The One Thing That Really Helps on My Worst Fibro Days – My Infra Red Sauna Blanket

There are certain things in my fibromyalgia toolkit that I could manage without, and then there are the absolute essentials – the things that have transformed how I cope with the condition. My infrared sauna blanket sits firmly in the latter category, and I really don’t know how I managed before I discovered it.

On those really severe pain days when everything aches and it feels like a million corkscrews are boring into my body, wrapping myself in gentle, penetrating warmth whilst listening to a guided meditation feels like pure relief.

Before going any further, I will stress that this is just my honest view of using one. I am not promoting these blankets, nor do I have any links with any company who manufacture them.

What Actually Happens When You Use One?

When I looked into this, I found that, unlike traditional saunas that heat the air around you to scorching temperatures, infrared blankets use electromagnetic radiation to directly warm your body using infrared that easily penetrates human tissue. This means you get all the benefits of a sauna at much more comfortable temperatures – usually between 120-140°F rather than the 150-180°F you’d experience in a regular sauna.

Why the Heat Helps So Much

When you think about fibromyalgia as essentially your nervous system being stuck in overdrive, constantly sending pain signals, anything that can help calm that system down is gold dust.

The gentle heat seems to help switch your body from that heightened stress response into a more relaxed state. As the body is able to transfer out of stress response into states of relaxation, incidents of pain in the musculoskeletal system are reduced.

I also found more information about using infrared for fibromyalgia on this blog.

How Often Should You Use It?

This was one of the things that it took me a little while to figure out. In general, I use mine about two to three times a week when I’m doing well, but during flare-ups, I’ll often use it daily.

I started with 15-20 minutes per session until I felt comfortable and now I will use it for 30-45 minutes at a time. When I’m in a lot of pain, sometimes even 20 minutes feels like a huge commitment, but I’ve learned that even shorter sessions help. The key is listening to your body – some days you’ll want to stay wrapped up for ages, other days you might prefer to keep it brief.

In this study, 13 female fibromyalgia patients used far infrared sauna therapy once a day for 2 to 5 days per week. The findings were that all patients experienced a significant reduction in pain by about half after the first session and that the positive effects stabilized after 10 treatments.

Making the Most of Your Session

One of the things I love most about my sauna blanket is how it forces me to properly switch off. If I try to relax on the sofa or bed, chances are that I will end up thinking of something that needs doing and will disrupt my rest to go and get it done. That’s not so easy when you’re dripping in sweat, wearing next to nothing and are effectively velcro-ed into a bag! I’ll often put on a guided meditation or some gentle music, and just lie there letting the heat work its magic. It’s become a proper ritual for me – one of those rare moments in the day when I’m not trying to push through pain or pretend I’m fine.

Hydration is absolutely crucial. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after your sauna session. This helps to compensate for the water lost through sweating. I always have a big bottle of water nearby and make sure I’m well-hydrated before I even get in.

I’ve also learned to turn the blanket on for 3-5 minutes before you get into the blanket just so it’s not cold for you. There’s nothing worse than climbing into a cold blanket when you’re already in pain!

The Reality Check

A sauna blanket isn’t a magic cure for fibromyalgia. It’s not going to make your condition disappear. But as part of a broader approach to managing fibro, it’s been absolutely invaluable for me.

It’s also best to check with your local GP or health professional before you start to use infrared sauna blankets regularly. What works brilliantly for me might not work for everyone.

But if you’re looking for something that might help with pain relief, improve your sleep, and give you a proper excuse to lie down and relax for half an hour, it’s definitely worth considering. For me, it’s become one of those tools that I turn to when everything else feels too much – a gentle, comforting way to show my body some kindness on the toughest days.