can hot water therapy be use for ra?

[nesha]

[Custard]

Hi Nesha,

Welcome to the Site!!

I used to soak my hands in hot water to help soothe the pain of RA earlier on before the steriods kicked in. I find this is still helpful first thing in the morning to loosen my fingers whist in the shower.. Other things that have helped are hot oil hand baths, or a trusty hotwater bottle..

I guess for some its the heat helps with soothing the pain. My brother has OA in his knee (sports injury) and also finds comfort in a strategically placed hotwater bottle.

Hope this helps.

Joy

[Hidden]

weclome to site nesha.. custard.. fantastic advice.. may i recommend in simliar vein.. hydrotherapy as Im having it.. or sit in a club jacuzzi so soothing.. also wax bath from argos for hands,

Alison x

[Hidden]

Everyone is different regarding heat treatment for pain. Personally I prefer the cold treatments, ice packs etc.

It's whatever suits the individual really and if heat helps you then that's great, go for it.

Take care

mand xx

[Hidden]

Hi Nesha,

Hello and welcome!!

Oh yes I couldnt get through a day without heat therapy of some sort.

Whether it be just soaking hands in hot water, or in my hot wax bath as Alison says from argos.

I too go to hydrotherpy and find it very tiring but good (keeps me moving)

I also use wheat bags or electric heat pads or If Im out and about I use heat in a click pads.

Hope you find something to help you

Take care

Julie

[Judi]

I found cold suited me better than hot. When working soaked hands in cold water for a few minutes. Night time when needed, wrapped my hands/feet/knees with cold wet towels (with a very thick towel underneath to save the matress)

Hope you get some relief soon

Judi

[Hidden]

Now this blog shows us that we all individuals and some find cold better than hot.. and we all able to advise from our own experince and this how it should be, different things suit different people!

This is how the site should be carried forward as we are doing now.We all posting in the true spirit of the site. help , support and advise and long may this continue.,.

xxx

[LavendarLady]

Hi Neesha, welcome to the site. I personally find cold packs/water etc better than warm which in my case, seems to increase the inflammation., but I have friends who swear by warm. So it is really what suits you best as an individual. A bit of experimentation as to whether hot or cold is the right thing will help. Also wax baths are very good. I love having those on my hands - they feel so much better after and the skin is lovely and soft.

In the mornings, I usually immerse my hands in a sink of cold water for a few minutes just to get the joints going.

Hope all goes well. LavendarLady x

[Hidden]

hot off the press from the NRAS web site:

"Some patients also find benefit from applying heat or cold to painful joints. Hot baths or showers can ease stiff joints, while the pain of hot, inflamed joints can be relieved with the application of a cold pack"

[Philip]

Deffinately hot for me, stopped my tears many times.

[Custard in reply to Philip]

Me too Philip,

Hot to ease the Pain, cold to reduce the swelling

[lizzc]

For me I feel the coldness penetrating to my bones so badly.