.