Someone has told me that having cold baths or cold showers helps with inflammatory problems. Before plunging in! Has anyone tried this and, if so, has relieved any of the symptoms?
Some one who promotes this is Wim Hof in his Book the Iceman, I been lent a copy to read.
Oh l don’t know Bignorgill, when l first had PMR I couldn’t bare the cold, l was always so, so cold ‘inside’
We use an ice pack to relieve a injury but as for a cold shower or bath, it wouldn’t be for me 🥶
I’m sure someone will come along later with more thoughts.
Kind Regards
MrsN
oh my gosh. i complained about being cold on the i side constantly for the past 6 months! So that’s an interesting observation.
As MrsNails says ice packs are recommended for reducing the initial swelling/inflammation after an injury, and for certain other conditions like bursitis, but they are localised to a specific area .
We know that professional athletes and sportsmen use ice baths after training/competing etc, but they are all in very good general health whereas we cannot claim that, and Im not sure total immersion would be 100% safe.
Don’t know that I’d be brave enough to do the same!
I think you need to find out a bit more before you take the plunge - so to speak.
Excerpt taken from Medicalnewstoday -
“Things to be aware of
A person should not use cold showers as a replacement for other prescribed medical therapies, especially those that doctors prescribe to treat depression.
However, people can try cold water therapy to enhance the effects of other treatment methods.
Some people should exercise caution when taking cold showers. This includes people with weaker immune systems and those with serious heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure. This is because the sudden changes to body temperature and heart rate may overwhelm the body.
If a person is not sure if a cold shower could benefit them, they should ask their doctor.”
I often use frozen ice pack alternatively with warm ones to treat pulled muscles etc but would not take cold baths or showers. Physios often advise cold packs to reduce swelling but not necessarily the inflammation we have with pmr.
I agree with others that it's a different kind of inflammation. In really hot weather I reduce the temp of my shower over 5 mins so I don't shock my body too much. It doesn't help the inflammation...it's the sweating I do it for. But I would never advise going hot to cold. Even in elite athletes quarters it is not done quite so much as the trend over the past 10 or 25 years. Wim is a bit of a "freak" and has spent years honing his body's reaction to cold. I have seen a documentary on him and his courses and it's hard work by the looks of it. One thing most of us have experienced is the way physical and mental stress impacts PMR/GCA.
I did the cold therapy chamber 8 times. It was a totally miserable thing to do but I figured if it could help then I would try it. It did not help and I didn't finish the 10 I signed up for.
I do use ice packs on the sore hips and back and it helps a lot.
Cryo therapy is a known treatment therapy - total cold chamber immersion for some 3 mins (check out 'cryo therapy). Not recommended if have Sjogren's. Also not recommended if suffering other conditions. Only to undertake cryo therapy if such is prescribed by a member of your medical team, or, leader of yr medical team. As for taking a cold shower, just 'like that', errrr, no. If cool for hot and uncomfortable in the hot weather, then, cool only, not cold.
Another tip in hot weather. Cool down the inner man, Lassi. Cold plain yogurt, add cold water, whizz up with a fork, add a pinch or two of a good salt - the Himalayan pink salt is excellent, add a few ice cubes, drink. Great way to cool down. Plain Greek style yogurt is a good one. If in the USA, Stonehouse Yog is a good one. Stay clear of any yogurt that is laced with 'additions' and certainly *no sugar !
Tip for cooling animalss, especially hairy dogs...who tend to ceertainly get overheated. Plain yogurt is good. Also, towel wrung out in cold water, place over head and upper body of the dog, and put a fan on nearby. Very cooling.
Can also do this cold towel + fan for yourself, but don't get too cold...!
Wim Hof isn’t the guy who is in the Guinness Book of records for swimming under ice and also he ran a half marathon across the Arctic in his bare feet? I think I will just stay warm and have a cooling shower if the weather is hot.
Yes, as the others have said there is a big difference between the type of inflammation suffered by athletes and people with exercise related injuries and long term inflammation for issues like PMR and Arthritis.
Cold does have its place, but it is usually best at specific times ( usually straight after the cause like a fall or over activity) in very short bursts , and then alternated with longer periods of heat.
Ice baths are definitely not the best way to direct cold to the joints that need it if you have a condition that may have an aspect of autoimmunity or autoinflammatory triggers.
Remember , that extreme or spontaneous cold can also cause inflammation itself.
When a Joint Flare comes , especially if it is on the back of exercise , injury or something like Bursitis triggering a body response , using a short directed burst of cold water , rotating in motion from a shower head on the effected spot after a normal shower , or alternating between warm and cold rotations for no more more than ten minutes can help. If you are not upto the shower , a damp flannel from the fridge or an ice pack in a cloth is also more useful.
Massaging in a cooling ointment with Menthol like Dermacool or Biofreeze after this is also better to cool the specific joints , if it is still , " hot" inflammation and swollen ( as in activity triggered flares of any condition) using an ice pack or ice wrap bandage for upto half an hour is usually helpful. More than this level of cryotherapy , or using it on the whole body can actually start to make the inflammation worse.
The trick is to reduce " hot" inflammation as comfortably as possible in the effected zone without provoking "cold" inflammation or an AI response in the other parts of the body.
After , reducing the heat , using a shower to open the pores of the skin then massaging in a menthol ointment , then putting a heat wrap or pack on the area is more productive.
The heat keeps the pores open and allows the menthol to penetrate deeper into the skin to the muscle tissue.
The heat also relieves the " cold" inflammation .
That is inflammation in the joint that comes from the condition you have plus the nerve response .
Warmth tells the nerves they don't need to keep telling your body it is under attack and it is safe to calm down the pain signals , allowing all your energy to be used to slowly reduce the actual swollen joints.
Having a dose of paracetamol usually helps this reduction in the nerve pain response.
Unless , the swelling is still "hot" and growing , which again is generally more activity related , and may need another cooling wrap for upto 30 mins , menthol gel then warmth and gently raising or cushioning any areas while sitting or lying down to reduce pressure on the joints is more productive to doing an impression of Nanook of the North!😋😂😂😂
Win Hof is a method that involves a prescribed breathing method combined with an exercise and meditation session. This is followed by the cold shower or bath. I have not tried it but there are people who believe it has helped them.
If I lived by a lake and had a lovely sauna I could leave before splashing around I would definitely do it, but I find cold showers painful. And yet, there’s always been that information floating around that says people who take cold showers live longer?
Wim hof is the Dutchman who "invented" it.
I liked the change from sauna to plunge pool when I was healthy. But since fibro and now PMR I know it wouldn't feel good at all. Just the stress on the body, especially muscles that the change would bring now makes my muscles tense. I can do a slow shift to coldish in the shower in the summer.
As you say it's far more than just plunging in a cold bath or a cold shower a day , it's that in combination with things like a very warm bath or steam or sauna and appropriate breathing techniques.
If you can't take the full treatment , which has more to do with helping your circulation respond quicker to help better blood flow reduce your inflammation than bringing down the swelling itself , a cold shower is just painful.
You do have to be very careful with these circulation stimulating techniques if you have other health issues too , as using them if you suffer from blood pressure or cardiac problems , or certain types of vascular/ arterial illness or autonomic nerve and lipid conditions can do you more harm than good .
I have read about Wim Hof and was intrigued if it would really help in our condition. Subjecting your self to drastic temp change can be very challenging. Yet, I decided to try it, just a cold shower ( not ice bath). I must mention that I am (other then PMR) in very good health and exercise at pretty high level for my age several times a week. Here is what I found.
First time when I tried cold shower, it was comical. I was huffing and puffing so laud that my wife thought that something was wrong with me. She was in a living room and there is a long hallway in between. Over time it became easier, and now I can take cold shower with no special sound effect. So, is there any benefit? I found that after a long bike ride when I feel tired, I can take 60sec cold shower and fatigue is gone! I take cold shower now after walks as well.
I am not ready to go full "WimHof" yet, but cold shower works for me :).
I found when really in pain from PMR that relaxing in a fairly warm bath was best, main problem was getting in and out of the bath! I am not a shower person so tend to have a bath every day
Well I think swimming in a cold sea is good but not sure how you start doing that. I jumped in a freezing cold lido in December for Crisis the homeless charity and felt absolutely exhilarated afterwards....I bet GPs would not recommend this. I do follow coldseawarmheart on instagram and she makes it look great.
Hello everyone!! In an attempt to help with my PMR (coming up 9 yrs - currently on just 1mg Pred each day PLUS 30 mg ARCOXIA - from Rhumy) my son bought me a Wim Hof Experience for Christmas!!
I’ve always been a real ‘baby’ with cold water. Yes it involves the special breathing as well as 2 minute ice bath!! It was really exciting to ‘succeed’ in doing something physical since having had to give up tennis due to shoulder pain, hip pain and a dodgy knee thrown in!! I’ve now been having a 2 minute cold shower every morning after my warm shower - always to the same 2 minutes of great music!!! I’m in a good patch with PMR - I’ll never know if the cold showering is helping - but it’s a challlengenthat I’m enjoying succeeding at - when there’s so much physical stuff I can no longer easily do (eg getting out of bath or up from yoga mat!!!!). Have fun If you do it!! Lots of options of venues on wim hof website!
I’d air on the side of caution. Ice packs on specific areas can help but not whole body when so unwell. I’m the same as MrsN and couldn’t do the cold shower bit - more a warm soak in the bath 🛀 is my go to. Take care.
I couldn't even use a cool swimming pool or I seized up completely.
I think Constance tried the ice cabin therapy while in a rheumy rehab unit (common in Germany) and went home worse than she'd arrived! However, in Germany they also recommend finishing your shower with alternating warm and cold periods. But you don't go cold all at once, you introduce it gradually and it can be putting your lower legs or forearms into warm and cool water alternately. It is said to be good for the immune system - studies have shown improved resistance to infection.
Heat has helped me and cold seems to make it worse but every person is different.
I have GCA and PMR. I bought a headache hat on Amazon. It’s a circular band with small ice receptacles all around the inside of the hat. It will also lie flat so it can be used on other areas of the body. I place it in the freezer so it’s ready when I need it. I think it helps to relieve some of the discomfort I get while tapering. Even though I take prednisone, I still get other kinds of headaches from time to time- even migraines - so the hat is a big help. Sometimes just resting the hat across my eyes makes me feel better. I also get muscular relief from a warm Epsom Salts bath.
As for the cold showers and baths - I have not tried that.
Thanks for all the replies, I have only tried turning the shower down to cold for a short time. Have not noticed any particular change in my PMR. I am pretty sure that I cannot do the ice bath unless helped by someone!
Sorry for my late reply, but I do have some experience with the Wim Hof method. I was so discouraged about not being able to reduce my prednisone that I re-read Kate Gilbert's book on PMR and GCA. I hadn't noticed her section on alternative treatments (p. 140), but she mentions the crazy Wim Hof method. There is some research to indicate that it has helped people with other autoimmune diseases.
About six months ago, I started doing the breathing exercises and cold showers. I've really slacked off on the breathing (since it hurts my back). But I have kept up with the cold showers. I have no idea if the showers have been the cause, but during that time I've been able to taper from 10 mg down to 5 mg. Before I'd NEVER been able to go lower than 7.5 or 8 mg, which would always be followed by a flare.
During this time, I've been under lots of stress. I took care of my most beloved dog for many months as he suffered and eventually died from chronic kidney failure. For the past few months I've taken care of my husband, who had a very painful total knee replacement. Also I had a urinary tract infection and I've often been exhausted (probably due to the prednisone reduction). Despite all this, I have had no flares!!!
Could this be from the cold water? I just don't know.
Disclaimer: I'm from the U.S. and grew up swimming in Lake Michigan (one of the Great Lakes, which are all cold!). I don't love being in cold water, but I can handle it.
Thanks for your input. I am down to 6mg. Considering whether I should try a Paleo diet as that is supposed to be anti-inflammatory.
Before I got my dx, the only thing that helped me was heat... specifically hot tub. 30 minutes in hot water and I had relief for hours. I don’t think I would have tolerated cold.
inflammation 
Temperature and inflammation
Neck pain when it's cold and damp
Celery Juice to fight inflammation 
Problem with being extremely cold
