I detoxed off morphine/Oxycodone and use the patches when needed. I will take a couple of 500mg Tylenols for lots of things, but when it starts getting bad I use up to three of the patches at one time. And I agree, placement is very important.

I called the people who make them, asking if I could warm them in any way. The lady said they did not investigate what temperatures over 98.6 degrees might do to the patches. So we (my wonderful wife and I) put them next to our skin for as long as practical and then put them on. If I don't do this, and then I put a cold one on my back, the muscles tie themselves in a knot. Warm is good for me.