Some people say bone and join pain alerts them to pending rain and storms, such as this one. A local doctor says it's not a myth, people with certain conditions can feel storms coming.

Neffallie Anderson feels it in her knees, sometimes in her shoulders.

“My knees ache when it rains or when it’s cloudy,” Anderson said.

“It’s been several years but ever since arthritis set in on the knees I can feel it.”

We’ve all heard someone who claims his or her aching joint is more reliable than Doppler radar for predicting rain and other storms. But is it scientifically proven? Are people really feeling pending weather in their bones?

Yes for some, according to Dr. Bill Bailey, who treats arthritis patients.

“For people with degenerative arthritis, it’s true,” Bailey said. “They will commonly note before a rain front hits an increase in stiffness and pain.” Bailey said increases in barometric pressure can cause swelling in afflicted joints, especially with increases in humidity.

“Now it doesn’t hold true as often for the patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” Bailey said.

Timing is something to watch for, according to Mike York, National Weather Service meteorologist in Paducah.

In the summer most of the rain comes from thunderstorms which usually pop up only hours after changes in barometric pressure, York said.

Different people cite different times when their internal weather sensors go off, be it days, hours or minutes before a storm. When it concerns rain, however, York said the changes in weather people can feel only happen two or three hours before the storm. So the likelihood a person’s joints giving a three-day forecast isn’t good. It may be an old wives’ tale, but it is gospel for some, Bailey said. He said add the joint pain to a list of peculiar reactions to weather (see box).

Contact Adam Shull, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.

Bodily changes in the weather Dr. Bill Bailey said joint pain isn't the only peculiar reaction people experience with weather changes. To name a few: Lupus rashes flair up when exposed to the sun. Raynaud's Phenomena is when cold weather causes small blood vessels in the hand to spasm and contrict blood flow. Hands can turn bright blue, white and red. The idea of using ice or wet heat to treat muscle pain and stiffness relies on the body's reaction to drastic weather changes. Intense moist heat relaxes muscles. Ice represses swelling, and also stiffens muscle tissue to prevent further injury.