[smile357]

What type of electric heating pad,if any, do people find to help? And if yes, what brand do you find the most helpful. Also moist heat or dry? Any advice or tips would be great.

[bunz50]

Originally Posted by smile357

What type of electric heating pad,if any, do people find to help? And if yes, what brand do you find the most helpful. Also moist heat or dry? Any advice or tips would be great.

Hello, I use Theratherm heating pads, they are moist heat, I have a cervical(wraps around your neck) and a lumbar one, a little pricy but they work good.
Bunz

[mrsD]

I am looking for one myself!

My old old one is dying. Afraid to use it in this condition!

I looked on Amazon this morning and found some very scary
reviews about Sunbeam types...starting fires.... 14 of them in fact.

So look at Amazon's listings and take note of the poor CHINESE
versions that are out there now.

Take care!

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by mrsD

I looked on Amazon this morning and found some very scary
reviews about Sunbeam types...starting fires.... 14 of them in fact.

I think some of those kinds of statistics have to be taken in context, and with a few grains of salt. Did they happen to mention how many of the tens of millions of Sunbeam pads sold didn't start fires? Were they all the same model, or spread across all the models? Were they all current models? Were any of them recalled/redesigned? (Design/production faults are often corrected without any notice/hoopla.) Did they say how many were spontaneous combustion vs. "consumer stupidity"?

I'm not trying to be confrontational, nor do I really want/expect answers. I'm just trying to put some of these matters into perspective (as a designer, and spouse of a Six Sigma Blackbelt)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Sigma

14 out of 10 million is .00014% which is a pretty good safety record for any product. I'll bet there were, in fact, a lot more than 14 fires, but most heating pad mishaps are the result of improper use & worn out components as opposed to defective products. When people make complaints of this nature, they tend to want to blame the product rather than admit their own... culpability(foolishness? lack of common sense?)

FDA and CPSC recommend the following precautions be taken to
avoid hazards associated with the use of electric heating pads:

ALWAYS --

• Inspect heating pad before each use to assure it is in proper working order; discard it if it looks worn or cracked or if the electrical cord is frayed.
• Keep removable cover on pad during use.
• Place heating pad on top of, and not underneath of, the body part in need of heat. (The temperature of a heating pad increases if heat is trapped.)
• Unplug heating pad when not in use.
• Read and follow all manufacturer's instructions on heating pad or on outside package prior to use.

NEVER --

• Use on an infant.
• Use on a person who is paralyzed or has skin that is not sensitive to temperature changes.
• Use on a sleeping or unconscious person.
• Use in an oxygen enriched environment or near equipment that stores or emits oxygen.
• Sit on or against a heating pad.
• Crush or fold a heating pad during use or during storage.
• Unplug heating pad by pulling its connecting cord.
• Use pins or other metallic fasteners to hold heating pad in place.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Medical.../ucm062624.pdf

They didn't spell it out, but heating pads should also not be covered or wrapped by layers of blankets, clothing etc. for the same "heat trap" reasons.

If you have neuropathy, you should not use heating pads or electric blankets - you could be seriously burned without knowing it.
http://www.joslin.org/info/diabetic_...an_update.html

Even if you have your heating pad set on low, prolonged use can cause burning. The heat continues to accumulate is the tissues becoming hotter than the body can handle, and you end up with a burn.
http://arthritisinsight.com/medical/pain/heat.html

I even found two websites with detailed instructions & photos on how to circumvent the safety shutoff features!

There will be inherent risks with any mfrs product of this type. Common sense must always apply.

We've had a Sunbeam/Walgreen pad for at least 5 years now, and it's always worked great. We probably don't use it as much as some people (though there are times I think my wife prefers it to me ) We inspect it before every use (as recommended) and when it wears out, it'll get replaced. We have no reservations about buying another Sunbeam, but we'd prudently compare & check it out at the time of purchase, read the warranty, and use common sense.

Doc

[mrsD]

Well, I think it bears attention. I looked at other sites, and found it common for reviews to be 2 stars out of 5 at most of them for new heating pads. Either they don't warm up, or they spark or catch on fire.

I put this in the same category as the exploding Pyrex recently.
And exploding glass tables!
CHINESE

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread157069.html
Chinese glass (a Chinese company bought the Pyrex trademark recently and changed the recipe too) recently exploding when no one was touching it!

[Jomar]

Most pads say to not fold & (of course don't stack heavy things on top of them when in storage...)
but how many really read the care & cautions...

One thing about the infrared heating pads is they don't need to get "hot" to do the job, mine does get slightly warm /comfortable but never to a burning sensation.

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by mrsD

I put this in the same category as the exploding Pyrex recently.
....
CHINESE

Chinese glass (a Chinese company bought the Pyrex trademark recently and changed the recipe too) recently exploding when no one was touching it!

I think the above bears some factchecking (which is somewhat problematical, but there is agreement on the following):

• A Chinese company does not own the Pyrex trademark.
• Pyrex products are manufactured in the U.S. - in Charleroi, Pennsylvania
• The "recipe" change is not recent, and was required by U.S. environmental law.

http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/pyrex.asp
http://stats.org/stories/2009/explod..._oct14_09.html
http://www.pyrexware.com/index.asp?pageId=30&TruthId=2
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/m...ware/index.htm
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/vall.../s_766181.html

The link above in BOLD (including all internal links) is, IMO, the most informative (detailed) and thoroughly researched (credible).

Doc

[Jomar]

What part of the body would you be using it for?

I have used a Infrared Heating Pad for many years now and I do think it helps me much more long term than the regular heating pads.
The effects go deeper into the body & improves cellular actions/ like cleansing of toxins.

I have the one linked below- it does have 3 solid but lightly padded sections, if you need a more flexible pad for smaller areas this style won't work very well.
I have mine on the back of my recliner and lean against it while watching tv. I use it mostly for upper back /shoulder/neck pain.
Dh used it often for his knee injury this summer also.
I bought it in 04 I believe, and no problems at all with pretty regular use, daily and even many x's a day early on.

http://www.amazon.com/Thermotex-Univ...1986904&sr=8-1
(if you scroll down that page there are many other brands & styles to compare.)
other sites with info/products -
http://www.thermotex.com/infrared.htm#key
http://www.therasage.com/Healing-Pad...elts_c_16.html

[ballerina]

Speaking of pyrex, if your casserole dishes explode you can always salvage the liners that are used to keep casseroles warm or cold. I find they work better than any heating pad I have tried.