Does anyone else have difficulty in getting in an out of a bath ? Five years with PMR . Ive walked my dog , tried to keep moving but I've no strength in my arms. Showers only !
Baths: Does anyone else have difficulty in getting... - PMRGCAuk
Baths
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Ullswater
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Yes me! Lots of others too I bet. We had a lovely deep bath but it got too difficult. Lovely walk in shower now. I did manage a bath on holiday ( it wasn’t deep and had handles to pull on). I managed to get out but not very elegantly😂 I’m nearly 7 years now with pmr. I find my arm/ wrist/ grip strength is relatively poor to what it was, but then I am older too. We just have to keep moving and maintain what we can I think. (Without overdoing it of course)
It used to, but being of a stubborn nature and not willing to give up any ability, no matter how trivial, I continued to struggle in and out. Now that I'm in remission, no problem. That being said, I did visit the UK a couple of times during my PMR journey, and narrow, high-sided tubs nearly defeated me!
Thanks but I can’t access it. Not to worry. Glad it cheered you.
Unfortunately Bitdefender tells me I shouldn't open that link. Can you give me a search term which might find the page for me?
I have this difficulty too 😟Started when I had OA in my right knee and had a replacement in 2016. By then I was so stiff and out of condition that I couldn’t manage a bath at all. Was diagnosed with PMR in 2021 and that finished it. I now had weak and painful arms, shoulders, hips and knees.
I’m currently diagnosed with extensive OA in multiple joints, as well as PMR. Oh, I miss a lovely warm soothing bath….. but sadly it’s out of the question..
Does anyone have one of those walk in baths by the way? I haven’t seen them mentioned lately x
I think they must take ages to fill/empty and you are sitting there waiting ...
What about this - not cheap but cheaper than a new bathroom
livingmadeeasy.org.uk/produ...
and dual purpose as they are what the paramedics use to lift someone who has fallen on the floor.
Thank you Pro 😊
I’ll think about it although I have to say it looks very ‘medical’. Can’t be helped I suppose…..I’ll have to do something as I’m increasingly nervous about using the shower as I’m so shaky 🤷♀️
No wonder my old mum, bless her, resorted to standing at the sink with a flannel xx
Is the shower big enough for a seat? I was at the dump in Whitby with my daughter and there must have been 20 sitting there waiting for a new home - sure others do the same so you don't even have to buy one. If it is over the bath - there are seats to put across the bath,
It only looks medical because it is waterproof!
Actually I use a shower head that’s in the bath. I have a bath seat / board (proper term escapes me) that goes across from one side of the bath to the other. And I have a grab rail on the wall.
So I sit on the board, swing my legs over and stand in shower end of bath. It’s adequate but feels neither comfortable nor exactly safe ..,,
Maybe I should get an OT in?
Maybe - if you don't feel safe. My husband used a seat like that but a carer came in to shower him sitting. Most baths aren't flat enough to feel totally safe standing.
“Most baths aren't flat enough to feel totally safe standing.”
Glad you said that! Maybe I am actually a bit safer than I feel…..not remotely relaxing though and I’m getting to the point of actively dreading it 😔
Yes, but you still feel unsteady and if you feel unsteady you become nervous and are more likely to topple over.
We have a beautiful sunken bath that is wonderful to soak in. Or it was. I haven’t been able to get out of it for years. The last time I tried it took Hubby and a house guest to extricate me from the by then frigid water. Very embarrassing. Needless to say those particular friends haven’t made a return visit!
Me too. My upper arms and shoulders are so painful that I can’t get in or out again. My muscles seem to have weakened so much over the 2 years of PMR. I managed it a few weeks ago when I was desperate for a soak but then I was in agony for days afterwards because I’d strained the muscles so much. It wasn’t worth it.
I hadn’t had a bath for over a year for that reason. I decided to have a try a couple of weeks ago. Despair …but after a lot of effort almost in tears I managed to turn onto my knees and get out that way. As Downtime said, it wasn’t worth it.
Does anyone have one of those contraptions that lowers you in and raises you out ?
It’s hard to give in to those kinds of aids though isn’t it ?
I do but I sometimes wonder if it was worth the expense! We have a lovely cast iron bath from the 1950s and I was alread finding it difficult to get in and out of it before I had an RTA in April 2023. The two injuries that affected me most as far as every day activities were concerned were a broken left femur and right wrist. After 2 months in hospital what I wanted most was a long hot soak in a bath. Social services brought me a bath board and then I could at least sit over the bath to have a shower. I did try a bath a couple of times but the struggle to get out just wasn't worth it! The bath is deep and narrow and the only way I could get out was by rolling over on my knees in a confined space, not helped by limited movement in one leg and a wrist that I couldn't put weight on. Once there it took one or two family members to haul me out and a couple of hours to recover! Anyway the insurance company eventually agreed that I needed a bathlift and an OT came to give suggestions and she recommended an electric powered belt type. I was so excited to get it but it's still more work than I expected. It looks and sounds easy. I can't do it all without help though. First of all the belt needs to be pulled out over the bath and fitted securely near the floor - i cant even get there so my husband has to do that, he probably has to put the plug in. Then you fill the bath up to the height you want and sit on a seat at the side of the bath, swing you legs over and shuffle onto the belt and lower yourself into the water. Somehow when I'm in it doesn't feel as relaxing as I expected so i dont stay in very long! Then I repeat the above in reverse order, put a bath robe on and walk away and leave someone else to tidy up the mess! I have Fibromylgia as well as which complicates matters. Although it's tiring it is wonderful to feel properly clean! My misgivings are that it was a lot of money for something I rarely use. My son in law feels the slight width reduction means he can't use the bath any more. Although the insurance were paying it the final settlement came as a lump sum and I had to pay it out of that. Because we have a relatively small bathroom that's used by 4 adults and 3 large teenagers we have limited space for bulky equipment but, since buying this I've seen something in the Ableworld catalogue that's a lot cheaper and fairly easy to store. If it was just me and my husband in the house and I knew we always had hot water I think it could all be alot different
Forgot to say above; as I'm now, just, 78 I have at last decided I can count myself as 'old'. I have unknowingly had Fibromyalgia for many years - mainly tiredness rather than pain. Then PMR came along which added more tiredness and lack of stamina. A few years ago I hired a wheelchair to go on holiday and then I addres a stick as well. I no longer worry so much about being seen as old but accept whatever aids I can to enable myself stay active and to do what I want to do and increase my quality of life.
Yes same problem. Love the shower!!💐
I, luckily, have a walk in shower, so haven't had a bath since PMR started 3 years ago. However, the problem occurs when we're on holiday, if the accommodation only has an over-bath shower. I find getting in and out terrifying, especially if there is no non-slip mat in the bath. I vowed to take my own mat whenever we go away in future, but I'm not organised enough to do it!
I really missed my baths and after 6 years without one I was on a mission to find a way. Initially, I bought a contraption that you sit in and it lowers you in and lifts you up. Great but my bath was way too shallow to make it worthwhile. I then found Omnitubs which are made in Somerset and are the deepest baths you can get. I need a step ladder to get in but it is wonderful! The water comes up to my neck. The bonus was that I discovered I didn't need the contraption. With the high sides and my buoyancy in the water I could get out on my own.
My main problem was that I couldn't get out by kneeling up since having my knee replacements so needed to find a way to lift myself up which I can now do. It is bliss!
If your problem with arm strength is moderate rather than severe, you might find this tip helpful. After I got stuck and had to be pulled out, my friend advised me to try getting out on all fours, and it was a revelation: still able to have the occasional bath thanks to her, although I mostly have showers
most definitely. I used to like relaxing in a hot bath after manual work. But I quickly reached the stage where I was unable to lift myself out of the bath again. As the aches & pains intensified I tried a hot bath for relief but gave up as I struggled to lift myself out again. Both arms & legs had lost the strength I needed.
I’m having a flare at present & took a bath last Friday morning. I struggled a bit but was able to get out. A reminder of what I’ve lost, as I was an active farmer before this.
I do find heat helpful for the pain though.
There’s a leisure centre I know that has these big curved stone loungers that are heated. They’ve very very good. Unfortunately it’s 25 miles away & almost always fully booked.
I’ve ordered a heated pad that I can place on a chair or sofa if I’m watching a bit of TV.
I sometimes have to get into bed & get the electric blanket on. But I hate being in bed.
How about one of those heated throw blankets that you can keep on or under you? Thermo controlled. That might work for you?
Thanks. Yes I’ve ordered one.
I have been given one free of charge by my energy supplier, Octopus Energy. They sent me an email out of the blue offering it! This one sells for £50.
I have a heated back, neck and shoulders pad, 34.99 from Amazon..My lifesaver!! Brilliant for pain and stiffness but also useful to keep warm without having to turn the heating up..Treat yourself!!!
PMRproAmbassador
I last had a bath 20 years ago - showers rule!!! My main problem is not the arm strength, I can use the grip to get up into the cab of my VW camper OK, but can't turn onto my knees to stand up from the bath as I can't kneel on a hard surface without excruciating pain.
Yes it’s grim isn’t it. 😩
Likewise, PMRpro ! And my 21 year old knee replacements won't allow me to turn over and kneel. Or at least I won't risk it.
Mine are natural knees but both a tad mangled from skiing!!!!
Yes, I have followed your adventures on the slopes !
I can only use a bath if I get out on my knees. OA in wrists and poor strength in legs and arm. I garden, walk the dog, attend Pilates classes etc. but after 7 yrs with PMR, pred does have an effect. I’m mid-60s. I prefer showers but the occasional bath is such a treat.
Yes, me too. My problem was no strength in my legs. 9 yrs with PMR now, also 2 herniated lumbar discs, causing nasty nerve pain in left leg and hip.Hubby has had 2 strokes, Parkinsonism and now Vascular dementia, so we have a walk in shower.
unfortunately I cannot stand for more than a couple of minutes without getting into too much pain, so showers are out, also, if I drop the soap, bend down, pick it up, my BP drops like a stone, and I pass out & smash my face against the sides of the shower! We are all different, or perhaps it’s just me, & my cocktail of diseases! We had a new bath put in, & I soak for 5minutes every morning…it helps my OA, I find & my back problems (spinal tumour…benign).
That's why you get shower stools!! I wanted the bath here done as a walk-in shower but was out-voted. Annoying since it has been used as a bath about a dozen times and never by us, just visitors!! Bit pointless spending the money on changing it now!
Oh, if I have to, yes, OK! We have one, it works fine. But nothing beats a soak in the bath for me…it’s a joy! A shower consumes too much energy early in the day, & I feel like I’ve used all my spoons up at the end of it!!
We moved into a place with two, at the time identical, bathrooms! (Gotta love these North Americans, right?) Anyway we restored one to a modern bathroom with tub and handheld shower and converted the other to walk in shower. Guests have used the shower, and I found it a godsend when injured knees. Later I was PMR flaring and found it hard to get out of tub, but persisted because I really don't like showers. With the broken wrist I used shower in the tub as I couldn't use arm to get in and out, but could easily manipulate the handheld shower with good arm to rinse myself and of course remained standing. And it was after the wrist recovered that I discovered I have no problems whatever getting out of the bathtub anymore. No explanation, but grateful!
We built this from scratch, It should have had one enormous bathroom but as it was to be a holiday flat initially we needed 2 toilets so we had an ensuite shower room and a small bathroom instead. I wanted a walk-in shower instead of the bath but was told people wanted a bath to soak in after skiing! Except they didn't usually!!!
Hi, when I moved into my brand new apartment, it had a very very shallow, water saving, bath. It was only good for children. I had it replaced with a much deeper bath but it took quite a long time to get done and in the meantime I developed PMR. The first day I was able to use the new bath, I was so looking forward to having a good soak. So I got in, all good apart from it being a bit of an effort to get in. When it can’t to getting out however, there way no way! I was completely stuck! My teenage son was here but he was asleep so couldn’t hear my cries for help. I think it took me about an hour to get out! Never again! I’ve had a wet room fitted now via the Council. It does the job but it’s not the same. It’s also a nightmare to clean!
My friend also had a wet room fitted by the council. They messed it up in so many ways. Water now leaks out under the bathroom door. The floor is constantly wet so when you just go in to use the sink or toilet you end up with muddy footprints everywhere. They raised the floor and in doing so hid the stop cocks. The seal they used around the floor is peeling off. She has had the company out but nothing has been done. I suggested she complain to the council in writing. Has yours been OK? She's also worried because it took them a week to fit it, during which time her and her lodgers had nowhere to go to the loo. If they come back, the same might happen again.
If she doesn’t get a satisfactory outcome she can contact the ombudsman. Mine has been fine.
Thanks
Got stuck in bath in 2016! Had a wet room put in after that episode🫣 My new flat has a wet room with seat too. I don't really miss a bath as I find the power shower on my back eases back pain 🙂
Oh the bath! Prior to diagnosis I took a bath in the hope that it might settle down the pain. Big (very big) mistake!! Like others, I quickly realized that escaping was going to be a challenge. Visions of being found days later dead in the tub filled my imagination. I did eventually extricate myself from the white torture machine. I haven't had a bath since!
You've all cheered me up. I was stuck in the bath some years ago (with the door locked) and pictured all possible scenarios, but had forgotten it as I can now get out reliably if not gracefully. I was feeling a bit gloomy with all these reports of hiking and swimming and thought I'd had 8 years of no progress. But hurray, something has improved (and possibly more if I think harder). Sympathy and hope to everyone who is struggling.
Love this ponai 😊
It’s pretty much how I was feeling. I still can’t use a bath after almost four years of PMR and many more of OA….but the honesty and practicality of this thread has cheered me up no end 🙌
reading all these comments brings tears to my eyes…I thought I was the only one. I can get in and out of a tub by pulling myself up by the faucet but it’s a struggle. My husband helps me—we have a routine now. Not how I expected to spend my not so golden age.
Me too Twopies 🤗x
I find that bath grips and a non slip mat help a lot, but my latest self help aid is keeping a small plastic tub to use as a low stool beside the bath. When I want to get out I slip this into the bath and then use the grips to lever myself up to that level and from there to the bath edge.
That's a simple but great idea.
My sympathies. I haven't had a bath for several years since I couldn't stand up one day and husband had to lift me out..He's not fit enough now so we have a nice walk in shower(but I do dream of a good soak!)
Context ; PMR 7years, muscle weakness and Steroid Myopaphy now. It was getting impossible for my wife to help me out of our high sided bath anymore without risking injury. As ex personal trainer and bodybuilder it was obvious that getting out was trying to engage the pecs (chest muscles) and triceps (back of upper arms). In fact I was in reality trying to do "seated dips", previously easy, now impossible. They are often suggested, using a chair, to strengthen the arms and firm up "bingo wings '. BTW. So, ever resourceful wife got a powered chair that lowers me down in the water and lifts me back up by buttons on the remote. It may look weird but does the job and has saved Jan putting her back out!
yes me too . My arms seem very weak, not helped by falling over a while back and landing on my right arm. I’m doing yoga and weightbearing exercises so hoping to improve things. Glad I’m not alone. Does the prednisone weaken our muscles and take long to recover I wonder xx💪💪
Carole
Firstly I put a very long non slip bathmat in the bottom of the bath. Then I put over the sides of the bath edge (where my hands need to grip the edges) a folded over piece of the non slip material that you can use in kitchen cupboards to stop things sliding. That type has a good hold. Otherwise I find when I try to hold onto the side of the bath to help me to get out that my hands slip. I have end stage OA in both knees as well as PMR which has reduced my overall muscle strength appreciably. I think the other thing is to be calm when getting out of the bath. Panicking (which I did the first time I was in difficulty) makes you feel you can’t do it. That time I was unprepared but luckily had a towel near the bath that I could reach and draped it over the bath edge (yes it got wet) and managed to get sufficient grip to get out. It can be done. I have a fabulously easy large shower but love a soak to ease the muscles.
Good idea about the kitchen non slip , I have some that I use for hot pots on the kitchen surface 👍
Carole
the key is handlebars on at least 2 sides of the tub. I have pretty deep tub (~50cm) and take bath every evening.
Also I benefit from technology... One press of the button and my tub fills up and worms to preset temp! (as long as I don't forget to close the drain ; this part is still not automated 
)
wOrms???? Don't like the sound of your water supply!!!!
ahh English is my second language and spell checker didn't pick it up
Nothing like warm worms bath... you should try it sometimes
Spell checkers only find words that don't exist - not words that could make sense ... Can be a false friend!!!!
Think I'll pass on that one!!!
I think next gen spell checkers will have AI help that would pick up on "worm bath" and maybe help with grammar too... Wait ! I just found one...
I tested it and it did find "worm" word in the text ...
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