How the healing gallery helps with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
experience report
Chronic pain caused by rheumatism dominated Christa Limmer's life – until she discovered the Gastein Healing Gallery. Thanks to natural radon therapy, she is now virtually pain-free and has regained her quality of life.
Rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are chronic inflammatory diseases that cause severe pain, restricted movement, and a significant impairment of quality of life. While medication often provides only limited relief, the Gastein Healing Gallery offers a natural therapy option. The combination of high humidity, radon, and heat can inhibit inflammation and reduce pain.
Christa Limmer, who has suffered from a combination of both conditions for many years, reports on her experiences with the healing gallery. After years of pain, limited mobility, and unsuccessful attempts at medication, she discovered the healing gallery in 2019. After her first course of treatment with nine visits in 2022, she was already able to feel significant improvements and stop taking her expensive biologic injections. Her rheumatologist confirmed the positive effects and advised her to continue visiting the healing gallery. Despite problems with her health insurance covering the costs, she finances many of her visits herself, as the therapy is more effective for her than medication. Today, she visits the healing gallery twice a year, only takes painkillers when necessary, and enjoys her regained quality of life. Her conclusion: "The healing gallery is a blessing!"
What rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects the peripheral joints. The immune system mistakenly attacks the synovial membrane, leading to swelling, pain, and restricted movement. Over time, this can cause joint deformities and permanent damage. The joints of the fingers, hands, and knees are particularly commonly affected. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs, DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs), and, in severe cases, biologics that regulate the immune system.
Ankylosing spondylitis, also known asBechterew's disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine. Typical symptoms include back pain, morning stiffness, and increasing restriction of movement in the spine. In severe cases, the spine may become stiff. In addition, tendon attachments and joints outside the spine, such as the hips or shoulders, may be affected. The exact cause is not fully understood, but genetic factors, particularly the HLA-B27 gene, play a role. Treatment consists of physical therapy, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and biologics to slow the progression of the disease.
If both diseases occur together, doctors refer to either rheumatoid arthritis with axial involvement or ankylosing spondylitis with peripheral arthritis, depending on which of the two diseases is dominant.
The Gastein Healing Gallery can have a soothing effect on both conditions thanks to its unique combination of high humidity, natural radon therapy, and pleasant warmth. Radon is absorbed through the skin and respiratory tract and has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Many patients report long-term improvement in mobility, reduced medication intake, and a general increase in quality of life after regular visits to the healing gallery. Radon therapy can be a valuable, natural supplement to conventional medical treatment, especially for chronic pain.
Experience report from someone affected
Christa Limmer visits the Gastein Healing Gallery twice a year, which allows her to live pain-free throughout the year. We interviewed her and talked about her experiences with the Gastein Healing Gallery:
Ms. Limmer, you have been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis for many years. Can you tell us when your symptoms first appeared?
"Before I visited a rheumatologist for the first time in 2015, I had already been experiencing pain in my Achilles tendons and wrists for many years. In fact, the symptoms had started 10 years earlier. However, I thought it was tendonitis rather than rheumatism. I underwent treatment after treatment, but instead of improving, the symptoms got worse and worse."
How has this affected your daily life?
"I could only walk with great effort and pain, and my strength quickly left me. Once, I went on a hike with my family and after the outward journey, I couldn't go any further. I would never have made it back, so I had to be picked up. I somehow managed to get through everyday life and household chores. Fortunately, I work almost entirely from home, so I was able to take breaks from time to time. In the morning, while drinking coffee, I could just about lift the cup, but turning the joint to drink from it was almost impossible. Hiking or even sports were out of the question."
What treatment options did you try first?
"After the diagnosis, a marathon of medication began. Unfortunately, I did not experience the desired success. Most recently, I was injecting an expensive biologic once a week, and various painkillers were part of my daily routine. That was so much chemistry! And it was not even remotely proportional to the benefits. All I ever heard was that rheumatism was simply incurable."
Don't you lose hope at some point?
"In a way, yes. I had resigned myself to trying a new medication every 4 to 6 months and hoping that eventually something would help."
How did you find out about the Gastein Healing Gallery?
In 2019, I was on vacation in Gastein and came across the Gastein Healing Gallery for the first time at my hotel. I had never heard of the Healing Gallery before. After an introductory visit and a conversation with the spa doctor, it was clear to me—I had to try it. So I booked my first Healing Gallery treatment with nine visits for May 2022.
What effect did visiting the healing gallery have on your health?
"Right after the first few treatments, I noticed a huge improvement in my Achilles tendon pain. I was able to stop taking my biologics injections. In October 2022, I had another 9 treatments, and suddenly I was able to walk the entire Gastein High Trail without any pain. That would have been unthinkable before!"
What does it feel like to enter the healing gallery?
I really like the entrances, I have no problems with the confined space in the mountain and I also really like the warmth, for example. In addition, the staff in the healing gallery are very friendly and helpful. When you enter the tunnel, you can already feel something happening in your body. Up to the fourth entrance, the symptoms actually get worse. As strange as it sounds, this is a good sign. I feel very tired and exhausted. From the sixth entrance onwards, things get better and eventually I am pain-free and feel really good for six months. Then the pain increases again and it's time for the next treatment."
How does your rheumatologist assess the changes?
A follow-up examination was carried out in December 2022. My rheumatologist wrote in his report: 'Decreasing tendon discomfort, no swelling, MST decreasing. No DMARD therapy necessary since 05/2022, significant improvement after 2 x healing gallery treatments, remission maintained.' He recommended that I continue to visit the healing gallery.
How do you finance the spa stays?
After some discussion, my health insurance company covered the cost of the first treatment, but since then it has been a struggle. Personally, I don't understand it at all. An injection like the one I used to have once a week costs about as much as 10 visits to the healing gallery, which has a much greater effect on me. The insurance company pays for a series of visits every 3 to 4 years. I pay for the other visits out of my own pocket, because my health is worth it to me! The effect is simply good, with no side effects.
What does your treatment look like today, and what advice would you give to others affected by the disease?
"This is my third time here in Gastein, and I only take painkillers when necessary. Two visits per year are enough for me to be pain-free for around six months. For me, the healing gallery is a real blessing! I can cycle and hike again, and my work is much easier to do. I can only advise anyone affected to try the healing gallery—it really is a great benefit!
