walk-in tub & arthritis

2 years ago

Will those with walk-in tubs and/or severe arthritis please help me out here? Or any walk-in tub users, please.

I have reached the stage with my arthritis that getting in and out of a bathtub is increasingly difficult and standing has been difficult for years now. We have 2 tubs and are thinking of turning one into a walk-in shower for my husband and the other into a walk-in tub for me. Based on my own experience, I’m thinking that a whirlpool with a heated seat would help relieve my pain since the air jets seem to be advertised more to help with stress. Do I have that right? I have arthritis in my feet, hands, shoulders, spine, and jaws (obviously my jaws are out of luck). I’m assuming a walk-in tub will also not help with shoulder and cervical arthritis when it doesn’t look like I’d be that deep in water, right? Taking a seat in a shower gets me clean but exhausted and I’d really like to feel better instead of worse after bathing, if at all possible.

Thanks for your help!

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Comments (3)

sushipup1
2 years ago
I do not have such a tub, but I do know feedback from users.... they report that it gets very cold before the water drains. And in an emergency, if someone has to get you out fast, well, just imagine.

Here's an older thread that discusses pros and cons.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5446924/pros-cons-of-walk-in-tubs
Helen
2 years ago
My understanding is that newer models of walk in tubs have significantly faster draining so you don't have to sit in the cold for extended periods of time but you should obviously verify this.

Do you actually like taking baths or do you find showering to be too exhausting and painful. I recently remodeled and replaced the tub/shower with a walk in shower with a large bench at one end. It has two hand held shower heads as my designer suggested that I place one of the hand held shower heads by the bench so it was easily accessed whlle sitting down. I use the bench a LOT because of my arthritic knee which make standing for periods of time painful and I don't find sitting on my bench while showering to be exhausting - I find it relaxing.

However, this obviously doesn't replicate the experience of bathing if you are a bath person - which I am not. I don't think any of the walk in baths would give you the full on experience of soaking your body up to your head in warm water if that is the therapeutic experience you are seeking.
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earnedmygray
Original Author
2 years ago
Helen, thanks so much for your thoughtful response! I have always been a bath person, probably because we didn’t have a shower when I was a child and it’s inertia more than habit. On days when my hands cooperate I can do a seated shower fairly well as long as my shoulders are mobile enough for me to use the handheld spray. On bad days I’d prefer a soak, except there’s no way I can get out of the tub. My knees are okay (knock on wood) so I’m climbing into a tub okay but I’m too old and out of shape to get out without using my hands and shoulders getting to my feet. Basically by the time I’m finished, I’m exhausted. Before I was diagnosed, I had found that a hot tub helped the pain tremendously - and I really wanted one - but after my diagnosis a whirlpool walk-in tub seemed like it might be more practical. That may be because I was never able to sell my husband on a hot tub

walk-in tub & arthritis

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sushipup1

Helen

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walk-in tub & arthritis

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sushipup1

Helen

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earnedmygray
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