The Best Heating Pad...

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Don't spend 7 bucks for one of those special one use heating patches, like I did.
I screwed up my shoulder pretty good and keeping heat on it is the only thing that feels good.
I decided to replace my outdated bottle of Advil to see if that's why the shoulder isn't getting better.
While in the store, I noticed these one use stick on heat patches and decided to try one.
The directions go on and on about taking different measures to avoid burning yourself with one of these things once you activate it by exposing it to air... They also say that it may take up to a half hour to reach "Full Thereputic Temerature"... Oh and they also say that they stay hot for eight hours.
What a friggin' joke!!!!!!!
I took it off after about three hours 'cause I could barely tell that it was warm.
I'm tryin' to find where TDN stashed my gunny sack full of rice so I can make my own....
One sock filled with rice and nuked for a few minutes is the best damned heating pad I've ever used!

[bledsoe3]

Have you tried any of the rub on lotions. I tried the Capsation (sp) once and it got HOT!

[Miriam C.]

Sorry to hear about your shoulder. Dried beans in a sock will work too.

And some auntie advice. Alternate cold with hot. If you use only hot you can agitate the injury. Cheap frozen veggies work great for ice packs. Reuseable so mark the package if you use them.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Auntie M,
Yeap...
I like using frozen peas, they conform to the area better.

Jim,
I kinda got away from liniments...
It just so happened that the job I was doing when I did this was at a health club and one of Joanie's best friends works there. One of her deals shes does is deep tissue massage. When she saw me gimpin' around she insisted that I go get on her table at once.
Holy Crap!!!
It felt good, but it hurt a whole lot worse.
She had me wimpering like a little baby.
When she was done, I could actually lift my arm above the shoulder.
I was pretty amazed and I was able to finish the job, but by the end of the day I was all gimped up again.
I think it's and old football deal... Bone spur aggrivating the rotator cuff.
I should be good as new after no heavy lifting for a while.
I was just pissed that I spent $7.00 on what amounted to be a gimmick.

[ARKPAT]

Dean I know how you feel.
I did a job on my shoulder several years back also.
I could not even sleep on that side without bad pain that would wake me up quick!
I did the deep mussel massage after 5 years of pain and no sleeping on my left shoulder. Then releive!!!! My hunting buddy did the surgery route and three surgeries later no pain but limited movement from here on. Me no pain and almost back to normal movement after a massage.


Pat

[asianflava]

Those thermal wraps work OK when you aren't home. Not the best but they work OK in conjunction with anti-inflammatory drugs. The best heating pad is the plug in the wall kind though, we have a flannel tube that has corn in it. Nuke that puppy for a min or 2 and it works like a champ.

Thank God I haven't had any lower back problems in a while. I've been having some pain in my upper back and neck (right between the shoulder blades). Mel had a massage lined up and paid for but she couldn't make it. She had me go in her place, I was having the upper back pain so I said OK. It didn't do much for me. Actually, my lower back started to ache from laying on the table.

[mikefowler]

Dean Ditto on the rice bag -
If not at home I use "Tiger Balm" Just don't put it on after a hot bath -
My wife did that and the Red pepper in it actually burned her skin.,
Ouch!