Hassles of using a bag of frozen peas for cold therapy

Physicians often recommend icing a pulled muscle by using a bag of frozen peas to help reduce the swelling during the first 48 hours after an injury. Holding a bag of frozen peas in place becomes quite tedious after a few minutes. Ten to fifteen minutes can seem like hours!

To find out when to use heat or ice for a specific injury go to the Mayo Clinic or National Institutes of Health. They have reliable up-to-date information and recommended resources for more research.

Maine Warmers makes a soft flannel case to hold a one pound bag of frozen peas and has an adjustable strap to hold it in place. No need to be bothered with holding onto it to keep it from sliding to the floor. See their Mainely Ice Pack.

After thawing and refreezing a bag of frozen peas it seems best not to cook and eat them. But if they are stored in the freezer inside the flannel pouch then they’ll be ready to cool you on a hot summer day, to ease the pain or itch of an insect bite, or to help sooth a mild burn.

If putting cold peas on an injury feels too harsh then one may purchase an insert of whole corn filling to use instead of the peas. The water content in whole corn has been reduced, therefore the filling will not get as cold as frozen peas (or frozen corn).

Whole corn has the versatility of being able to go in the microwave and provide heat after the swelling has
gone down. Mainely Ice may be purchased with a whole corn-filled insert that weighs about 1 and 1/2 lb.

Heat therapy will help relax tight muscles, improve flexibility, and aid in stimulating circulation.

Whole corn will not pop in the microwave and does not require added fragrances – unlike rice socks. Microwave heat packs are more convenient than conventional electric heating pads and hot water bottles.

Check out Maine Warmers Mainely Ice Packs.

A Pain in the Wrist

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (Pronunciation)

A pain in the wrist at the base of the thumb may be caused by repetitive motion that in turn causes inflammation of the sheath (Tenosynovium) through which tendons pass. Continued friction during repetitive motion causes the condition to worsen. Self-care includes taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, icing the area about 3 – 4 times a day for 15 minutes each time, splinting, and discontinuing the activity that caused it.

Usually a doctor can do a simple test, The Finklestein test, (no kidding) to help diagnose the condition. For more information go to Medicine Doctor or the Mayo Clinic.

Icing an injury can be uncomfortable and it is important to avoid skin damage by using ice for no more than 15 minutes at a time no more than once per hour.

For ice that is gentle and won’t harm the skin try freezing a Maine Warmers' microwave heating pad. All of Neck Warmers and Back Warmers wrap around a hand or wrist and can be used for other body parts as an added bonus.
Maine Warmers’ products may be used for either heat or cold. When you are over the icing stage and you need heat to help relax sore muscles or improve flexibility try heating it in the microwave. Maine Warmers’ microwave heating pads are safe and easy to use. Their

Tips to help prevent Repetitive Motion Disorder

Repetitive Motion Disorders, RMD, can cause temporary and permanent damage to soft tissue of the arms, hands, legs, feet, backs, and necks. If you sit at a computer all day at work you may be experiencing some signs of this condition like tingling, numbness, lack of strength, redness, or swelling.Other activities like playing tennis, sewing, playing a musical instrument, holding a phone with your shoulder, and pogo stick jumping can also wreak havoc with your body.

There is a known cure for RMD. Stopping the activity is one way but may not be possible if it is the way you make a living. Changing the way you perform your tasks can make a big difference and protect your body from harm.

Have someone take a photo of you in your normal computer posture to help you make corrections in posture may help. If you are slouching or listing to one side you can consciously work to change that. Make sure the person who takes the photo promises not to post it on Facebook.

Besides improving your posture, changing your chair and computer screen height may help. Last year after I redesigned a new computer station from a chair at a desk to one where I can stand, I developed knee and ankle swelling. Now I have a second computer for sitting and one for standing.

Setting a timer across the room now pulls me away from the computer when it’s time to take a quick stretching break. A physical therapist may offer stretching exercises for your particular issue.

Medical professionals often recommend using ice to relieve the symptoms of RMD. Because ice packs can feel uncomfortably harsh on the skin you may decide not to use them, especially if you are already in pain. A MaineWarmers microwave heating pad can be frozen and used as a gentle ice pack to relieve any swelling or pain. The whole corn filling does not get as cold as ice cubes and offers a simple solution for providing cold therapy when ice packs seem too harsh.                                                                                                                                                                           

Preventing problems before they happen is the best way to deal with RMD. Remembering to stretch, take breaks, and improving your posture may be the best methods to keep this condition at bay.

 For a more detailed description of RMD and how to deal with it please visit the National Institutes for Health Web site.

For ice packs to help reduce swelling and pain, visit Maine Warmers and check out some unique and fun designs -- heating pads that do not look medicinal. All of their products may be microwaved and become Neck Warmers to relax stiff neck muscles.

Tips to help recover from shoulder surgery

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a procedure that has been around for decades. It's less invasive than open surgery, but there is still a significant recovery time and it is not a cake walk. Stitches need to heal and muscles and tendons need to be used again, gently, with the guidance of a physical therapist. According to the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, it could take several weeks to bounce back from this type of surgery in one of the most complicated joints in the body. This article includes a good description of the shoulder joint anatomy, possible areas that need repair, some planning tips, procedures, and rehab.

1. Give yourself time. Arrange for help during the first two weeks of recovery and maybe longer.

2. Have a reclining chair or plenty of pillows for propping yourself up in bed. Laying flat may not be comfortable for a few weeks after the surgery.

3. Use ice to reduce swelling. When my mother had shoulder surgery she was reluctant to use ice because of the harsh cold. She was already in pain and didn't want more discomfort. Then she tried a gentle ice pack that is also a microwave heating pad. It is filled with dried corn and because there is low water content it does not get as cold as a bag of frozen peas or ice cubes.

4. Use a sling to help immobilize the shoulder during recovery as recommended by your physician.

5. There are physical aids like a "grabber" or that a occupational therapist might recommend to help you cope in the first week or two if you cannot arrange for help 24/7.

Black Bear Ice Pack and Microwave Heating Pad

A Cozy Black Bear from Maine Warmers can be stored in a plastic bag in the freezer and used it for about Seal or a Back Warmer. Once your shoulder has healed, a physical therapist may have you use heat to stimulate circulation and  increase flexibility. Then you can take your frozen "Warmer" and heat it for 1.5 minutes and enjoy soothing heat therapy.
20 minutes every few hours. It helped reduce the swelling and was not harsh like ice cubes! Other products for the shoulder are a

How to deal with Popliteal Cysts or Baker's Cysts

There is a condition, called Baker’s Cysts that can cause swelling of the knee and leg.

According to the Mayo Clinic Baker's Cysts are most often caused by a cartilage tear or arthritis. Most people don’t know they have this fluid build up, and often it goes un-diagnosed. The fluid build up in the knee causes swelling and tightness in the back of the knee.

For more information on signs, symptoms, causes, when to seek medical advice, screening, and diagnosis, complications, treatment, and self-care visit the Mayo Clinic Web page on Baker’s cyst. They basically recommend taking anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin, resting, icing, using a compression sleeve, and elevating the leg.

Maine Warmers Knee Pack

Reducing the swelling is one method of dealing with Baker’s cysts. Elevating the leg,  reducing physical activity, and wrapping the knee in an ice pack -- not harsh ice -- will help reduce swelling.

For gentle ice packs that wrap around the knee check out Maine Warmers’ Gentle Ice Packs, especially their knee pack which comes with a bag of whole corn (not popping corn) or it can hold a bag of frozen peas that you buy at the store for colder therapy. Frozen whole corn is not harsh like ice cubes and can be microwaved as well. Neck warmers also wrap around the knee and can be used repeatedly for ice or can be microwaved for soothing heat.

Using gentle ice packs for Plantar fascia pain

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes sharp pains in the heel and foot. The Plantar fascia is a band of muscle that runs between the heel and the ball of the foot and helps form the arch of the foot. Over time this muscle loses its elasticity and can be damaged by running or excess walking. The layer of fat that protects it slowly becomes flattened with age and pain develops. For more information about this subject visit the Mayo Clinic Web site for illustrations, risk factors, what to expect when you visit a physician, and more.

Lifestyle recommendations include maintaining a healthy weight, wearing supportive shoes, not wearing worn athletic shoes while exercising, switching to low impact forms of activities, stretching, taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines, and applying ice. Cold therapy helps reduce swelling though most folks don’t want to use ice because it sounds so uncomfortable.

Maine Warmers’ gentle ice packs are soothing and comfortable -- not at all harsh like cubes. Mainely Foot Warmers can be frozen as well as microwaved and used to help reduce swelling and pain. There are a variety of products that can be used for the feet on this web site. All can be microwaved for heat or frozen for gentle cold therapy.