Cold water swimming

[fred59]

Has anyone here had adverse effects with their arthritis after cold water swimming?

I have quite severe arthritis in my ankle, but until recently it’s been managed quite successfully with steroid injections.

In August of last year I took up cold water swimming and now swim in the sea around 5 times a week. Around November time my ankle was a lot worse than it had ever been and in January I had it injected. This was successful for just a few weeks but now it is worse and I really struggle with walking.

This does tie in time wise with the swimming but Dr Google seems to suggest it’s good for arthritis and I have found nothing to suggest it has negative effects, so I wondered if it’s just coincidence? Any thoughts anyone?

[MUSHROOM1973M]

Is there a way of trying warm water swimming to make the comparison? Don't know if this is even slightly helpful, sorry, but at least you'd have a better idea afterwards, perhaps....🤔

[Kneesandtoes]

Keeping warm has always been the most important thing for me to keep pain free. I have no steroid injections or painkillers just woollen socks and sheepskin slippers.

[Rosepetal60 in reply to Kneesandtoes]

I’m similar, and if hot in bed on rare occasions, I always keep the knees & feet covered up.