Hi All,

I have been reading about Epsom salt baths...do they really help? My daughter is in a flare right now and she needs some relief. How do they help RSD?

Thanks,
Sandy

Some people get relief from baths but I don't. If I get the water too hot, it makes me even worse. A lot on here seem to get relief from the baths though.

You just need to try them and see if they do help. I am in a flare right now with my pelvic pain and the Methadone isn't doing the job either. When my flare is really bad, nothing works for me.

Feel better soon.
Ada

I have started epson salt baths once a night, and i sit in it for 20minutes. The first time, it honestly kind of annoyed me, I got sweaty sitting in it that long, and I just wanted to get out, but my mom insisted I stick it out. She read somewhere that it is recommended you sit in 3 times a day for atleast 21 minutes. I don't have that much time!!!!! But I do make myself sit in it once a day for 20 minutes. It relaxes me. I think it helps with the pain while I am in there and maybe a little while after until my body loses the warm feeling.

I would say it is worth a try for your daughter!

Hey Sandy
I use epsom salt at times,but not consistantly to tell the difference,,as it is with RSD {an oxymoron disease] A nice hot bath does feel good on my muscles and joints,,it helps relieve some of the RSD infected areas but it also inflammes where I have an nerve entrapment,,so i use a warm soak or when its how,just hang the foot out of the tub,,either way,what works for one,hinders another,,,,,,try it,,,If your in a flare like Ada is right now and me,,you'll know right away if its going to agitate it,,,,

This is a very interesting subject. I too have been doing some research, and have broken out in a sweat from the Epsom Salt bath. I think that we are suppose to do that, not sure but it may be part of the healing effects. I am in a severe flare right now, six hard days so far, so I went to the health food store yesterday and bought some Himalayan salt. I used it today, just above warm water and just soaked for about 20 minutes. I have to honestly tell you I was so relaxed and the pain did subside as well as the muscle cramping. I put on a warm set of jammies and headed for the bed and slept for about two hours. When I woke up I did feel better. They say that all salt baths have excellent healing effects, even related to seratonin levels. I am going to give it a shot, these flare ups are unreasonable. God Bless, hope you feel better.

Jeanie

i have had ketamine like your daughter, and when I have a flare, I soak in dead sea salts, or epsom salts.... I dont know if it helps the flare itself. But it helps my muscles around it to relax... Also... i get a heat pack you heat up in the microwave and make it warm and put it over my eyes. The pressure on my eyes helps me relax... But the salts do help alot during flares.

hi sandy I just used epsom salts yesterday for the first time.this morning I had to put lotion on my feet they feel different?I cant explain it but I have tendonitis in both feet and some PF..Hope it works for me and you too.Just dont over do it.

Hi Sandy, I love Epsom salt! I read the Magnesium in the epsom salt is suppose to be good for CRPS. I use it in a foot bath/massager every night for 20 minutes and I use it in a full bath weekly. When my feet are really bad I use it 2-3X a day. It just relaxes me enough to take the edge off or relax enough to fall asleep. Good luck. momof4

When people have negative experiences with epsom salts, it can be due to two things:

1) water too hot

2) too much epsom salts added to the bath.

Those who find epsom salt baths helpful would probably do well with oral supplements.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

RSD when diagnosed needs to be treated first and foremost, with appropriate medicine and known and established treatments for it.

Bathing your limb in epsom salts is not an RSD treatment, but it can ease the pain a little. Whether that has anything to do with water temperature or the actual product... who knows? Fact is, you can't bathe your limb 24/7. Cherry pit pillows might help a little too. When bathing, just don't use hot water, cold water or ice... no extremes. Keep it lukewarm to warm, whatever you use.