Slowly walking forwards using a kickboard to rest arms on, then walking backwards, then walking sideways reaching arms out at sides. In the beginning I could barely walk it was too painful so i only went a short distance. If pain increases stop but if pain stays the same I continue. As I got better walking they had me walk forwards and swing my arms (as you do when you walk). They started everything slowly, 4 repititions only to make sure didn't cause a flare. With hands at sides small arm circles, shoulder rolls. I still only do 4 repititions of one arm exercise at a time. ie. 4 arm circles, walk, 4 shoulder rolls, walk backwards... Honestly I was considering using a wheel chair because walking was too painful and my toes were curling- it's been 3months of hot pool(87-91) and I am able to walk with less pain and my toes are not curling under. My shoulder was almost frozen and I now have more movement. The most important thing is for her to listen to her body- so she doesnt cause increase of pain. Best of luck. momof4

The first time I did warm pool therapy was back Iowa in the 90's. It did wonders for the Fibromyalgia I have had my whole life. I was one who was determined to have been born with Fibro & I think unfortunately my little 4 yr old has it also. He had Kwasaki's Disease as an infant & that almost killed him, but it also set off Fibro I believe in him. He hurts ALOT..........poor baby just like I did. When I moved ot Cali near Sacramento, there was no where to find a warm pool for therapy & anything below 89 dgs sets off my Fibro. Finally in '05 there was a warm therapy pool built in Folsom that is indoors. I didn't know this until I had major back surgery in 05 & was sent to it for PT afterwards. When my PT ran out due to Medicare they switched my dx for pool therapy for RSD, because there is no limit to how much money or how many times you can go to pool therapy if you have RSD unless they have changed that ruling since 05. I had to stop that threapy due to the cost of gasoline going so high as I live approximately 35 miles from Folsom & my husband & I both are disabled & on Social Security & I also get LT disability insurance payments from the last job I had before RSD came to roost in my feet in 03. I just wish I had worked longer at that job so that my LT ins. payments was higher. I again went to pool therapy last year because I again had to have major back surgery. I have to admit doing the warm pool therapy got me out of my wheel chair while in my home. I am also able to walk into say WalMart & use one of their shopping carts also. I never use to be able to do that & I know it was due to the warm pool therapy that this happened. That & the back surgeries got me where i am today.

I don't think I will ever be able to get into a cool pool again. And if you live down on the Gulf of Mexico, you might be able to get into the ocean down there. The water is very warm in the Gulf. I lived in Louisiana back in the 70's & if I am remembering correctly it was very warm water.

So keep up the warm pool therapy. It is good for most any ailment we have. The exercises that RNcrps2 gave you are what I did also. To build up my back muscles I also used devices that made the resistance of the water work more for me also by lifting my arms up thru the water & other excercises like it. They also may have weights to put on ankles if able to to make your legs stronger also. Good Luck!!

DebbyV

Thank you so much for your reply. She has CRPS in her LT knee, ankle and foot. We will try the what you suggested. We are doing home excerices at home now and she seems to always be in 8 or 9 pain levels. PM Doc just tells us to work through it, I'm just nervous that she is pushing to much. She has had two nerve blocks in the last month but they only worked for about 10 days each but they did bring her pain levels down to a 3 on the first one and a 5 on the second one. during that time she was able to do a lot of PT. Doc says she can only get one more, and will only give 3 in a six month period. She hadn't really experience these high levels of pain until now. It is just so hard for her to do the PT and be in so much pain she cant do anything for the rest of the day. Sorry I'm rambaling on, new to this site and your the first person I posted with.
Thanks again for your reply

Hi for me and of course everyone is different but I need a firm and stable ground. Sand would make my ankle/foot turn out which would cause a flare up. I can see though if there were not so many barriers how the ocean could be calming.
Rachel I am sorry about your daughters increased pain. Have you tried changing the form of PT she does? I guess I feel what mayhelp one person may not another. I know hat PT can increase pain but in the long run hopefully it helps but some pain is just too much to take. I have a friend for ex who like massage and for me that would increase my pain to a intolerable state. As for the pool at Cleveland Clinic we used those noodles and dumb bells for the pool. If I ever go back to the pool I am going to get those items and also try walking back and forth. Welcome to the board though I am sorry for your daughters pain