'It's given me hope' hydrotherapy pool user tells her story and why she uses the facilities

PCP recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Michelle Arthy, a user of the hydrotherapy pool at the Pioneering Care Centre (PCC) in Newton Aycliffe.

Michelle Arthy

Michelle, 57, travels from Hamsterley to utilise the state of the art facilities to help slow down the progression of her progressive MS, a disease that affects the central nervous system. She goes on to explain how her life changed in 2019, she said: "Back in 2019, I had to give everything up. I was an LTA tennis coach, an extra on TV programmes, and an archaeologist working across the county. I also volunteered as a steward at the local Bishop’s Palace. But when my condition progressed, all of that had to stop.

"Despite my MS, I am still trying to keep my independence - I still drive. I have an automatic car, and a lot of people are surprised when they see me get out with my walker!"

She then mentions how she first became aware of the hydrotherapy pool through a mutual connection: "I had never heard of the hydrotherapy pool here before it was redeveloped. I follow Liz Fisher (PCP Deputy Chief Executive) on social media because she worked at Auckland Castle when I was volunteer there, so I knew her and started seeing advertisements about the new pool on social media.

"Seeing all the progress during the building process, I thought, 'wow, I need to try this'. That’s what brought me here."

Even though Michelle was cautious at first she explained how beneficial the hydrotherapy pool is for her and her goals for the future: "I have never been one for swimming, but I find that the hydrotherapy pool gives me the advantage of doing exercises that I can’t manage at home.

"The pool’s warmth is a huge benefit for me as well. I only weigh six and a half stone, so I need warm water to help muscle recovery. The accessible changing rooms are also fantastic. Everything has been thoughtfully designed to accommodate people with disabilities.

"My aim is to use the pool every week and eventually, to be able to jump again - because that’s one of the first things you lose with MS.

"The hydrotherapy pool gives me hope. I’m trying to slow down the progression of my MS as much as possible."

Even in the pool Michelle is impressed with the accessibility of the pool itself: "I hold onto the bar that runs around the pool, which is really helpful. With MS, my brain tends to take over - I feel the need to touch furniture while walking. But in the pool, I can move freely while still feeling supported. I do leg and arm exercises, mainly focusing on my weaker left side, but I replicate the movements on my right to maintain balance."

With all the physical benefits of hydrotherapy Michelle is also using it to strengthen her mental wellbeing: "One of my challenges is that my hip flexors have stopped working properly - my brain has stopped communicating with those muscles, making stairs difficult. I know no amount of muscle work will restore that connection, but I’m trying to rewire my brain, and the pool helps with that.

"What’s brilliant about this place is that everyone is here for a reason - whether recovering from surgery or managing conditions like mine - there’s no judgment."

On reflection on her first time coming to the PCC, she explains the warm welcome you get when you arrive for a session: "Coming here alone for the first time was a big step, but the staff were exceptional.

"I don’t know if they realised it was my first time, but I was over the moon with how welcoming they were. Everyone smiles and speaks to each other, which makes such a difference. The small number of people in the self-led sessions also helps - it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

"From the first day, any concerns I had about it being difficult just disappeared because the staff were so supportive. It’s just brilliant."

Talking about whether she would recommend the hydrotherapy pool to people, Michelle had this to say: "I've spoken about the hydrotherapy pool to many people and told them how wonderful it is.

"I even recommended it to someone whose niece was nervous about coming, reassuring them that she would be completely accepted. I even offered to come along for moral support.

"The self-referral process is also fantastic. I simply rang up, explained that I have a disability, and asked if I could use the pool. The receptionist was brilliant and said, "Yes, absolutely you’re exactly the person the hydrotherapy pool is for."

PCP would like to thank Michelle for sharing her story, and why she uses the hydrotherapy pool.

To book and to find out times for hydrotherapy please visit www.pcp.uk.net/booking. Or you can call 01325 321234 or visit the Pioneering Care Centre in person to book also.

To book even quicker you can download the Vagaro app from the Google Play Store or the App Store.