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Has aquatherapy helped you with chronic pain?

Chronic Pain | Last Active: Oct 2, 2023 | Replies (42)

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@ellymayhem

Had my 1st session today and I had a reaction I didn't expect. They had to sit me on a lift and when the therapist started lowering it I started getting scared... when the water covered my legs she stopped because I started having a panic attack. She tried going a little lower and I couldn't breathe. I was holding onto the lift pole so hard my hands hurt.
She stood in the pool alongside me for a couple minutes then raised me up and when I got above the water line I could breathe again. I had a hard time walking back to the locker room... had to walk alongside the pool and it terrified me... I was so off balance... getting dressed was hard and trying to put my walker in the car was almost impossible. I finally got it in and got a crying jag in the parking lot. I truly don't think I can do this. Tonight my back pain is worse than normal and I keep reliving the fear I felt and crying. Not sure if I will be able to get into bed... things seem so hopeless right now. My therapist was very concerned and patient with me but I'm not sure if I can go thru that again.

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Replies to "Had my 1st session today and I had a reaction I didn't expect. They had to..."

I am so sorry to read this. I had the advantage of coming in on a motorized wheelchair with my husband driving our accessible van and helping me get my clothes off and on. I also had met the physical therapist before, and had been in aquacize in that same pool for years. I had also been trying to get into Aquatherapy since my neuropathy hit.
You can’t argue with a fear or a near panic attack, and going it alone did not work. So be it. I’m glad you had a good cry, because you were very brave just to attempt something so daunting alone.
Stay in touch here. Thanks for this update, and we’ll go “back to the drawing board” of our experiences here to try to find you some relief.