VERY important question about combining heating pads and pain relieving creams/gels/ointments/etc.

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I am wondering, is it safe to combine heating pads with pain relieving

creams/gels/ointments/etc.? In other words, is it safe to, for example, rub

Bengay or Icy Hot on my neck or back, and then immediately apply heat to

the same area?

I am under the impression that the answer to this question is a very

resounding " NO!!! " because, as I understand it, if one does combine these

two treatments, then one can get a serious chemical burn from the

interaction between the two.

Is this true/accurate? Can this happen? If so, are there any exceptions to

it (e.g., specific creams/gels/ointments/etc. which are safe to combine

with heat, or certain hot temperatures up to which it IS safe to combine

the treatments)???

I would like any and all information about this I can possibly get, as I

would really like to combine the two treatments because it seems that it

would (or at least, could) result in greater pain relief, but on the other

hand my training from many first aid courses I have taken in my life are

screaming at me that it is in NO WAY safe to combine the two types of

treatments due to the risk of chemical burns.

Could someone please help me answer this question (preferably as soon as

possible, if that's possible)?

Thanks SO MUCH!!!

e.h.