Hot Tub
 

Has anybody with RSD tried a hot tub and if so was it helpful or cause more pain? Also my RSD is my left knee and foot but I get strange feeling like chili bumps just out of the blue,and this started about 2 weeks ago if I touch a certain area right under my knee that feels like a shock or vibration that goes to my mid calf and up to my hip is the a normal process?

Thank you so much for your help and kindness

I have a Jacuzzi bathtub and soak often. I don't have a regular outside hot tub, but it's the same principal. In the winter there is just nothing better for me than a hot bath. I have cold CRPS and in the winter I can literally feel me thawing out as I submerge myself. Of course I'm like a wet noodle and bed is the ONLY thing that will happen afterwards. My muscles seem to appreciate it and it tends to relax everything.

I have made the mistake of taking a hot bath and then try to go somewhere where walking was required. Big mistake! :eek: Huge! Other than that, yes, this therapy works well for me.

Goosebumps: yes... random and sometimes often. I have read that this is part of the gig. It has something to do with our cooling mechanism being broken.

Shocks and vibrations: I too have both of these symptoms. The electric shock is definitely a CRPS symptom and the vibrations, for me these too are part of the gig. I have developed tremors over the years and sometimes my body will just hum (vibrate) before an actual tremor starts. I don't know if you're old enough to remember that in hotels WAY back in the day, you'd put a quarter in to make the bed vibrate. My husband jokes with me that we don't need quarters for our bed... just me... lol

So sorry that you're dealing with this too! No fun at all.

I tried hot tubs after aqua theraphy, because the the water was so cold in the pool, and I needed to warm up! I can't do the aqua therapy anymore because of this plus the surgeries I am still healing from, but the hot tub was nice for a short period of time. I like warm baths too. I had a little redness and swelling after the hot tubs, but it took some of the aching away. I just had to go in really slow! I didn't have the burning then that I have now, so I don't know if I could go in one again.

I've never really had goose bumps, except when cold. I do get sweaty palms and feet though. And when people bump in to me I sometimes get that shooting electrical like vibration, except mine is in my right rsd hand and wrist and travels up to my shoulder.
I am so sorry you have this and full body no less. I don't have full body, but mine is spreading and though my drs don't think that will happen, they aren't sure. Well take care and I hope you have as pain free as possible night tonight. Take care.

Thank you
 

Thank you so much I have been down all day with the goose bumps and strange feelings I have a Jacuzzi tub I will try it,and yes I am old enough to know about the beds lol.How do you get your pic on here like yours? and again thank you sooo much.

Renee thank you yea I guess this rsd is going on a sight seeing tour of my body lol only on left leg /foot/and taking a tour to my left hip area my PM has me back on cruthes
again thank you

Click on your name, then click view public profile, then towards the top on left hand side click User CP, and then again on the left side of the screen under Setting & Options click Edit Avatar. I am no pro at this site, so perhaps there is a shorter path, but this is the only way I know.

Good luck with the hot tub. I hope it helps!!

My CRPS sounds very similar to Vrae's description, but with an absence of a comforting jacuzzi lol! I take a nice steamy shower or bath when I get really chilled, and it does seem to help - but as V says, I get completely wiped out by it.

I too have tremors in my left leg, and my arm too on my left side. My leg ones are more violent and obvious when they happen, the arm ones are still minor - but then I've had CRPS in my leg far longer, so I can look forward to my arm ones spilling drinks over me very soon! I get goose bumps too, and sometimes when my hair on my leg (I don't shave my legs very often now, sorry :rolleyes:) stands on end with them, it's really painful and sensitive. Normally a sign that I do need to shave them! The electric shocks are random and violent and horrible. I hate them. I'm lucky in that I seem to have them less often and not as bad now that I'm not taking Gabapentin anymore. I find I get them in some weird places though - literally anywhere, from in my ear to in my belly. Freak me out sometimes.

It's no fun at all, but do have to laugh sometimes at the whol sorry circus.....otherwise you cry :cool:

Take care everyone. Maybe tomorrow will be the day....

Bram.

Hello Lady Bram!
 

It's true, I feel lucky to have the tub for sure. Tremors: yep me too, mine started in my legs and then went EVERYWHERE else, just like the electric shocks. My tremors have gotten so bad you'd think I have Parkinson's. Legs, arms, even my lips and tongue... awesome hu? :rolleyes: Here's the thing I don't get, if I didn't have Gaba, or some drug like it, my tremors would be out of hand for sure. And the Neuropathic shocks too... hum.

I haven't done the hot tub and I don't have a nice jacuzzi tub but I take hot baths. As hot as I can stand it and now add epsom salt. It helps and wipes me out. Good thing my husband is no longer on the floor but in an office. Hes home at night so he can bathe goober boy while I slouch on the couch lol. Then we put him to bed and I head to mine. After pushing cats out of my way or rather trying to lol. I get the sudden goose bumps. Out of no where it could be 90 degrees and I get chilled. I also get the electric shocks and tremors when I am really hurting and something brushes my leg or foot. Ugh I need one of those baths tonight.:cool:

I honestly don't know what I would do without the hot tub!! When pain is out of control or sleep has been deprived for far too long.. I head straight for the hot tub, it is soothing and relaxing for both the body and mind. I think anyone with RSD/CRPS or any other movement disorder should be gladly given one through their insurance policies. ** For anyone wearing a trans-dermal pain patch caution should be taken when using hot tubs, saunas and Jacuzzi baths.

Regarding the goose bumps brrrr - I get them randomly as well and also get teeth chattering whole body shivering during what should be comfortable temps.

Judy - Anything that you think might make you feel good by all means do it for yourself! If the warmth of a shower feels good then a hot tub should also. Personally I loathe showers anymore because the pressure of the water causes significant pain so I tend to take baths now instead more often than not. If you haven't tried adding epsom salt.. ad a couple of cups to a warm bath, turn down the lights and relax for 20 min or so.. it is amazing for most.

Cheers,
Tessa

Thank you so much for your response I called the Ins, company this morning and I bet they are still laughing about me asking if they would help pay foe one lol,I don't like showers because where the frost bite occurred that caused 3rd degree burns the water running across that area is awful I look like a contorshanist my spelling is awful lol anyway thank you all.

I take hot baths because water pounding on my knee and leg hurts. I cant even go out in the rain anymore lol. We do what we need to though. Keep smiling.

That is great that you asked. I actually read a blog where a woman who has RSD from a work injury who was able to get a endless pool installed through a Workmen's Comp claim.. so it can be done but, I sure it takes persistence and a willing physician to help make it happen. The benefits would be so great!! Seriously we should all have one :)

I can only imagine what how water would feel on that area - I'm sorry you endured such an easily avoidable problem. When I read your story I was so angry at what you were told.. seriously. I hope you have spoken with a lawyer about this.

Anyways.. good luck and I do hope you find some pain relief at times.

Kindly,
Tessa

We got a hot tube because we thought it would be therapeutic for me. It was usually too hot for me and if I did get in, I couldn't stand it for long. But for me the bigger issue was that I was afraid of slipping or falling getting in and out. My balance sucks since ice had my RSD. We had steps but there was no hand railing. I'm a total puss, so, it ended up being a huge relief got my husband instead of me. I'm afraid of being in the tub. Right after I got RSD ad and was recovering from the surgery that started it, I decided to take a warm bath. I wasn't able to get out because I couldn't use my right arm and I was terrified of sloping and my husband was out of town. I hate how the shower feels and it's taken me almost 10 years to build up the courage to take a shower almost every day, but I'm afraid of the tub and the hot tub. I want a warm pool with steps inside and outside. HAHAHA, set me up at a spa, LOL. I do wish the hot tub had worked for me. Glad for those of you that it does work for. I miss the relaxing feel of a warm pool or tub. So relaxing. That would be where I could actually relax and sleep, in warm water.

That's a really good point Syl, it's not just the thing itself that helps, but how it is set up for us. I too am very scared of slipping in any kind of wet - if I could have a hot (warm lol) tub I would think a lot about how it was put in.....maybe it could be sunk into the ground, and a railing put in? Perhaps they can be modified in terms of extra grip on the steps etc?

Good point :) and you've made me think about more than just 'getting' the things I want....

Bram.

I have the chills and goosebumbs but what about hot flashes? I love the hot tub just sometimes have trouble getting in there with my sore hips
:grouphug:

lol.. let me know when you find out how to deal with hot flashes!!

Re; the hot tub and hip issues. After 6 major hip surgeries and my love for the warmth of the hot tub, I think I finally found the easiest way to enter the tub without causing pain. I park a small stool/ladder against the edge of the tub and then sit on it with my back facing the tub. I then raise myself one level at at time until my bum is sitting on the edge of the tub. I then use my towel as a sling (which is under my leg) to gently pivot myself around facing into the tub and then lower myself into it. At least for me this is the only way I could get in especially early on in my recovery after surgery when I had so many movement restrictions from my doctor. I hope that helps you in some way!

Warm water does me a lot of good; especially hot tubs.

The jets directed at my arm, elbow, and neck might be beneficial and feels good.

i did not read all of the above posts so if somebody mentioned this already i apologize.

if you want to try something for your symptoms and do not want to get wet, try cocooning yourself in a warming blanket (electric blanket). if you think you are going to start sweating then pull the blanket off. just remember certain medications do not like heat such as patches or the like.

if you absolutely want to try a hot tub then turn the temp down as close to your body temp. most hot tubs are well above 102 degrees and that can cause problems with crps. the other thing to remember is a hot tub is different from a bath because a hot tub has a heater that keeps that temp the same. a bath starts out hot and gradually cools.



good luck