advice on use of heat for pain relief

bluebeard

I use a lot of ice but want to try heat

how is this used and what products can I get to help apply heat ?

what are heating pads ?

livinglegend

bluebeard wrote:

I use a lot of ice but want to try heat

how is this used and what products can I get to help apply heat ?

what are heating pads?

There are some heat pads that plug into the mains and are simply a pad that heats up using electricity, like a miniature electric blanket, you then apply it to the bit that hurts. Expensive.

Heat Pads are also a term used for a single use pad that is like a big plaster. You unpack it and put it on the bit that hurts as it heats itself up for a limited period. Pluses are that it can be kept in a pocket and used at any time/place, minuses are single use and sticky, you use it only once then throw away and buy more. Fairly cheap but you need to continually buy more.

There are wheat microwaveable pillows which can be reused many times, they are portable, but generally too big to just slip in a pocket. Pluses are, quickly reheated in a micro, have multiple uses, minuses you need a microwave to heat it up, a bit large to carry easily. Fairly cheap, one off purchase. Very commonly used.

Joseph 8)

elnafinn

Hi there BB

Long time no hear. I use a microwaveable wheat cushion that is in three sections so it can easily be "wrapped" around the neck, hands, knees, foot, or just cuddle it :oops: It is very versatile and I love it, a wonderful invention.

Look after yourself,

Elna x

jordansmum

hi there jordan uses a lavender microwave cusion (sp) and his hot botty thats his favorite they do help to take the edge off 8)

frogmorton

Hi Bluebeard

I use the wheat bags sometimes for my backBB

I also have some of thopes cu*heat patches which dont heat much but can help for example in long car journeys.

Hope it helps

Love

Toni xx

barbara12

Hi bluebeard
I use the heat cushions, but make sure you have a good look round, there is a big difference in price,
Hope you are keeping wellish
Barbara x

dreamdaisy

My mum uses her hot water bottles, wrapped in towels. DD

skezier

Hi BB,

I also use a hottel...but.... mine is never wrapped in anything I am afraid..... :oops: :oops: The heat, for me, is so much better than any ice and nicer as I feel the cold big time.

They say wheat bags are the best but I find they go cold too quickly and also one of my dogs likes to eat them....... Cris x

ailsarobby

I also use a wheat pillow heated in the micro....I love it I use it on my neck,,knee's ,ankle's,and wrist I only paid £1,99 for it I love it..just wish it would stay hotter longer somedays all you hear is ping!!ping!!ping!! from my mico..lol..I also have a heat pad that is called a snuggle its flat and square that also goes in the micro thats good for lower back pains and stays hot for ages...I sometimes sit on it if I have pain in my buttocks...ooouuuuu hot **** !!! lol....my mum gave me the snuggle so dont know how much it cost or were to get them....

joanlawson

Hi bluebeard

Nice to see your name on the forum again, and I hope you are keeping well.

I have used the heat pads which you stick on, and found them good, but you do have to keep buying more. I also have a lavender wheatbag which I can wrap round the painful area. I like that because the smell of the lavender is relaxing too, but they don't stay warm for very long. In many ways, the good old fashioned hot water bottle is as good as anything, although as someone said, you can't take it around with you. That's where the heat pads are good.

BTW, I'm looking forward to more trips to Birmingham Royal Ballet in the new season. Romeo and Juliet, and two of my favourites, La Fille mal gardee, and Coppelia. Fabulous!! Please pass on my regards to your brother-in -law, and tell him what a big fan I am.

Joan

bluebeard

thanks everyone xx

where can I get these heat pads and wheat bags from ?

physio has told me sometimes heat can be better than ice for chronic problems like arthur ..had a bad patch recently so will try it

bluebeard

joanlawson wrote:

Hi bluebeard

Nice to see your name on the forum again, and I hope you are keeping well.

I have used the heat pads which you stick on, and found them good, but you do have to keep buying more. I also have a lavender wheatbag which I can wrap round the painful area. I like that because the smell of the lavender is relaxing too, but they don't stay warm for very long. In many ways, the good old fashioned hot water bottle is as good as anything, although as someone said, you can't take it around with you. That's where the heat pads are good.

BTW, I'm looking forward to more trips to Birmingham Royal Ballet in the new season. Romeo and Juliet, and two of my favourites, La Fille mal gardee, and Coppelia. Fabulous!! Please pass on my regards to your brother-in -law, and tell him what a big fan I am.

Joan

I did and he was delighted xx

he has been filling in recently as there have been a lot of injuries but at 48 he prefers to teach now !!

dreamdaisy

You can get them from chemists, Amazon, other on-line suppliers, possibly Holland and B et al. I disagree with some of the other posters - you can take you hot water bottle with you! They are perfectly portable and they do stay warmer for far longer. I bought wheat bags for my mum and she found them a real nuisance as they went cold too fast. Fleece blankets are good to snuggle under too. I wish you well. Heat does nothing for me - I love my frozen peas! DD

bluebeard

dreamdaisy wrote:

You can get them from chemists, Amazon, other on-line suppliers, possibly Holland and B et al. I disagree with some of the other posters - you can take you hot water bottle with you! They are perfectly portable and they do stay warmer for far longer. I bought wheat bags for my mum and she found them a real nuisance as they went cold too fast. Fleece blankets are good to snuggle under too. I wish you well. Heat does nothing for me - I love my frozen peas! DD

thanks daisy xx

bluebeard

i did try wetting a towell, ringing it out then microwaving it , but that loses its heat very quickly

anyone tried a heat lamp ?

tillytop

Hi Bluebeard - I swear by my hot-water bottle and take it everywhere with me. I use boiling water straight from the kettle (which I know you are not meant to do!) and wrap a towel round it. Then, as the bottle cools down I just unwrap the towel. Stays warm for ages that way. I had a wheat bag but found it went cold too quickly to be of much use. You can always have more than one hot-water bottle on the go at the same time. Not sure what kind of arthritis you have but when I looked at the "stick on" heat pads, they said that they are not suitable for use if you have RA (don't know why) and when I have used the disposable cold pads in the past, I developed a nasty allergic skin reaction through regular use -and they are really expensive if you use them often.

Hope you find a solution which works for you.

Love Tilly x

bluebeard

thanks tilly

I have degenerative arthritis of the anke and tendons , whatever that means ..lol

xxxx

joanlawson

Hi bluebeard

I have got Osteo arthritis in one ankle too. Do you wear an ankle support? When my ankle is painful, I find that the support keeps the joint warm, and it does help to ease the pain.

rachelj

bluebeard wrote:

i did try wetting a towell, ringing it out then microwaving it , but that loses its heat very quickly

anyone tried a heat lamp ?

Oooh Heat lamp, they are amazing for muscles injuries, not tried it on joint pain. I had a car accident 2 years ago which resulted in weekly physio trips to sort my whiplash out and every session ended with 15 mins under the heat lamp. I can only liken it to lying in the sun, as its concentrated on one area you never get hot and bothered and it just makes you go ahhhh.

My Physio said they are available for hire so might be worth a quick google to try one for a few weeks see if it does the trick.

bluebeard

joanlawson wrote:

Hi bluebeard

I have got Osteo arthritis in one ankle too. Do you wear an ankle support? When my ankle is painful, I find that the support keeps the joint warm, and it does help to ease the pain.

which sort do u wear

one of those elasticated neoprene ones ?

bluebeard

rachelj wrote:

bluebeard wrote:

i did try wetting a towell, ringing it out then microwaving it , but that loses its heat very quickly

anyone tried a heat lamp ?

Oooh Heat lamp, they are amazing for muscles injuries, not tried it on joint pain. I had a car accident 2 years ago which resulted in weekly physio trips to sort my whiplash out and every session ended with 15 mins under the heat lamp. I can only liken it to lying in the sun, as its concentrated on one area you never get hot and bothered and it just makes you go ahhhh.

My Physio said they are available for hire so might be worth a quick google to try one for a few weeks see if it does the trick.

thanks , will look into it

there are a few heat massagers on google

dorcas

Hi BB

I don't have any experience of ankle arther but do find heat a great 'comfort' for other joints. I use a hot wax therapy bath for my hands; small unit big enough for one hand ..or one foot but doubt it would reach the ankle. sorry :oops: (not much use was I)

Just wanted to say it's nice to have you back!

Irisx

bluebeard

dorcas wrote:

Hi BB

I don't have any experience of ankle arther but do find heat a great 'comfort' for other joints. I use a hot wax therapy bath for my hands; small unit big enough for one hand ..or one foot but doubt it would reach the ankle. sorry :oops: (not much use was I)

Just wanted to say it's nice to have you back!

Irisx

thats a lovely thing to say xx

I have a foot bath .......whats this hot wax therapy ?

with regard to heat I have had a look at argos and amazon and there seems to be some heat lamps and massagers on there

will have a chat with my physio

joanlawson

bluebeard wrote:

joanlawson wrote:

Hi bluebeard

I have got Osteo arthritis in one ankle too. Do you wear an ankle support? When my ankle is painful, I find that the support keeps the joint warm, and it does help to ease the pain.

which sort do u wear

one of those elasticated neoprene ones ?

Yes, it is elasticated. I bought it at Boots, and the assistant was very helpful to make sure I got the right size etc. I don't wear it all the time, but it does help when the ankle is particularly painful.

bluebeard

I will look into it joan

xx

only49

hi i find thermacare knee wraps excellent last for 12 hours they seem to help