Hi I had sever back pain yesterday and out of desperation for something to watch I put Freeze the fear with Wim Hoff on the iplayer. This is not my usual fare but it pricked my interest because I have had a long struggle with autoimmune disease and having had read articles about exposure to extreme cold resetting the immune system I thought I would give it a chance. The articles had made access to cold therapy seem out of reach to me as it involved going into a walk in freezer in just socks and your bra and knickers. With no access to such a freezer or the support of health professionals while you did it I had put these articles out of my mind. I watched the BBC program with skepticism but as watching celebrities put themselves through these extreme cold challenges it became clear that it was about much more than watching celebrities do daft things in the cold. I have done some more research then and have decided to give the breathing and the cold showers a go to see if it has any positive impact on my health. I wondered if anyone out there had tried this.
Has anyone seen the Freeze the fear series on the... - PMRGCAuk
Has anyone seen the Freeze the fear series on the BBC
Just make sure by checking with your GP it is safe for you…especially if you have any other health issues. I’m sure the celebrities had to have a thorough health check before they were accepted
I will do and I will report back if there are any benefits. I couldn't find anything when I searched on here. Just wondered if anyone else had tried this.
There have been posts about cold water swimming etc -but search facility is a bit rubbish TBH -and it depends on title of post and what HU consider to be related tags! Some seem to have no relation to the actual posts -at least to us humans😂🤣
Cold water swimming would not be an option as I am a very poor swimmer. Just an interesting subject and showers and breathing are accessible to all and drug free. Will keep you posted.
I think Constance was offered cryotherapy when she had a rehab stay in a clinic in Germany - and went home worse than she had arrived! I only know that even a pool at 25C was too cool for me to do an aquafit class at my gym - something that only happened when the boiler was playing up! I would get on the steps and turn straight round - and retreat to the steam room! Heat works for me, cold definitely doesn't
When OH went over two weeks with absolutely no sleep, doctor said have a cold shower before you get in bed!....that would wake anyone up I would think!....
I seem to remember reading something somewhere that swimming in water under 28C can give people with PMR unnecessary muscle contractions! Having said that, in the warmer weather I swim once a week at my local lido where the water is 25C. So far I haven’t experienced any problems 😀
Several friends go cold water swimming in the local river, but they seem to have stopped recently, probably because of the sewage. I am none to sure about getting Weil’s disease as well. I used to do some work once for a company called Frigoskandia. They ran freezer lorries. I remember one warm day one of the workers went into the freezer area and dropped dead because of the change in temperature, so I was rather put off trying anything to do with going into freezer areas. Mind you, you could always get a job with your local butcher.
I think I am bit past starting a new career ahah and also why a 60 second cold shower seems more doable. Will continue research. The old maximum if it seems to be to good to be ture it probably is springs to mind but who knows.
Cold showers in the morning have always helped me to deal with depression. I would have a normal shower and then at the end I'd turn the temperature valve down as far as I could tolerate without worry of slipping, and holding on to the rail at same time - only for long enough to make me laugh or scream, both therapeutic. With the handeset I would do my feet then legs, then belly (always made me laugh) then down my back, arms and torso - I became able to do this twice. Always finished with one normal hot water once over. But not more than half a minute from start to finish when first doing this.
I fell and broke my wrist last summer so because I'm not as stable as I was, I gave up standing showers since, but intend to start again now I'm healed and there is no pain in my wrists or hands. Another way to build up is to sit on the edge of the bath with enough cold water in it to submerge your feet for as long as tolerable. Hold on to the rail.
Before bed this has helped me to lower anxiety and sleep better - when I have the nerve to do it!
Hi, I am watching it too and am amazed by the participating celebrities. And I have started turning my shower to a blast of cold after I have enjoyed the warm water, it is strangely exhilarating and makes me feel really ALIVE. I just play the cold water down my body and gasp for a while, but gradually increasing the few seconds before I reach for the towel. My son asked me some years ago for Wim Hof’s book so I knew of him and find his techniques fascinating. ButI do feel that most of the challenges require supervision, even the deep breathing exercises, so I’m not practicing them at home.
It is filmed in Northern Italy which is where PMRPro lives I think.
I am very wary of doing this because as a young teenager I went to an outdoor lido and jumped in, not realising that the water was unheated. The shock of the cold gave me an instant nose bleed. The 'lifeguard' got me out because I was turning the water red. He sat me down in the office and told me to tilt my head back. I tried to argue with him that I should be sitting head down and holding my nose, but he wouldn't listen. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had put a key down my back! Seriously though, if you have any cardiac issues, I would avoid doing this.
Absolutely on last comment!
A load of people had involuntary ice baths here over the Easter weekend. There is a stunning lake high in the mountains which is very cold and freezes for most of the winter so people like to walk on it. Before Easter it had been very mild and sunny so it was thawing and thinning fast - signs everywhere not to go onto it. But Italians did and the emergency services had to haul 14 people out at some point over the weekend. The scariest was a young couple with their 6 month old baby in a pram - all ended up in the water and the helicopter had to winch them out. You could SEE it was more slush than ice ...
I have been doing cold showers for last year or so also inspired by Wim Hoff. I do it especially after exercise because it helps to increase blood circulation and muscle recovery. I can't say that it made any impact on PMR though.
It's reassuring that some people are doing this with no negative impact and I have tried the showers since posting and find the warm inner glow after exhilarating and I found that my back pain easied a little more tolerable, may be the effect on my mood has helped. Wim Hof does guided breathing on YouTube. Anything that helps 😃
I'm a big fan of cold water swimming although I have paused it for now awaiting results of synacthen test.
I don't find static cold that helpful - standing in the cold is awful but active cold is great. It really helps the residual pain and keeps me active. It's certainly not a miracle cure though sadly.
One thing to be aware of is blood pressure. If it's high already it may not be suitable for you because blood pressure rises with cold water.
If you fancied swimming do start with a group - it's classed as an extreme sport therefore you really need to be safe.
Thank you for that I don't think there any groups around here sadly but I am not a good swimmer. I have found that my skin has improved which for me is a miracle. We do look for the miracle cure when you are struggling and the is no easy fix but I am very cautious that is why this group is so helpful.
Hi....does anyone know how cold water swimming might affect the Adrenal glands at a scientific level? I have been researching how to 'encourage' my adrenal glands to come back into action after high dose Pred for several months and there is so little 'scientific' information out there. Coinciding with your post I have been cold water swimming...just for 5mins each day, in my own unheated pool for about 3 weeks and so far no adverse affects, that I can see. Immediately after a swim my BP rises but then after 5 or so mins it is back to normal. I have ordered Wim's book and can't wait to read it, hopefully it will have some info re inflammation , adrenals and cortisol.
I am not sure I am intending to do the same ie. Read Wim Hof's book, there has been studies done about how his body responds to cold going back to 2007 and he talks a lot about research in his YouTube videos. Let me know what you discover. I just felt I was getting some control back over my body by trying his breathing technique and the cold showers, weather that is real or not I will no doubt find out but anything drug free that helps has got to worth a shot. Will be tracking my blood pressure. I couldn't find anything on this site about this which is why I asked the question.
The scientific evidence is that there is nothing that will stimulate the adrenal glands to wake and work normally except a consistently low enough level of corticosteroid in the blood. It is a very complex feedback set-up that must become reestablished.
Cold water swimming may result in a spike of cortisol released in response to the stress - and that is what is probbaly increasing your BP briefly - but that isn't the same a 24/7 reliable function within the normal circadian rhythm of the body.
This sort of approaches it - the cold water exposure is an environmental stressor:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
There are some links here that may be interesting
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/115...
but there are only 3 recent citations, most of the stuff is quite old.
Are you still doing it. I am going to start ice baths in the tub. any luck???
Hi I am but not the baths but I have a cold shower, warm first and then cold for at least two minutes or as long as I can. I feel it has helped improve my neck and back pain but was part of a big lifestyle change. Low carbs especially sugar, probiotics yogurt and more green veg. My rheumatologist also recommended turmeric tablets and Rosehip (I haven't tried the rosehip yet). I have been able to loose nearly 4 stone and I am 15 stone for the first time in 20 years, I am hoping to loose the same amount this year. I was pre diabetic but not anymore.I have had a bit of a setback over Christmas as I caught a nasty virus which has left me with oral thrush (not very nice) but I am the mend now and back to my routine. I hope this helps.
thanks so much 2 min!!!! You are my hero! I will do shower too but somehow getting in tub is less scary to me! Here in the winter water is 53 degrees from tap . Thanks I think I will do the breathing too
Getting in the tub may feel less scary - but be very careful. Getting into very cold water like that can cause cold shock and even a heart attack.
healthline.com/health/cold-...
Please talk to your doctor first - and check your health is good enough to try it,
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