12 Tips for Staying Warm Outside with Chronic Pain

When I get cold it feels as if I’m cold all the way to my bones. I get cold easily – as in I can be inside a house that is 70 degrees when it’s 90 degrees outside and feel cold. When it’s hot outside the answer is easy, just go outside and warm up.

As much as I avoid being outside as much as possible when it’s cold, sometimes it’s unavoidable. I lived in Michigan for seven years and I honestly don’t remember how I managed it. I avoided the outside as much as possible, but I, honestly, don’t remember it being as cold in Michigan, with snow on the ground, as it often feels in Alabama in the middle of January. I’m sure someone will tell me it’s the humidity (and they are probably right).

Thinking back to living in Michigan I remember heavier coats, long insulated underwear (tops and bottoms), thick socks, and snow boots. I also remember going to Vegas one year in January and being really comfortable while loaning my jacket to a friend from Southern California who was freezing.

I also didn’t live with the chronic pain of fibromyalgia when I lived in Michigan, so the experience was different. When you live with chronic pain, cold seems to make it worse. The cold can cause you to stiffen up, which makes chronic pain even worse.

Since, I can’t remember how I survived in the winter and stayed warm, I decided to reach out to my readers on Facebook to find out how they stay warm when the outside beckons. While a few readers said that they actually feel better when it’s cold outside, most agreed that the cold wasn’t good for their pain levels and was likely to cause a flare.

Reader Tips for Staying Warm in Winter with Chronic Pain

Wear Mittens – Debbie says that she wears mittens instead of gloves as she finds they keep her hands warmer. I’ll expand on that and say that I love those combo gloves, the ones with half fingers that also have little mittens you can pull over them. These are awesome in that you can still use your fingers when you need to but you get the advantage of mittens that let your fingers gain warmth from each other.

Electric Blankets (for your car) – Sometimes just walking to your car is enough to give you a chill that can be difficult to shake. If your car has heated seats you can turn those on and warm up quickly. If you have remote start you can have the seats warmed up before your buns touch them.

If you aren’t one of the lucky ones to have heated seats, a blanket is your best option for getting rid of that chill. Kathy posted that she keeps an electric blanket in her car that plugs into her lighter. This lets her warm up immediately and shake that chill before it reaches her bones.

Pre-warmed Shoes – When your feet are cold, you are cold all over. Diedre says that she leaves her shoes in front of the heater for a bit before putting them on. What a great idea! Just be careful not to leave them too long. You could even just leave your shoes on or next to a vent in your home so that they are nice and toasty when you put them on.

Tally takes this a step further and suggests pre-warming your socks and clothing in the dryer before getting dressed.

Layers – The importance of wearing layers in the cold has been drilled into my since childhood, but wearing the right layers can help even more. Summer suggests wearing a tank top under your clothes. The closeness of a tank top should help hold in your body’s natural warmth. You may find that you still want to wear a long-sleeve insulated shirt over the tank top to add another close layer.

Don’t forget the layers on your legs as well. Lorilea says she wears leggings under everything. In the winter I typically do this as well, wearing leggings under my jeans for added warmth.

Diedre had another great layering suggestion. She said that she cuts a hole in a queen-sized comforter and wears that as a poncho over her clothes. I can imagine that this would be warmer than many coats and you could even wear it over a coat for added insulation.

Merino Wool – The hollow fibers of wool provide natural insulation. Merino wool adds a natural crimp in the fabric providing a higher level of insulation with a lighter weight. As an added bonus wool stays warm even when it gets wet (which is probably why the military uses it in the field). Debbie says she wears merino wool everything, all the way down to her bra and undies. (I didn’t know they made wool bras). Merino wool is also softer than traditional wool so less likely to be itchy.

Hats and scarves – A hat and scarf are your best options for holding in your natural body warmth. It’s not uncommon to find me wearing a knit hat in the house to stay warm. While I rarely wore either when I was younger, even living in Michigan.

I don’t go outside in the winter without them these days, and usually leave my hat on long after I return home or arrive at my destination. Pamela agrees saying that she always wears a hat and scarf in the winter, leaving both on in the car and once she gets home until she feels she’s lost any chill she’s picked up outside.

Warm drinks – Sometimes the only way to warm up is from the inside out. I’m a coffee drinker. I like the taste, so I’ll even drink decaf if it’s too late in the day to enjoy regular without the worry of being up all night. I find that a nice warm drink, whether coffee, tea, or even hot cider, is one of the best ways for me to warm up.

If I’m home I’ll usually combine this with a hot bath. But, out and about just a cup of hot something in my hands and stomach can go a long way to helping me warm up or stay warm. Several readers agree that hot coffee is their best tool to staying warm in the winter.

Hand Warmers – If you can keep your hands and feet warm, chances are that the rest of your body will follow. Tammy said she uses hand warmers to stay warm in the winter. There are disposable and re-usable hand warmers, small and large.

You can even buy socks and mittens with pockets to hold the warmers, keeping them close to the areas you need them most. Some of these are even made out of merino wool giving you a double bonus for warmth.

Blogger Advice on Staying Warm Outside in the Cold

Wear Ear Muffs

“We are all aware about the need to wear gloves, hats and warm socks outside but a lesser advertised clothing item is ear muffs. Now I know they’re not the most flattering of headwear but I find they make such a difference.

I will either wear a dark pair with a parka hood over the top or go all out ridiculous with pink or leopard print as they’re never going to make you look stylish so I figure why not embrace it. I find these help keep me so much warmer.” – From Tea & Cakes for the Soul

Heated Clothing

Jason from Ain’t No Shame in Chronic Pain shares that when he has to be outside in the winter, he wears a heated sweatshirt that he originally purchased for work.

Wear a face mask

“Face masks and balaclavas may seem extreme, but in trying conditions you may be extremely happy you brought one or the other along.” – Richard, How to Layer Clothes for Cold Weather Camping

Diana at Diana Rambles gives a quick (no-sew) tutorial for how to make your own ski mask. The great part of this mask is that it’s not super tight on your face and you make it out of a t-shirt so the material is soft instead of scratchy.

Avoid Cotton Layers

“Dressing in layers in the cold is an obvious way to stay warm, but make sure you avoid wearing cotton as it will retain body moisture. Try dressing in something that is wool or fleece, more breathable and insulating.” – Whitney, Tried & True Mom Jobs

All these tips are great and go far beyond the obvious of big bulky jackets and ski pants. As Maggie said, winter clothes can be itchy, binding, and uncomfortable giving you yet another reason to avoid going out in the winter. But, if we can find other ways to stay warm outside then we are much more likely to keep living life rather than avoiding it.

I really appreciate everyone who shared their tips. Do you have additional tips to help us stay warm outside in the winter despite chronic pain? If so, please share them in the comments below.

Related:

• 10 Tips for Combating Chronic Pain in Winter
• Sootheze Toasty Collars
• Sunbeam Heated Neck Wrap
• Winter Tips & Resources
• Dizzy’s Top Tips for Keeping Warm
• How to get outside in the winter