Hot tubs/ steam rooms for RA? or not?

[GranAmie]

Hi all. I grew up in sunny Dorset and always love going somewhere warm for sun to relax muscles, but also love swimming in cool pools to reduce hot joints / inflammation. Chilly night here in N.I led to leccy blanket but was stiffer than recently , the nxt morning. So.... am wondering was it the extra heat? Haven't used jacuzzi or sauna since, wondering if they might undo the cool swim work. Does anybody know? Tried dr Google, but cd only find refs for osteo help.

Not willing to test it myself, as am touch wood doing ok on biosimilar atmo. xox

[Mmrr]

Goodmorning ! Based a really positive NHS hydrotherapy course I joined a gym with outdoor/ indoor heated pool (38c) and hydrotherapy area and find it a real boost to my overall wellbeing.

I love relaxing outdoors in the warm water and go through my joint movement exercises given by the rheumatology physio. I feel so much easier afterwards. I don't use steam and sauna rooms , as i find them too hot, but enjoy lying on the hot beds for a short time in the winter months. It is expensive but it is my one treat to myself, as I do little else and get great benefit from it.

[GranAmie in reply to Mmrr]

thanks for that - not a treat cos you deserve it, or 'you're worth it' as the ads say LOL

[Gnarli]

So far I have found heat to be beneficial. The colder and damper it is, the worse things get. Unfortunately, my rheumy won't prescribe a holiday somewhere warm. We are currently caravanning just outside Weymouth which is a blooming sight warmer and dryer than home

[helixhelix]

The french are dead keen on popping you in hot water (or mud). But generally warm-hot, not make-you-go-red-in-the-face hot, so probably same as mmmr's 38 degrees. They are often keen to douse you in cold water afterwards, but I tend to scuttle away at that point.

I find it pleasurable, and maybe makes a bit of positive difference.

[Amy65]

I have a hot tub and find it works wonders .also use swimming pool and sauna help .it's very damp here in N.ireland at the moment makes my joints worse amy

[GranAmie in reply to Amy65]

Yes it is and getting colder too! Tho i think Bangor will be warmer than Castlereagh hills x

[Amy65 in reply to GranAmie]

Ur right it's a lot warmer lol I used to live on ballymiscaw rd it was freezing all the time so moved back to bangor lol.think it's time for winter jumpers x take care Amy ps do u attend Musgrave or rvh rheaumtoglist I'm under Dr g Wright he's good but very busy x

[GranAmie in reply to Amy65]

yes - isn't musgrave great! don't see Mr wright tho'. I'm new to biologics and bio-similars from July / august this year. Amazed that they wd consider me for it, at 75 but to have a once a year [touch wood] infusion is amazing. All the best 2u

[Amy65 in reply to GranAmie]

Ur right Musgrave is brill staff are lovely .so glad u got biologics their a great drug .I was on them for 14years now they have stopped working so in agony again .might be getting Jak inhibaters kind of tablet biologic fingers crossed review in Nov. Lovely to hear from someone from n.ireland quite rare on here lol take care Amy x

[GranAmie in reply to Amy65]

i reckon the incidence of RA is quite high here when u take climate and low vitD into account. They cdn't work out why my vit D was high [=good] until i told them i grew up on south coast of England where it used to be sunny from Mar - Oct. dunno now as i don't get back anymore. Winter sun wd help if u cd travel? Best x

[Amy65 in reply to GranAmie]

So true .I got to tenerife and the heat does me the world of good .if only we could get it on prescription lol amy

[KarenS1]

Hello there

I was diagnosed with RA 4 years ago and having moved house a year ago with a hot tub in situ I must say it has been wonderful! The warmth and gentle jets really do help to ease my aching joints, I would definitely recommend.

A foot spa is equally good for tired, aching feet 😃

Karen x