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Bathing

Posted , 7 users are following.

linda451
linda451

Hi everyone been coming on to this site for 18 months now, i find it comforting to read all the advise given it really helps. Having had Pmr for this period of time i find bathing a great help it warms and eases the muscles and joints, a friend of mine asked me today weather epsom salts in the water would help not knowing the answer i thought i would ask someone in the know, hope someone will know. thanks Linda 451

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH linda451

    Posted

    I can only say that I'm envious of anyone with PMR who can get into (or more to the point, out of) a bath!!!!! This is a shower household!

     Pred affects magnesium metabolism - and poor magnesium levels can lead to muscle cramps and pain. I often use magnesium supplements and that helps in general. I have heard people say they have had benefit from magnesium salts used topically for muscle cramps. So - no reason why not and it is the sort of thing to try and see if it helps!!

    • linda451
      linda451 EileenH

      Posted

      Hello Eileen H i do consider myself lucky if we can say that having pmr, i an still quite agile i'm 53 work in a physical job and try to keep myself active i also have learnt that i have to rest an awful lot, I 've managed to get pred down to 7mg then started to feel extreme pain so have gone up to 8 and a half taking them up half at a time i seem to be leveling out again i have had some help at work so the pressure was taken off for a time' thinking about the epsom salts i might try them its not going to hurt either way when i have tried them if i have a good result i will let everyone know. Thanks Linda 451

       

    • jean_b
      jean_b EileenH

      Posted

      I too have not been able to have a bath since PMR four years ago . we have an over bath shower and its difficlut enough to get into bath for a shower  -so could not possibly try to lie down in it  -too much effort and painful to try .also eileen i was thinking of trying magnesium supps but when i read up on it i read it said  that it is used for constipation and can give you the runs -have you found this to be a problem or anyone else reading this thanks.
    • erika59785
      erika59785 jean_b

      Posted

      It depends which kind of Magnesium......Magnesium Oxide is not well absorped, and it gave me the runs.  I use Magnesium Citrate which agrees with me very well.

      I take showers as well ---- it is tough to get in and out of the bath tub because of pelvic/girdel pain.

    • EileenH
      EileenH jean_b

      Posted

      As Erika says - it depends. The supplements I use are ones which probably contain the daily recommended amount and not much more and the magnesium is in the form of the carbonate salt. Yes, you can use it for constipation - but you use less and a different salt for supplements.

      By the way -  if you own your own home you probably have to pay for a shower to be put in but if you are in housing association accommodation you may be able to get funding if you are handicapped enough.

  • Mrs_CJ
    Mrs_CJ linda451

    Posted

    I too find that warm baths help ease my aches. I haven't tried Epsom salts. I also have very good results applying heat to specific aches and use a "magic bag" which is a cloth bag filled with I think beans that I heat in the microwave. I've had almost total relief from some shoulder aches using this. 
    • linda451
      linda451 Mrs_CJ

      Posted

      Thanks for your replie Mrs CJ i will try a magic bag or something simlar we have one called a wheat heat bag i will try that thanks Linda 451

       

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy linda451

      Posted

      I use a wheat heat bag, it smells of lavender which is nice and really is a comfort. I found that it is a good idea to check the length and shape if you need it for your shoulders, as you need it to cover the parts of your shoulders in pain, some are a bit short which is not so good. 

       

    • linda451
      linda451 ptolemy

      Posted

      Thanks ptolemy i have two different size bags my mother-in-law used to make them and sell them all proceeds went to our local cancer hospital her wheat bags have gone all over to world. sadly sees not with us any more but her bags still exist. Linda 451

       

  • constance.de
    constance.de linda451

    Posted

    I find it absolute agony to get out of the bath - I have to (somehow) turn round onto my knees, fold one knee under me and then struggle up!!  Sometimes I get stuck and my husband has to help - he says he wished he could take a video of the procedure!!

    Why bother?  I just LOVE a more than warm bath.  I have lavender essence or some relaxing rheuma salts in it and stay there for half an hour!  LOVELY!  I enjoy this "torture" once a week - the rest of the time I walk into our  "senior" walk in shower., but, to me it is worth the agony!!

    • EileenH
      EileenH constance.de

      Posted

      There are very simple aids to getting into and out of a bath - one is basically a big balloon you sit on and allow it to deflate, and reinflate it to get up to a level you can stand from.

      I can't kneel on hard surfaces due to skiing accidents and knee problems (self inflicted so can't expect sympathy). But I never did like the bath anyway so it isn't a problem for me, shower any day! I was brought up to never have more than 4in of water in the bath - no luxuriating possible in that and it's a habit I find difficult to break. That was all the water that was in the hot tank anyway. A bit like clearing your plate became ingrained in people in the UK in the 50s - you never knew what the next meal would be and rationing meant food was very precious. 

    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      I know about the balloon chairs, but the thing would be in the way.  I have the water up to my chin, i.e very deep, and lie full length, head on plastic cushion - so relaxing!
    • linda451
      linda451 constance.de

      Posted

      Well done you constance66322 that is just what i do through caution to the wind and go for it, if its something you enjoy. thanks for your letter Linda451
  • noninoni
    noninoni linda451

    Posted

    Balloon chairs for the bath? I must say I never heard of them.  Even Amazon in the U.S. doesn't have them. 

    Magnesium and potassium are both found in a lot of food like spinach, nuts, beans and lentils. 

          These foods are also very high in fiber, and high fiber cures both constipation and diarrhea.  After many years with colitis, I have learned to make that ancient dish, split pea soup, often, and eat it nearly every day, or I make beans.  I have also learned adding kombu, aka kelp, a seaweed, to the soup really reduces the gas or the "body music" wonderfully, so I add a strip to both lentils and beans. 

    • EileenH
      EileenH noninoni

      Posted

      Google livingmadeeasy bathing inflatable bath lifts - interesting even if you don't currently need such an aid.

      Not cheap - but if you have to use a bath or can't stand alone probably pretty useful. Our bath and toilet are close together so getting your feet into the bath is not that difficult - you can sit on the toilet seat and slide over onto the side of the bath which is very substantial at that end. Was very useful when I had snapped knee tendons and the walk-in shower was a no-no for a month - could sit on the edge of the bath and use the hand shower. 

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