Where to Live if You Have Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is hard to live with, but sometimes, where you live matters. Depending on the cause of your pain, moving to a new location might alleviate some of your symptoms, making your life easier and more enjoyable.

Recent studies have shown that, contrary to popular belief, the temperature and humidity of a region have minimal impact on a person’s frequency of pain; rather, it is when the weather changes that patients experience increased pain. Therefore, if you are eager for any solution to your pain, you might try moving to one of the following places where the weather stays nearly the same year-round. Also, make sure that your mattress is not causing you any pain. We spend a lot of time on the bed, so that is a thing we should check.

Hawaii

As though it weren’t tempting enough to live in paradise, Hawaii is arguably the best place in the U.S. for chronic pain sufferers. Nestled comfortably in the tropics, the islands hardly experience any seasonal shift of weather; rather than the typical spring, summer, fall, and winter, Hawaii only has summer and winter, which vary in temperature by about seven degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, rains in Hawaii are highly localized, so you can usually drive a half-hour to find warm, pain-free sunshine no matter where on the islands you live. Hawaii is stable ― and beautiful ― making it the best place for pain sufferers.

Michigan

When most non-natives think of Michigan, they imagine the lakes freezing over and blizzards piling snow higher than houses, but in fact, Michigan boasts a relatively mild climate compared to the rest of the Midwest. While it will never be as warm as Hawaii, lower Michigan’s winters are short and its summers are long and lazy. What’s more, you’ll be closer to a world-class pain diagnostic and treatment center in Michigan to help you manage your chronic pain.

Oregon

For the most part, the perception that Oregon is dreary year-round is a false one; for at least half the year, the sun is bright and shining. Even better, temperatures rarely drop lower than freezing, even in the depths of winter, so some cloud cover and maybe some rain is the worst weather you’re likely to experience if you move here. Closer to the ocean, in cities like Astoria, you are likely to experience even less temperature swings than in major inland cities like Portland and Salem.

Tennessee

In the study that isolated weather changes as a contributor to chronic pain, participants in Nashville, were found to be the least affected by swings in climate. In comparison to the other locations in the study ― San Diego and Boston ― as well as most other places around the U.S., Nashville is the wettest. However, because Tennessee in general remains relatively muggy year-round, natives become accustomed to the weather, and their pain is less likely to inflame when it starts to rain. Illinois, which is near Tennessee, has also been noted as a good place to live if you have chronic pain because of access to high quality care. If your chronic pain is impacting your musculoskeletal system, joints, ankles, or feet and you’re in Illinois you should visit Orthopaedic Associates of Riverside.

Texas

Texas is an enormous state ― second in size only to Alaska ― so understandably, it contains many, diverse climates. In the north, in Amarillo and Lubbock, the weather is dry and mild, whereas in the southeast, near Houston, the climate is close to sub-tropical. In the far-west, around El Paso and Odessa, the landscape is true desert, and any weather other than bright, hot sunshine is uncommon. No matter your preference, you can find a place in Texas to suit your weather-related needs.

Arizona

For decades, Arizona has been touted as the must-go state for chronic pain sufferers. With an average rainfall of under 10 inches, the entire state is exceptionally dry, which was thought to lessen inflammation and resulting pain. Though beliefs on how climate affects pain might be changing, Arizona remains an excellent place to live. Even ignoring the unwavering weather patterns ― sunny and clear! ― Arizona boasts a fascinating culture and gorgeous scenery, which might take the edge off your chronic aches.

Singapore

If you are eager to escape the U.S. as well as your chronic pain, you might consider spending some time as an ex-pat in Singapore. Well-developed with Western amenities yet utterly exotic in culture, Singapore offers the comfort you expect as well as the adventure that makes life fun. More importantly, Singapore’s tropical climate boasts little variance; like Hawaii, Singapore has just two seasons with not much difference between them.