Some Relief

[leteeters]

I am new to the board. I have TAM lots of pain. One thing that seems to help is soaking in a hot tub only helps as long as you're in the tub. Some relief is better than none at all. A lady in town wanted the tub removed from her yard she said I could have it come and get it. The shell was fine had to replace everything else. Long story short hot tub is like new now 1997 model. It sits on our back porch 104 degree water feels real good on my aching body. If anyone has access to a hot tub then give it a go it may help some. I am also on much the same meds as the rest of you folks but heat seems to do the best for me even the wood stove feels good. Talk to you guys soon thanks ET.

[Craig Lane]

Interesting point, I too find relief by being warmed. Maybe we all need to move somewhere with an ambient 104 deg. Wales does not enter the contest at any level although we have plenty of water.

I wonder also if the water support adds to the relief as the muscles don't even have to support themselves.

Now all I have to do is get my Doctor to prescribe a hot tub and I'm in business. Mind you the way the weather is here at the moment I'll be like one of those Chinese Macaques in a hot spring with snow on their heads.

[leteeters]

I'm not sure if a doc will prescribe a hot tub, anything is worth a shot. I call ours a hydro therapy unit. I don't know just sounds better. My wife and I have thought about relocating to a warmer dryer climate. Umm ran out of thoughts could be the meds I'll try another cup of coffee.

[larry smith]

Sorry for entering my post this way, I forgot my login. I have had the opposite experience with hot tubs. In my case, I usually feel better in the tub, but immediately afterwards, my muscles tighten up and I feel worse than before using the hot tub. This has also occurred with hot showers. More than once, the residual pain has lasted for more than a day and is usually much worse.
My feeling is this happens because the muscle relaxes and then tightens back up to normal. This motion aggravates the disease resulting in more pain.

[larrysc]

Jan 1, 2014 4:07:43 GMT larry smith said:

Sorry for entering my post this way, I forgot my login. I have had the opposite experience with hot tubs. In my case, I usually feel better in the tub, but immediately afterwards, my muscles tighten up and I feel worse than before using the hot tub. This has also occurred with hot showers. More than once, the residual pain has lasted for more than a day and is usually much worse.
My feeling is this happens because the muscle relaxes and then tightens back up to normal. This motion aggravates the disease resulting in more pain.

Hey ya'all as we say here in the south. I re-registered on the forum and would like to update my last post. While up to this point in my struggle with TAM heat has been a problem, my symptoms recently moved into my hands and I have found that soaking my hands in hot water really helps a lot. I'm still very clumsy with my fingers, but much less pain. I tried a cream called Voltaren that my wife's doctor prescribed for knee pain. I put it on the back of my hands before bed and although it smells awful, it does seem to help a little.

I think you might be right on the water taking the weight off your muscles helping. A few years ago when walking was my main source of pain, my entire family took a trip to the Caribbean. I love the water and my sons & I spent hours each day snorkeling. By the third day of our trip I was walking much better with less pain and this continued right up until our departure on the sixth day. I think what supports your idea about the water taking the weight off you muscles is when I got out of the water each day, I felt like I weighted tons. Really, the weight of my body seemed to have tripled while I was in the water.

Unfortunately, the benefit was short lived and did not even make it halfway back on the flight home until I was in a lot of pain again. I tried to recreate the Caribbean with a 96 degree local community pool, even tried light water exercise, but I was unsuccessful and the sessions in the pool ultimately increased my pain. Of course, that could have been just a natural advancement of my TAM. Anyway, I thought I would share. I've often wondered if another trip to the Caribbean should be in order, but now, I'm not exactly sure how I would get down to the water.

Leteeters I messaged you about your doctor/diagnosis at Wake Forest. Please let me know what you think.