Re: Help for my Mom-- cold & hot packs

[Guest guest]

Hey guys--

 

My physical therapist used dawn dishwashing liquid in plastic baggies- quart

size for hands and gallon sized for feet and knees & other body parts. Just

quirt it in the baggie- about half full, push out all the air, lay it flat and

freeze.

 

When you take it back out, it only takes a few minutes to thaw down enough to

use. Place a thin towel between the cold pack and skin- particularly in the case

of an Elder or diabetic. It will hold cold for hours! You can reuse it many many

times- just toss back in the freezer. Let your body rest from the cold

periodically- I wouldn't use longer than 10-15 minutes at a time.

 

Note for cold packs- I have tried many other dishwashing liquids and Dawn is the

only one that seems to hold up to the abuse. The others separate and get weird

and don't hold cold as well. Suck it up and get the Dawn. By the time you save a

couple pennies getting the cheapie stuff- you'll have to make twice as many.

 

 I alternate that with heat packs. Take a towel wet it down. Have somebody wring

it out if you cannot do it. Fold to desired size. Place into a garbage bag and

microwave for under two minutes. Check it and see if it's hot enough ( depends

on the microwave power ). It will hold a toasty warm heat for a good bit of

time. You can make any size for whatever body part needs it. I lay on one for my

back a lot- arthritis in my spine & all. I use a dish towel size for my hands.

 

Note on the heat pack--- do not use same towel for longer than two days. It will

grow spectacular bacteria loads in the moist heat. Rotate out with fresh towels

daily if you can. Alternating the heat and cold has really helped my pain levels

a lot.

 

I really hope that this helps many of you, it sure did me. I am recommending

that therapist for Sainthood BTW!!!!

 

               Gentle hugs to all- in SC

[Guest guest]

Thank you. I am so amazed at this.

Zoe

On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 10:58 PM, phyllis crubaugh <

phylliscrubaugh@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hey guys--

>

> My physical therapist used dawn dishwashing liquid in plastic baggies-

> quart size for hands and gallon sized for feet and knees & other body parts.

> Just quirt it in the baggie- about half full, push out all the air, lay it

> flat and freeze.

>

> When you take it back out, it only takes a few minutes to thaw down enough

> to use. Place a thin towel between the cold pack and skin- particularly in

> the case of an Elder or diabetic. It will hold cold for hours! You can reuse

> it many many times- just toss back in the freezer. Let your body rest from

> the cold periodically- I wouldn't use longer than 10-15 minutes at a time.

>

> Note for cold packs- I have tried many other dishwashing liquids and Dawn

> is the only one that seems to hold up to the abuse. The others separate and

> get weird and don't hold cold as well. Suck it up and get the Dawn. By the

> time you save a couple pennies getting the cheapie stuff- you'll have to

> make twice as many.

>

> I alternate that with heat packs. Take a towel wet it down. Have somebody

> wring it out if you cannot do it. Fold to desired size. Place into a garbage

> bag and microwave for under two minutes. Check it and see if it's hot enough

> ( depends on the microwave power ). It will hold a toasty warm heat for a

> good bit of time. You can make any size for whatever body part needs it. I

> lay on one for my back a lot- arthritis in my spine & all. I use a dish

> towel size for my hands.

>

> Note on the heat pack--- do not use same towel for longer than two days. It

> will grow spectacular bacteria loads in the moist heat. Rotate out with

> fresh towels daily if you can. Alternating the heat and cold has really

> helped my pain levels a lot.

>

> I really hope that this helps many of you, it sure did me. I am

> recommending that therapist for Sainthood BTW!!!!

>

> Gentle hugs to all- in SC

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for responding Zoe!

 

                       Chris

[Guest guest]

Nice Ice packs to make measure out 8ounces of rubbing alcohol, and 8 ounces of

water. mix together and put in zip lock bags, double bag ti prevent leakage.

This combination turns into ice slush and makes the best cold packs for your

swollen aching body parts. 

>

>

> Hey guys--

>

> My physical therapist used dawn dishwashing liquid in plastic baggies-

> quart size for hands and gallon sized for feet and knees & other body parts.

> Just quirt it in the baggie- about half full, push out all the air, lay it

> flat and freeze.

>

> When you take it back out, it only takes a few minutes to thaw down enough

> to use. Place a thin towel between the cold pack and skin- particularly in

> the case of an Elder or diabetic. It will hold cold for hours! You can reuse

> it many many times- just toss back in the freezer. Let your body rest from

> the cold periodically- I wouldn't use longer than 10-15 minutes at a time.

>

> Note for cold packs- I have tried many other dishwashing liquids and Dawn

> is the only one that seems to hold up to the abuse. The others separate and

> get weird and don't hold cold as well. Suck it up and get the Dawn. By the

> time you save a couple pennies getting the cheapie stuff- you'll have to

> make twice as many.

>

> I alternate that with heat packs. Take a towel wet it down. Have somebody

> wring it out if you cannot do it. Fold to desired size. Place into a garbage

> bag and microwave for under two minutes. Check it and see if it's hot enough

> ( depends on the microwave power ). It will hold a toasty warm heat for a

> good bit of time. You can make any size for whatever body part needs it. I

> lay on one for my back a lot- arthritis in my spine & all. I use a dish

> towel size for my hands.

>

> Note on the heat pack--- do not use same towel for longer than two days. It

> will grow spectacular bacteria loads in the moist heat. Rotate out with

> fresh towels daily if you can. Alternating the heat and cold has really

> helped my pain levels a lot.

>

> I really hope that this helps many of you, it sure did me. I am

> recommending that therapist for Sainthood BTW!!!!

>

> Gentle hugs to all- in SC

>

>