Posted , 12 users are following.
I have been reading about the positive effects of whole body cryotherapy on inflammation. Wondering if anyone has had any positive or negative experience with it as it relates to PMR?
0 likes, 28 replies
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lynda62707 rocketman42
Posted
Hmmmmm....interesting! No, I've not heard of it, isn't that the freezing deal?
BettyE rocketman42
Posted
Ice packs on the grand scale?
I must say I've never found cold packs on inflamed areas any comfort. Had better relief from my wheat bag and microwave though I admit that does seem counter intuitive.
EileenH rocketman42
Posted
I think it is mainly for joint inflammation - wheras our problem is more with muscles. There was a discussion on the HealthUnlocked forum a bit back and we came to the conclusion that while it might be worth a try, the chances were it wouldn't help a lot of us.
One lady had it during a Kur in a German rheumatology spa and went home worse than she had arrived and spent the next 2 weeks in bed! That might have been the entire experience mind you - they didn't seem too aware of PMR! But I can't do cold - I can't even do an aquafit class in a pool that isn't at about 29C at least! And the steam room or sauna were the places to go to leave me mobile.
ptolemy rocketman42
Posted
rocketman42
Posted
You step into a chamber that fills with liquid nitrogen and the temperature drops to 250 degrees F below zero and you stay in it for 3 minutes.
Just tried it and I feel good. Assuming no ill effects I plan on using it several time per week to see if it helps.
EileenH rocketman42
Posted
I look forward to hearing the results!
rocketman42 EileenH
Posted
I don’t mind being the bunny. Need a little excitement !!
BettyE rocketman42
Posted
amkoffee rocketman42
Posted
I too took an interest in this about a year ago and did some research online about it. And the one and only company in our town that sells this service had a lot of information on their website. Apparently you step into the chamber and the walls of the chamber stop at your shoulders. Them they blast you with coldness for only a few seconds. The temperature varies depending on your condition that you're treating. I heard a lot of athletes do this for sore muscles. I have a lot of chronic pain issues, PMR is only one of them, so I contacted my pain management specialist and asked her what her opinion of it was. She said that she did not think it would work but if I wanted to try it I was welcome to give it a shot and that it would not hurt me in any way. I decided I did not want to waste the money. And I am one of those people who do get relief with ice which is the one reason I was even considering it. I have many ice packs in my freezer and I use them a lot. If you do decide to do it please post on how it went for you. I'd love to know.
rocketman42 amkoffee
Posted
I have now gone for 2 sessions.
You step into an enclosed chamber ( tube ) and stand on a small elevated platform so that only your head and neck are above the top of the chamber. Prior to stepping in you put on socks and gloves to protect your hands and feet and strip down to your undies.
The operator turns on the machine so that, in my case, the liquid nitrogen chilled the interior to minus 250 degrees F. I stood in the machine for 3 minutes. Yes 250 degrees below zero while naked for 3 minutes. It is VERY cold.
That's it. Time will tell if it is effective in bringing some relief.
Will keep you posted.
lynda62707 rocketman42
Posted
Anhaga rocketman42
Posted
😨😱
amkoffee rocketman42
Posted
Please do keep me posted, I'm anxious to see how it goes for you. I would not be able to stand for 3 minutes though. When you go again would you ask them if there was someone that could not stand if they could sit in a chair while this was going on. Although I'd be afraid I'd stick to the chair. LOL
rocketman42 amkoffee
Posted
Back to the drawing board.
Anhaga rocketman42
Posted
Thank you for being a guinea pig for us. I trust there were no bad effects either?
I've had good experience with low level light therapy (google those words plus toronto kahn) but it's not available widely outside North America, although there are a few clinics in the UK and other countries. Usually offered by a chiropractor, which I would avoid because I'm afraid of chiropractors, or a physiotherapist. My physiotherapist is magic!
jeannecatlover Anhaga
Posted
Sounds promising. Can you say what "good experience" means? Did you have a decrease in pain that allowed you to decrease prednisone?
amkoffee rocketman42
Posted
It is always a big disappointment when you try something new and it doesn't work. I tried so many things in the beginning when I first injured my back and every time something didn't work it would bring me to tears from frustration. So these days, when someone says "Have you tried"... I just try to maintain a pleasant look on my face and tell them "Thank you for the suggestion." Then I go on about my day knowing full well that that particular treatment is not going to help relieve my pain.
Anhaga jeannecatlover
Posted
I started getting light therapy when I got to about 8 mg to help me deal with the lower doses approaching the physiological level. I was able to continue tapering uneventfully, using the dead slow nearly stop method, until I reached 3 mg about eight months later. I think that brought me very close to the level I need to control the symptoms as I've been hovering between 1.5 and 2.5 for a couple of years since then. I did stop the treatments a couple of times and found pain got worse, but returning for a few treatments would quickly get me back on track without having to increase pred dose. But this is only anecdotal experience, not proof, unfortunately. The treatment is not a cure but it has been researched for rheumatoid arthritis and proven to reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines, so I thought it might help me too, although it has not been researched for PMR. My physiotherapist had used it on other PMR patients before and seen good results. The treatment is more commonly used for injuries, though. If it is available in your area and you can afford the physiotherapy fees (I have partial coverage) I would recommend this treatment.
After a gap of four months my shoulders had become so painful, from weak muscles and rotator cuff issues, pred-caused I think, I have gone back for light treatment not for PMR but for the muscle issues, plus she does some gentle massage and manipulation to release the contracted tendons. I have to say after the first treatment (only two so far) I felt very much better and I did not expect such a dramatic improvement so quickly (noticeable on the second day after the treatment). My current dose is 1.5 and I'm trying a 1 mg taper again, but so far these attempts have failed.
jeannecatlover Anhaga
Posted
Thank you for the additional information! I'm going to find out whether we have this available in my area.
yogabonnie rocketman42
Posted
how are you now. it's 5 years later I see. I do Ice plunges in the winter in the lake and in the bath at home. helps me feel better. not sure it does anything to CURE me. of PMR. but I always am glad i went in through the ice. I stay about 5 minutes . love it. Good for my mental state also !
yogabonnie Anhaga
Posted
Are you now completely off Prednisone and cured and did the light continue to help?
thanks!
Anhaga yogabonnie
Posted
Hey, Yogabonnie, It's HeronNS on HU!
I pop in here every few months to survey the wreckage. I see this forum, at least PMR, has not recovered.