Cold water pain relief.

[DixieDexter]

Hi everyone, I hope the pain and fatigue aren't too bad and is at least tolerable.

I just wanted to say that I've recently ( since April this year), discovered pretty good pain relief from cold water dipping in the sea. I can't say I swim as I feel a bit nervous in the sea.

It's got to the stage where I've been able to halve my Fentanyl patch and reduce the duloxetine from 90mg to 60mg.

It's something that doesn't work foe everyone, like anything else. The thing I like most is the negative chatter in my head stops while I'm in there. Which isn't long if it's about 6 or 7°. I've tried many different things and just wanted to mention something that's worked for me.

I love the thought of everyone finding something that helps, no matter how small, the smallest thing can be huge.

I'm sorry for the waffling!

[ChristCornHell]

Just went for a wee walk with my partners dog and put my feet in a very cold stream.After the initial shock the cold water caused some benefits in that I could barely feel my feet and it was like a gentle massage too. If the dog behaved better I would probably still be there. Will definitely be going again...I always thought hot water was the best way, but no more.

[JayCeon]

Hi! How long are you guys in there for? I'm doing 2-3 cold showers a night at the moment, - helps stop Ache, pains, unrest, chatterbrain and so helps sleep and just feel good. I've been doing once before going to bed for over a year now. Before sleep 2x30 seconds, at night each time 20-30 seconds, hardly more. Takes a bit of distraction or bravery to "take the plunge", like you're suggesting, but starting bit by bit and working from legs to arms, to torso, back and face is good for me.

[saj01]

Hi Dixie . Glad it's been working for you. It's a complete reversal to what I'd understood, i.e. cold makes the pain worse. There's a lot of recommendations for cold water dipping and the benefits it brings,, so maybe I'll try the cold shower... I suppose it's a bit like getting in the sea water at first, a bit of a shock to the system! I do feel the cold as have reynaulds too and not very good in hot weather either...... sad life!!! There's only one way to find out... wish me luck.

[JayCeon in reply to saj01]

It's a complete reversal to what I'd understood, i.e. cold makes the pain worse.

Yes, it appears counter-intuitive. Cold/damp & esp. wind makes my pain worse - as does sun and heat. Any of these is OK 5 minutes though. I also have fairly severe Raynaud's in my feet, meaning I wear 4-5 pairs of socks day & night, winter & summer. The difference is as you say the short sharp "shock", which hasn't got a chance to chill to the marrow. (It also increases cold tolerance a little bit.) If it feels necessary I use a hot water bottle after the cold showers.

[saj01 in reply to JayCeon]

Hi Jay, Raynaud's is horrible.... your poor feet, that sounds worse than mine, even in the warmest of socks and slipper boots they can feel so cold, as do my hands...If I was still married, they'd be grounds for divorce! I'm dreading this winter with the cost of fuel.

But I'll give it a go and see if it makes any difference. Can only but try.

[JayCeon]

"sounds worse than mine, ... feel so cold, as do my hands...If ... married. ... grounds for divorce"

Well I do (need to) make sure my feet are fairly warm: if I don't, I immediately get a sore throat and from that I'd get a cold and similar problems.

Fortunately and strangely my wife usually has hot hands and feet and uses me to cool down