Intresting article on water.
http://medicspa.blogspot.com/2007/09...rotherapy.html

This article is so true I believe! For many years I suffered from the dreaded and much discussed Fibromyalgia. Many years. I was tested out the kazoo, and that was the diagnosis. We now know I had the beginnings of sero-negative Sjogrens and sero-negative (proven with xrays instead) rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid is now showing up in my bloodwork whenever we decrease my medicine. I'm now 4 years (or more, who knows) into the Sjogren's and it sometimes takes 7 years or more to show up in bloodwork.....I'm getting off the original subject. Happens everytime I post after I've taken the nightime meds.

Water..hot moving water...is so good for the fibro type pain. I tried a friend's hot tub once. Had to be coaxed into it, but loved it, loved it and slept like a baby that night. So we had the master bath remodeled and put a smaller version (but not too small) of the hot tub put in. Size was not my choice, it was a remodel remember. It was larger than the standard tubs now and it has 4 jets. But I used it like a bathtub. And I slept like a baby the first time I used it. Sometimes went to sleep in the tub. Before the tub, I slept maybe an hour a night and sometimes not at all. I had to quit using it after the knee surgery. I can no longer bend enough to get up and down in the tub. I look at that tub on days like today. (I haven't been warm the whole day) And I long for that thing.

If you can afford this I urge you to do it. I think you will think it's money well spent. Our medical insurance paid for mine. The doctor wrote a letter of medical necessity stating that I needed continous whirlpool therapy and this tub would fill that requirement. Just wish I could get them to pay for one of those that you walk into and sit down. Probably would be as good as one that lets you lie down with a tub pillow on your head.

Billye

Whenever I am able to get to my gym, I go into the whirlpool.

I've been doing this since I'm 20. I would just sit against the jets and have those jets pulsing out all those water bubbles right at my knee or neck.

It's the most amazing feeling. I would live in a whilrpool if I could.

I never could understand those Polar Bear people, the ones who jump into the ice cold water at the beach during the winter time. They never get sick, they are all ages and they love the icy water.

You couldn't get me to do this if you paid me money.

I hate the cold.

I have been a hydrotherapy "fanatic" for most of my professional career, and personally, also. But not just the hot water soak. The article didn't go far enough. In a therapeutic pool, the hydrostatic pressure of the water if you are standing chest deep is great enough to push fluid up from you feet, ankles, and legs to thoroughly and significantly treat your vascular system. And you can stretch tissues, muscles and joints in the water to a far greater extent in the water than you can on land. I used to suffer from fibromyalgia (admittedly self-diagnosed), but successfully treated it with 4 x week pool exercise therapy. Warm water soaks will also heal minor wounds and clear up minor skin infections.

For me, anything warmer than tepid water aggravates the burning I have in my hands and feet. So I shower in water that is warm but not hot, and avoid hot dishwater and anything that brings the temp up. Cool and cold water do a great job of numbing pain for me but not always available.

Tom in AZ (yes, in the summer here I cradle in my hands a bottle of cold water a lot!!!)

Aussie,

I couldn't agree more! I am in aqua therapy right now and in 93+ degree water. It is wonderful! And I swear to everyone here, after that very first session, I had NO burning in my feet for 3-4 days! But, keep in mind I also have lumbar/sacral issues; some of it may radiculopathy instead.

What is really nice is that I have a PT working one on one with me. And I have about 4 sessions left. After that I want to join the class that is specifically designed for those with neurological issues. Actually, this Rehab center focuses mainly on spinal disorders and neurological problems. I love it so far! And now I know why my Neurologist suggested it to me.

My husband and I are also in the beginning stages of remodeling our bathroom. We want to do several things. But it just so happens my daughter's fiance does a LOT of installing and remodeling. So, he is giving us some ideas. Now it is just up to me to find out what type of tub I want when we take out the garden tub we have now. And I would love to have one with more jets and/or one that I can stand or sit down in. The garden tub we have now just doesn't have enough jets to suit me and it sooo difficult to get in and out of. Anyway, I have to do the research. And maybe the doc would write a script for it too considering all the spinal issues for myself and husband both. I just don't know but it sure would be nice!

Have you looked into that new tub? It's a walk-in model. They advertise it for the elderly and others that have difficulty getting in and out of a regular tub. It has 'hydro jets' as well.

http://www.independentlivingusa.com/OnlineShowroom.html

http://www.independentlivingusa.com/...theModels.html

No, I haven't looked at the new tub. I have seen a few advertisements, but after the episodes of serious infections found in nail salon whirlpool pedicure chairs, I didn't look anymore at them. I could just see all kind of bacterial infections lurking there. Also, I had frequent bladder infections for years. Once I quit taking tub baths, the infections stopped. I have since found out there is a birth defect in the uretha which makes it too short and it's a breeding ground for infections. (More info than you wanted to know I'm sure)

So as much as the tub comforted me, it also caused me problems. And my immune system is so compromised, that I'm not taking any chances. But thank you for thinking of them. They are probably o.k. for most folks.

Billye