The Truth About Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief - Does Sitting in a Hot Tub Really Help?

It's quite common advice - although probably not from the strict professionals - that spending time, soaking in a hot tub is a great method of rheumatoid arthritis pain relief. But is this actually true? Is this something that people in pain actually do, or is it just lame advice dished out by an uneducated friend?

In this article we'll take a closer look into whether this approach is right for you or whether it's just an overly recommended myth. Here are some things to think about before considering a hot tub as effective rheumatoid arthritis pain relief:

It May Be A "No Go" To Start With: You don't really need anyone to tell you that you might not even be able to get into the hot tub in the first place. If you're in that much pain, then climbing over the edge of the steep sides or up a precarious ladder can be next to impossible. So, no matter how much rheumatoid arthritis pain relief other people have experienced with a hot tub, it's not worth you injuring or hurting yourself even more. And it's one thing climbing into the hot tub, but remember, you'll have to climb out again, only this time wet and slippery. So use your own judgement: if you have the ability to get into the hot tub, then there's no harm in giving it a shot, but don't go beyond your limits.

It Depends On You: The thing with rheumatoid arthritis pain relief, is that it varies so much from person to person. What works for one rheumatoid arthritis sufferer could have absolutely no effect on another sufferer, or could even make their pain worse. You need to know what works for you. Do you find that cold water eases up your pain the most, or simply cool air? Or do you find that actually moving your joint or applying pressure gives you the most relief? At the end of the day, sitting in a hot tub could be the complete opposite of what has given you relief up until this point.

Be Careful Of Flare Ups: You may find that applying heat does help your general rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, but during a flare up of your joints, adding heat just makes the feeling worse. Again, try and use your own judgement.

In conclusion, to answer the question: does sitting in a hot tub provide relief of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms? The answer is: maybe. If you're capable of climbing over the sides and know that up until this point, heat usually helps with rheumatoid arthritis pain relief, then it's definitely worth giving the idea a shot. However, you just need to know that it's definitely not a clear cut rule that works for everyone, and to not place too much expectation on the idea.