Hi. Does anyone know anything about these? I met a friend this week for lunch and I wasn't in a great way, but couldn't cancel on them again, so plowed through. I was telling her how much trouble I was having with my muscles etc (alongside the hip issues) and she said that these are supposed to be really good for muscles. They are definitely a considered purchase, being approx £400, and I'm not sure I want to lie in a blanket sweating. But that said, if it could help, then absolutely I would. I just wondered if anyone else had heard of them or had any thoughts.
Infrared Sauna Blanket: Hi. Does anyone know... - PMRGCAuk
Infrared Sauna Blanket
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I don’t really know anything about them sorry but what l can say is l had/have an electric heating pad that l had for bone pain during Chemo which l found very comforting & l have used it when PMR is/was playing up but to be honest l find a hot water bottle in a fleecy jacket just a good! Heat Pads around £40 & Hot Water Bottles £10
I have bone pain in my shins & the heat pad is very useful for them as a HWB tends to fall off!
Hopefully you’ll get some info from one of the other Members.
Kind Regards
MrsN
Yes, I have an electric heated pad that I use for my back.Although I did use it once and I was in so much pain I didn't realise I had left it on high and burnt my back rather badly which took weeks and weeks to heel!
I also check the temperature now as I manage to do that twice!
I think mine has a Time Control or Cut Off on it, as l was very much ‘out of it’ when using it when l was on Chemo with the Pain Meds & the Side Effects. Darling Husband said l always used to try n over ride it 😉 but he kept a very close eye on me!
I guess for me, “really good for muscles” isn’t specific enough. Is this healthy muscles that have done a bit too much or for muscles whose circulation is impaired by inflammation in the blood vessels? Also, is it ok for muscles undergoing effects from Pred? I doubt the small print will go no further to advise than “speak to your doctor” like docs are meant to know about every alternative thing out there. Can one over do the heating in these situations? Is it ok for Pred skin with fragile capillaries? I probably suggest anyone with low blood pressure should be careful, like a hot bath. Perhaps try a hot bath and see if the effect is so good you want to spend £400 to get the same without getting wet. That last bit is easily worth £50.
Yes, that's a very good point re the fragility as I am covered already with burst vessels. Thank you for pointing that out.It did say it was good for inflammation and muscles, hence my interest.
I am a huge bath person and constantly sit in it and top it up!
As you say, perhaps not the answer I was hoping it might be.
You've saved me a lot of money!
😂
Hi I like you love my bath
Have you tried Epson salts in the bath I also use SBC Arnica bath soak works for me .
Wheat bag very good as well .But dont burn yourself with it
Yes, funny, I just bought some of those yesterday.After being poorly I decided it was time to have a new bathroom!
Starts next week, I am dreading it and excited all at the same time.
They are crazy expensive!
I'll have a look for the Arnica soak.
Thank you
It will be worth it when finished I had mine done 7 years ago and its still my favourite room in the house as you say very expensive.
The only thing I wish I had done was lights around floor of shower which is a big walk in wet room .
Oh if only I had that kind of space!! Small mid terraced cottage....But yes, I know I will be thrilled. I had my bedroom done at the beginning of the year after realising if I was going to be spending more time in there, I wanted it to be nice.
It was horrible while they were completely ripping it out etc, but love it now.
I think my husband and I were talking about getting the bathroom done for quite a while and he died 5 years ago, so you can imagine .... it most certainly needs doing.
😆
I had a six month term position in a less stressful location over the winter of 1999-2000. In that time I taught myself how to search the internet while we planned a reno of our tiny bathroom. When I sold the house a couple of years ago that room was one of the bits of the house I was sorriest to leave. It is the best perfectly functional tiny bathroom you could have asked for. A bit more money and we'd have installed in floor heating (tiled floor, carefully selected to be non-slip). I searched the planet for exactly the right decorative wall tiles, and ended up painting my own! And when I moved I realized how uniquely comfortable the bathtub I'd left behind was. I just thought a tub was a tub was a tub. Not so. If you're a bath person, double check you will still enjoy your baths after the reno!
painting your own tiles. Wow, that sounds amazing.you must have been sad to leave them
Yes, non slip flooring is a must, so about to get on google again, although I am a tad bored with it all now if I am honest. It all ends up looking the same...
😐
I copied and adapted a series of pictures of the zodiac from the late lamented Encarta encyclopedia, which came with the computer I had at the time. It was a lot of fun. Just a dozen tiles dotted about with plain 6 " tiles as the field. Here is Aries, the ram is from Encarta, the three lambs represent my three children who are all aries, and the shepherd's cloak was inspired by a fleeting glimpse on tv of a reconstruction of some prehistoric garment. Done with Pebeo paint which you then bake in the oven.
The tiles I got for the floor have a texture all over, not a smooth surface at all, but a texture designed to grip rather like fingerprints do (although not looking like a fingerprint). I don't know why they aren't used everywhere in public places where tile is used, which ends up being treacherous whenever wet, because it would pretty much eliminate the problem.
I also was going to suggest trying warm bath emersion first too. I guess it's actually the heat itself that has the therapeutic effect....the blanket is just the source, so I would tend to think that you can receive the same therapeutic effect from any heat source, be it a wheat bag, a hot water bottle, a warm bath or even an electric bed blanket. So many of these expensive' items do indeed 'work', but not because they're new or innovative.... they're just utilising what's already been proven in a more expensive way. I know nothing about the Infrared Sauna Blanket so I'm not saying this is the case here....just giving you food for thought!
Lucky you even to get into a bath. I'm jealous!🤢
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I found the sauna or steam room very helpful in the years before pred - not for the pain as much as the stiffness and it didn't last long, long enough to manage a Pilates or yoga class and THAT helped more. I have used an infrared sauna at a spa - wasn't impressed really.
Yes, I understand. I have only had a couple of saunas so not really knowledgeable enough on these things. The pain is worse in the night and keeps me awake. I am doing some pilates recommended by the physio every other day, but I struggle after and am having trouble moving around after, so now do it before bed.
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wired.com/review/mihigh-inf...
is a thought provoking read. And of course - detox is woo, But I have to suspect the expenditure probably DOES encourage positive assessments!
Yes, I am sure. At least that particular one let's you try it for 30 days and return it. The others don't offer that.
Yes, I did read about the cold shower. Not a fan I have to say. Interesting you are finding Wim Hof beneficial. Will go and have a google. Thank you
The best I can manage is splashing cold water on my face when I wash it. I'm a wimp.
Me too. In the days before being classed as 'elderly', I had a couple of tries at turning the tap to cold after showering: said to tone leg muscles.Rejected that idea pretty quickly.
I love far infrared saunas. I made myself a set up with lights once. Many people I know swear by them. I’ve never tried those blankets, but I do have a heating pad that is specifically FI and it’s much better than any hot water bottle or bath - I notice a definite difference and the effects last all night if I use it in the evening so no more neck pain keeping me up when I have a flare. Got it on Amazon for less than the blanket - I think it was £129 - a pad. Ps. A bath, etc aren’t in the same category at all for me. Also my mom has been on prednisone daily for years for her RA and she agreed that my pad is far better after years of morning baths so she could even move. Of course she used a temp that worked for her - she started low and worked up. But, everyone is different! All I can say is for me this was on of those “top 5 things I read about that actually helped” deals after 10 years with RA.
That's really interesting does it have a specific name? I don't think I have ever heard of one. I need something more for hips and legs, mainly hip which keeps me awake and radiates down to my ankles.
I got a far infrared heat pad from UTK on Amazon. Cheaper than one of the blankets, more than the really cheap random ones. I also knew I could return it if it didn’t work. I think you can anyway. I love it! I swear I don’t work for them LOL. I just get so annoyed buying things that don’t work for me, but like I said, you can always return it.
I dont know about the blanket,sounds expensive ! Like Mrs Nails its the heat pad for me !
Before I knew it was PMR I was suffering, I tried body massages, swimming and saunas. The saunas did help but short lived. That’s when I went to the docs who confirmed what it was and prescribed prednisolone and it’s bed fellows.
I have an infrared sauna , the benefit I find is that I am really seized up , it helps my muscles. I feel any heat helps your muscles so £400 for a blanket takes some thinking about.
They were touting infrared sauna blankets here in the 90s? Uber expensive, sold by alternative practitioners and chiros. Don’t hear anything about them anymore, seem to have been a passing fad.
I have an electric blanket on my bed and as often as necessary I'm sat on it for the pain and stiffness at the very top of my legs. They're not expensive but has been definitely worth it for me. It's just a single one so doesn't affect hubby's side and I can always take it with me if I can go away. Wish you luck with what you find works for you.
I can no longer take my beloved soaking warm baths. I tend to get bladder infections. Any tips to prevent bladder infections?
I have used an infrared pad / blanket for almost a year! It has so helped my pain thatI bring it with me if I’m out for the afternoon
I highly recommend using this product , it has been very effective for me.
I’ll add that mine was a large pad, not a blanket, checked with my rheumatologist first and he said it was safe to use while I’m on prednisone and methotrexate. I use it in medium string and it gradually eases deep pain in my hip snd legs.. the infrared goes up to three inches deep to sooth around joints.I have passed on this info to others who have also been greatly soothed by infrared.
Hope you are feeling better soon!
Infrared light is the latest healing muscle pain that works just amazingly well. LG manufacturing carries them. But I am in the USA. Try HSN or QVC shopping networks I would think you could get in the in the UK and look for“DPL flex“. It has six rolls of red lights; two you are able to see. It’s about a 6 x 8” size electric USB plug-in. It really works 20 minutes and my neck pain is gone. I hope you can find it
See my reply below to Janet