Grandpa Johnny, Joint Pain and Predicting the Weather.

When I was young, I spent a lot of time with my maternal grandpa, John Anderson who lived in Northern Colorado most of his life.  He was the strong silent type of cowboy that made the American West what it was. He was tough, independent and courageous. He was handsome, and rugged with a tanned face, and a faded anchor tattoo on his forearm from a forgotten era. I admired him greatly, and miss him even more.

Among the many things I remember about him, I have vivid memories of staying at the farm, waking early in the morning to the sound of KOA newsradio, the smell of coffee percolating, and the unmistakable familiarity of bacon cooking on the stove. When I walked into the kitchen, I would look out the window, and there he was at 6 AM standing still, looking to the West, knowing exactly what the weather would bring that day.

More often than not, he would be rubbing his hands, knuckles scarred from years of hard outdoor physical work, a proud yet understated testament to the life he led.

As I swung open the screen door and said good morning, he would tell me exactly what to expect that day and what weather we should prepare for… what the temperature would be and whether rain or snow was coming. He never claimed how he knew what the weather would be that day, but I believe it was a combination of years of rising early before the sun tending to the many farm and ranch duties, reading the type of clouds and if they were situated at low, medium or high altitude, and, based on his joint pain level.  He could predict the upcoming weather with an accuracy better than most educated meteorologists using the most up to date scientific principles.

His arthritis pain was one of the best ways he could predict the weather, and I now completely relate to this. Looking back over the times my joints hurt, a change in atmospheric conditions occurred.  Studies show a variety of weather conditions can increase joint and bone pain, especially falling barometric pressure, lowering temperature, and precipitation. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, there is an increase in pain, most likely due to an increase in swelling in the joint capsule.

My grandpa was not one to take a lot of OTC medications or opioids for his pain.  He was one to live with the discomfort, although if you grew up in his generation, complaining was not something you did. 

Today, hundreds of thousands of people with chronic and acute pain turn to daily to opioids and OTC medications, not knowing or understanding the complications and potential side effects that these drugs can bring.

Acetaminophen is the most common drug ingredient in America.  It is in more than 600 OTC and prescription medicines including cough, cold, flu, allergy and sleep medicines. And NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are in more than 900 OTC and prescription medicines.  These drugs are so common and easy to buy that most people overuse them, not reading the labels, and not knowing how these drugs can cause long-term damage to the body.

For example, if you have liver disease, take blood thinners, drink more than 3 alcoholic drinks a day, have high blood pressure, are 60 or older, or have a medication allergy, you should speak to a doctor you trust before relying on OTC medications.  Additionally common side effects can include nausea, headaches, stomach aches, dizziness, drowsiness, gas, and feeling light-headed.

It's been over 30 years since my grandpa passed, and the treatments for arthritis and joint pain have come full circle.  Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, agricultural hemp has opened up to the American farmer, as well as hemp and CBD have rapidly ascended to the top of American consciousness as a safe alternative to OTC and opioids. Many consumers are replacing their prescription and OTC drugs for chronic and acute pain, as well as replacing anti-anxiety medications and sleep aids.  Baby boomers are 42% more likely to now use CBD to help with joint pain.

Personally, now that I have an organic and natural way to ease my joint pain when the barometric pressure drops, I don’t have to suffer through the pain like my grandpa did, and although I can’t predict the weather with accuracy like my Grandpa Johnny, I sure can tell when we are about to get hit with a Colorado snow storm.  

Even though my grandpa is long gone, I will always have the enduring memories of him, rubbing his hands looking to the West, and the longing for those crisp Colorado mornings on the farm.

If you have a memory or comment, respond below, or if would like to learn more about how we developed our organic pain balms, creams and extracts in an effort to provide a safe and non-addictive alternative to OTC and opioids, see our web sites for more information. https://eightsaintsbrand.com/  and https://organicpainbalm.com/

You can also send an email to me to learn more about our “30 days to lessen your dependence on OTC and prescription medications” product pack.

Be well.

Ben