Ok gang here's the results after 5 days....

[Backpains]

in the hot tub, we've been going 20 to 30 min at a time 5-6 times a day.  The first 2 days were great my back felt fantastic. But now, we are back to the same old thing back hurts like the dickens and the hot tub is helping a bit but not as much as I'd like. I see the doctor on the 12th, and he is sending me to a specialist that specializes in pain management maybe between what they decide and my Coleman I can get some relief over time. I think all the anticipation of some sort of relief made me want it worse than what I actually got or something, I don't know. Maybe my brain played a little trick on me and it was a pre emptive tatic that didn't work very well. Don't get me wrong I love my new hot tub! I just wish I was getting more relief than I am!

Oh well, I'll keep you all posted on my progress

Backpains

[wmccall]

I know you didn't expect the spa to cure a bad back, but I think the body does adapt.  I have something like restless leg syndrome from sleep apnea, and the first two days I soaked in the morning before work I felt wonderful, but that lessened as time went on till I started apnea treatments, but the spa still helps, just not as much as those first few days.

[Gomboman]

Backpains,

Can I ask how you hurt your back?.  If nothing else, maybe the hot tub will help you take your mind off the pain a little. Good luck.  How does your hubby like it so far?  Is he a convert now?

[drober30]

With the new tub and all I felt the need to be in it every minute.

I had an issue with shimming my tub so I had to drain it and wait for the dealer to come out. I was not able to use my tub for three days.

When I finally got back in I was in heaven! More so than I remember feeling every day.

Maybe not going in it 4-6 times a day but instead maybe before bed or twice a day might help.

It might feel more of a relief if you spread out the usage?  

[leesweet]

I'll say the same thing, having a *long* history of migraines that respond and don't and then do and don't... [Not that has anything per se to do with hot water treament, mind you...]

The body seems to adapt to everything.  So, the new wonderful treatment cures everything, and two weeks later, you almost can't tell it's there. But, I expect it's really helping, but you just may not have an objective measurement.  (Perhaps you do,  I, of course, don't know how you measure your pain.... ).

But, some therapy like hot water *usually* does have repeatable long-term benefits and does feel good for a long time.  Just not as wonderful as the first few days.  Remember, of course, part of the first few days may have been a bit of placebo effect of you were waiting so long for the spa and anticipating it and *knowing* it was going to help *so* much...  

Stick with it, it will give you long term benefit, I bet.

[HotTubMan]

Another key to therapy in a spa is how and when the injury happenned or how it was aggrivated.

I have a bad back myself. If I aggitate it some how (lifting these 8*8 800lb. hot tubs), the last thing I should do is go in the hot tub that day, possibly stay out the next day as well. When the injury is aggrivated or reinjured, heat will increase swelling in the first 24-48 hours. After the swelling subsides, heat will increase circulation and speed the healing.

Perhaps alternating hot and cold may do the trick.....talk to that pysician of yours.

[txwillie]

Backpains:

Maybe give this a try: try soaking for longer periods of time. For me, it takes 20-30 minutes just to start relaxing. I usually soak for at least 45 minutes, sometimes much longer. You may not be able to go that long at 104, but I do at 102 in the winter, right now I have it set at 98 and it stays between 98 and 101.

Please check with your doctor first before trying long soaks in hot water as there are conditions where I understand that it could be detrimental.

Good luck!

txwillie

[Vinny]

I find as txwillie does I need more time than 20 minutes for me to feel the benefit of the hot water. I usually stay in for 2 - 20 minute cycles with 5 to 10 minutes in between them.  Whenever I stay in for 1 - 20 minute cycle, it doesn't seem to have the same effect.

Like you I just got the tub and have it set for 98 and it hovers around 100 and as I said before it reaches 101 with all the pumps on. I don't know what's going to happen in the winter as I will set the tub at 102 and adjust the temp - maybe I won't be able to take the higher temps for a long period.

[Backpains]

Backpains,

Can I ask how you hurt your back?.  If nothing else, maybe the hot tub will help you take your mind off the pain a little. Good luck.  How does your hubby like it so far?  Is he a convert now?

How I hurt my back is a very interesting story....I was a Certified Nurse Aide for a nursing home, and one morning I was getting my residents up for breakfast and my last resident was dressed and ready for breakfast. I went to transfer her to her wheelchair and she leaned forward and I felt her slip and start to fall.  I went to catch her and stop her fall and twisted my back I heard a loud pop and my back started to hurt very badly. Went to the doc that afternoon and found out I herniated 2 discs in my back...we did a laminectomy (that's where they go in and take out the bulge) and that didn't work it just herniated again, so we did a 2 level fusion. That area is the area that is bothering me now (chronic pain is what they are calling it) well, the level above went 2 years later and we did another fusion. The crappy part about it is...the level above that ( L2-L3) is starting to bulge too!

Anyway...that's that story.  Hubby loves the hot tub, yes I have converted him!!!! I'm thinking the hot tub helps some, not as much as I'd like it to but it does help a little bit.