I have MS and my Docs have never mentioned that, they do recommend long periods of time in my very hot jacuzzi tub, they do recommend sleeping with heating pads under my mattress liner so I sleep on heat and they do recommend certain hand and wrist braces to control the nerve causing flailing....but never a tanning bed, and since they cause cancer, it's not something I'd ever even consider trying.

Kat

Kat,
Have you ever considered getting a ChiliPad? My wife has CIDP, which you likely know is related to MS and she loves having a wide range of temperature control while in bed. She use to use heating pads nearly every night and has the burn marks to prove it. No heating pads now since we brought our ChliPad this last December.

The pad is expensive, but when l stumbled across their site they had a $200 discount. My wife was also able to talk our PCP in writing her an Rx for so we could at least write off the costs on our taxes. If you can at all swing it, well worth considering.

As for the tanning bed, l am with Kat on this one. Maybe the doctor recommended it for heat?? Or, maybe to increase her vitamin D levels since there is increasing evidence that low vitamins levels and MS are directly related.

http://www.chilitechnology.com/shop/chilipad-cooling-mattress-pad/

Typo correction. I meant to type that low vitamin D levels are directly related to MS.

I would stay away from the tanning. I had a dr. recommend tanning to me because it helped my hidradenitis years ago. I used a tanning bed daily because it was the only thing that dried the cysts up some. Unfortunately, because of that tanning, I have skin cancer pretty bad now.

I have it all over and unfortunately, they have to keep cutting them out now. I'm a mess because of it and there is no cure to stop them. I would think twice about tanning because of it and no one knows how much that heat helps. It used to feel so good on my back in the winter when the cold drives my pain through the roof. It feels good for the arthritis and some other diseases, but if you get the skin cancer, there's no way to get rid of it.

Mary Ellen

My rheumy recommends sitting in the warm sun in mornings and early evenings to soak up the vitamin D and to naturally warm the joints. And she always adds "but don't overdo it" and "be sure you use lots of sunscreen."

Sprout,

Hey, I've never considered one because it wouldn't benefit me. I under no circumstances whatsoever like cool or cold on my skin or body, so my heating pads work find. I only need them when I first get into bed and need warmed up. If I'm up on the couch working or such I use my Rice Buddy.

thanks though,

Kat

I have to agree with the others and say stay away from them. I'm in Australia and the laws and regulations were overhauled down here recently when young women started dying of cancer. I hope sitting in the warm sunshine helps ease your aches and pains a little.