sauna and PMR: hallo Today I am going to a small... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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sauna and PMR

Freshairfiend profile image
18 Replies

hallo

Today I am going to a small hotel I know and love for two nights r and r. They have a pool, so I’m going to swim/ float for the first time since September (PMR diagnosed in November)and I will not overdo it. There’s a jacuzzi to languish in and a sauna. I don’t normally spend much time in there, but I do find it very relaxing after about five minutes and then i have half hour lying on the pool lounger.

is there anything to be careful of in a sauna? I’m guessing my body might like a certain amount of heat.

thanks as always

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Freshairfiend profile image
Freshairfiend
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18 Replies
123-go profile image
123-go

Sounds like heaven to me. I would just say limit your time in the sauna if too hot and don’t jump into a cold plunge pool afterwards-as if you would ! I’ll be thinking of you.

Freshairfiend profile image
Freshairfiend in reply to123-go

thanks. Can’t wait On the way now via a national trust place, but a bit delayed as we both forgot our NT cards. Pmr brain fog for me. Usual case for mynpartner!

123-go profile image
123-go in reply toFreshairfiend

🤯

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I used to use the sauna and steam room at the gym in the 5 years I had PMR without pred. I did use the hot pool now and again but given the evil stories about how they encourage bugs, I wouldn't now. I could even manage Pilates or yoga afterwards because it did loosen PMR muscles.

Not too long though - and no cold plunge ...

Freshairfiend profile image
Freshairfiend in reply toPMRpro

thanks. Sounds great. Just suggested to partner that we get a sauna built in the garden. Silence.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toFreshairfiend

Funny that ... Boring - it is only a garden shed when all is said and done. And I'm sure you could use it with the wood stove at a lower heat and no steam just to sit outside ,,,

123-go profile image
123-go in reply toFreshairfiend

Shout!

Charlie1boy profile image
Charlie1boy

Sounds like the small hotel we visit annually in Norfolk.

I never had any problems with the jacuzzi or the sauna, though I couldn’t take it as hot as my wife!

Swimming was different though, and painful to use arms for both crawl and breast stroke. I contented myself with a bit of floating!

Freshairfiend profile image
Freshairfiend

ours is just outside Dartmouth. Yep, floating may be the most I can do, but it’ll be great to hebb be in the water again

piglette profile image
piglette

I love swimming and go a couple of times a week. I tend to use the steam room rather than the sauna as I prefer it. They do say you should not use either if you have heart disease I notice.

Gimme profile image
Gimme

You can walk in the pool, if swimming is too painful for you. I've swum throughout my PMR, though I am lucky that my shoulders are not too bad. Having a wee break from swimming atm though, as my knees have decided they don't like breast stroke, and I am giving them a few weeks to help them recover. Getting into the pool when I am having a bad day is absolute bliss. All the stiffness and fatigue vanish and the feeling of cool water on my sore bits is very soothing.

The only thing that I would say about the pool is to make sure that you get warm after. A sauna is a great way to warm up and I find it takes all the tension out of my sore muscles. Ideally, you should not spend more than 15 minutes in the sauna anyway. Just make sure that you rehydrate and wrap up warm afterwards.

Freshairfiend profile image
Freshairfiend

hoping this will go to all who kindly replied here….

Many thanks everyone for your advice, support and encouragement. When we arrived at the hotel yesterday, In realised I’d forgotten my swimming stuff! Fortunately, my matching Bridget Jones style M and S undergarments saved the day and I had a fabulous time in the pool…I was the only one in there. It’s only nine metres long and 4’6” deep in the centre, so felt safe. I did four lengths Breast stroke, which was the hardest, four front crawl and four sculling on my back. Felt like a duck to water. Jacuzzi gently massaged my poor neglected PMR body (with a touch of sciatica and low levels virus, not Covid). Sauna was great too and I had a lower temperature. Rested for an hour afterwards with lots of water and them had a fabulous meal. All repeated this morning, except I snook in an extra two lengths. Off to breakfast now…..So 😃 happy!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toFreshairfiend

Any self-respecting hotel here would be able to SELL you a swimsuit!!!!!

Dahlgren profile image
Dahlgren

I am Finnish and have been going to sauna since a baby( as most Finnish people). We stay sometimes for hours but have a swim in the lake in between and drink a lot.I would not recommend it for beginners but Finnish doctors say that sauna is good for any illness!!! In the Summer while staying in my seaside cabin and having sauna almost every day I never have any complaints and feel great. Here in UK I have arthritis and feel not so great.

Freshairfiend profile image
Freshairfiend in reply toDahlgren

thank you, Dahlgren, I know Finnish people who regard saunas and water in between, ideally swimming, as a sacred ritual. Makes sense. I read a very interesting article on it recently by David Baddiel. He now has one at home. I have just come back from a short swim, longish jacuzzi and max ten mins in the sauna. The jacuzzi really helps with the aching limbs after walking. The sauna makes me feel very relaxed. So going to lie down for a while now. Here at the hotel, they are thinking of building a wood fired one in the garden, as they have a lot of spare wood.

Hope you can get access to a good sauna to help with your arthritis.

Monkey321 profile image
Monkey321

Hi, we have a spa pool at home. My husband puts magnesium in it regularly and has recently been putting in some Himalayan salt. I enjoy the spa and it's relaxing but must admit after I get out I'm usually sorer than when I got in.

Freshairfiend profile image
Freshairfiend in reply toMonkey321

Just read your profile. The pains and discomfort sound horrendous. I hope you now have the right diagnosis and medication. I’m sure you’ve got lots of help from the experienced folk on here, including you’re not too young to have PMR. I hope you live in a beautiful part of New Zealand, although it all looks beautiful to me.

All the best.

Freshairfiend profile image
Freshairfiend

I’d love a hot tub or similar. I have found the jacuzzi here at the hotel very soothing for my body. I put Magnesium salts in my bath at home. I wonder why you feel more sore afterwards and if it’s something you can do anything about? Or maybe just enjoy the spa and accept the soreness?

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