Tanning bed for pain

Posted by ladybear57 @ladybear57, Jun 18 3:41pm

I have severe OP,DDD,Osteoarthritis,Fibromyalgia and have had numerous spinal cervical and spinal surgeries. I am on pain meds and followed by a pain Dr. however the pain is not controlled. I was wondering if anyone has tried using a tanning bed that includes vibration to help with pain.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jun 21 9:51am

@ladybear57 I have tried many things for pain, but not that. As far as I can tell, tanning beds with UVA light plus vibration for relaxation, and are not intended to be therapeutic. My fear is that the amount of time you might need to feel any relief would be trading one issue for another - pain for increased risk of skin cancer.

Also, are you possibly confusing tanning beds (UVA light) with the now-popular Infrared therapy (IR)? One review of numerous studies concluded this:
"Overall, IR appears as a safe and effective complementary therapy for a number of musculoskeletal conditions, including knee OA, FM, and chronic myofascial pain. Its efficacy remains debatable when it comes to low back pain and muscle damage in sports injuries. Given the diversity of therapeutic means and applications, further research is necessary in order to establish the optimal indications and treatment plan for the clinical use of IR in musculoskeletal medicine." (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8946909/)

Other studies seem to agree, but I couldn't find any research about using it in conjunction with vibration.

Has your doctor referred you to a physical therapist who specializes on treating chronic pain? Mine have done a wonderful job of helping me find solutions - using targeted massage & myofascial release and specially designed stretches and exercises to work on the most painful areas. That is not to say I am pain-free! It is just that getting control of one or two areas of pain feels like a breakthrough, encourages me to keep moving and trying to improve other areas where possible. And has you pain doctor talked to you about the possibility of going to a Pain Rehabilitation Clinic or program where they teach you to live your best life even in the presence of chronic pain?