The Best Gift for Valentines' Day

Yesterday, a woman I met recently at the gym, asked me if I would like to go snowshoeing, walking, or doing some outside winter activity with her.  She lives near me and wrote her phone number on a sticky note and asked if I would call her. Of course, I said yes.

As I drove home, I remembered that wonderfully warm feeling as a child, when in elementary school, somebody passed me a note that said, “Will you be my friend?” or said, “Can you play today?”

If you want to make someone feel good on Valentines’ Day, pass a note that conveys your friendship, or spend time with them -- laugh, joke, reminisce, or read together. Let them know you enjoy their company. 

Polar Bear Hand and Body Warmer

If you want to give a gift of comfort, without calories, give a Cozy Polar Bear or Sheep microwave warmer. Many stores throughout the US sell Maine Warmers' Comforting Creatures.

  

Two Natural Foods to Help Reduce Inflammation

I read recently about two foods that are anti-inflammatory -- Salmon and Ginger. Used regularly, or taken as supplements (check with your physician first),  they may help ease the pain of arthritis. Check out the ARTHRITIS TODAY article, Nature-Made & Science Approved, in the Sept/Oct 2013 issue. BTW --finely chopped ginger tastes great in a veggie stir-fry.

Scientists are discovering how diet impacts our health, and changing what we eat can improve how we feel. There is no doubt in my mind that when we eat natural foods and skip the manufactured ones, we feel better.

After going on a gluten-free diet to reduce inflammation to ease the pain of arthritis I was able to live without the discomfort I had been experiencing.  A close friend adapted a gluten-free diet to deal with Colitis and experienced positive results, going from taking 16 pills a day and feeling miserable at times to zero pills and feeling great.

If the joints in your arthritic hands are sore and you need some relief, try a pair of reusable hand warmer mittens from Maine Warmers. Also, their Palm Packs and their Cozy Sheep (one of several Comforting Creatures) offer soothing warmth for cold hands or feet.

Sometimes people with arthritis need to use cold therapy to reduce swelling and pain. These microwave heating pads can be frozen and used for gentle ice -- not harsh like ice cubes.

Panda Bears in the Smithsonian

 I happened to read an article in The Smithsonian, Jan 2014, issue last week while in the dentist’s waiting room, about Panda Bears. The author, Susan Orlean, referred to them as “magical animals” and mentioned a YouTube  video called “Wang Dajun babysitting thePanda” or “Wang and the Panda.” 

These videos are fun to watch, as are those of the new Panda baby, Bao Bao,  at the National Zoo.  The author of this article said the Panda is a “unami of animals” which can be translated from the Japanese as "a pleasant savory taste.” I don’t think Ms. Orlean was talking about the Panda on a dinner plate.

Pandas Bears are intriguing and unique. The Webcam at the National Zoo is viewed regularly. I used to peek at the Webcam at the San Diego Zoo at 8 AM on the East Coast which is 5 AM on the West Coast. The Pandas are active at that time. I am not sure why it was so intriguing, but I loved watching these unique animals.

Maine Warmers Panda Bear Body Warmer

If you Google the two places you will probably come up with a link to the WebCam and will get to see these amazing creatures. Or view their photos and videos.

If you want to enjoy cuddling with a Panda, the safest one is Maine Warmers’ Panda Bear. It’s portable and safe. Enjoy it as a bed warmer or hand warmer. Just microwave it for a minute and a half and enjoy soothing warmth.

Ten tips for weathering the cold temperatures – especially if you have to work outside

1. Dress in several layers.
2. Keep your hands warm – wear warm gloves or mittens.
3. Wear a warm hat – most body heat is lost through the head.
4. Stay hydrated – avoiding alcohol.
5. Drink warm liquids – decaf tea, hot chocolate, or warm apple cider.
6. Stay active to promote blood circulation.
7. To avoid dry split lips use lip balm.
8. Avoid split skin around fingernails by keeping moisturizing cream on hands and avoid putting hands in water a lot. Use rubber gloves when cleaning or washing dishes.
9. If you have to be outside make sure to do so for short periods of time. Shivering is a sign that your

   

   Maine Warmers Woolly Bear Neck Warmer

   body is cooling off.
10. Use microwave hand warmers to pre-warm boots before going outside. Maine Warmers are reusable and washable. You can regulate the temperature by how long you microwave them. A Back or Neck Warmer can be used to warm hands and feet as well.

7 Ways to stay warm in winter without boosting the thermostat

Once you get chilled it can be hard to warm up again. We are still in the early stages of winter, and chances are we’ll be looking for ways to stay warm while keeping the thermostat down as energy costs remain high. Be prepared for another cold snap when it arrives.

Neck Warmer under a coat

1. Stay warm outside, then when you come inside you will warm up faster. Wear warm clothing even if you are just going from the car into the grocery store. Keep moving and stay active during the winter. Exercise helps circulation and to keep you warm.

2. Wear a Maine Warmers microwave Neck Warmer under your coat to help prevent that blast of

chill when you first step outside or slide into a cold car.

3. Dress in layers and make one layer a vest to help keep your core warm.

4. Wear a hat, inside or outside, to help keep the heat in.

5. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

6. If you know an elderly person whose hands are cold while watching TV or reading, give him or her some reusable, microwave Hand Warmers or a Cozy Sheep. They can be micro-waved for pennies and provide comfort for an hour or more. Or use a Back Warmer, which is more versatile, and wrap it around the hands or lay it on top of cold feet.

Cozy microwave sheep keeps hands and body warm

7. Use a heating pad in your bed. Cold sheets will keep you awake until they warm up. Enjoy winter with a little help from Maine Warmers.

The Best Hair Treatment

I asked the lady who cuts my hair what I could do to help keep my hair shiny and soft as I get older and it slowly turns to gray and dries out. She said the best thing to do is to maintain a healthy diet, which of course makes sense but isn’t always easy to do. When work and family keep me running all day and the dinner hour arrives, I am sometime so tired I want to sit down and go hungry.  The thoughts of preparing something healthy – which takes time na/or money – are both unappealing. Usually on my late afternoon travels I can

pick up a salad and some shrimp or pre-cooked chicken to add to it.

After a little chair time I can rally to make something from the cupboard – a can of broth, a little onion, celery, and some canned beans and/or frozen veggies will make do. Frozen spinach is great because it has lots of healthy stuff and it is pre-washed and chopped.

It is probably less expensive to maintain a healthy diet than to spend a lot on hair care – not to mention health care from not taking care of oneself.  When I look at hairdos in the books at the hair salon, it is often the faces of the women that are more appealing than the hairdos.  I know I will never look like those women even if I have the same haircut. But if I can look the best I can that would please me.

Now that some cooler temperatures are approaching and people are buying more Maine Warmers, I’ll be making more suppers from the pantry and easing my tired feet with a pair of foot warmers beforehand. 

Vitamin K for better health

I just read that appropriate levels of vitamin K may help keep arthritis at bay -- an important fact for us Boomers who are approaching the end of middle age. Kale is a great source of vitamin K -- how coincidental! Check out Arthritis Today, Sept-Oct. 2013, p 19 in an article by Catherine Winters for more information about the benefits of kale and how it may prevent some types of arthritis.

I like Kale in soups and stews but don't think I would like it cooked by itself. Somewhere I read that massaging green veggies like cabbage, collards, and kale brings out the sweetness in them that would otherwise be locked in and makes them taste better.

I will have to put Kale on top of the to do list and will try to come up with a recipe for Maine Warmers' Snippets recipe blog. Maine Warmers sells microwave moist heating pads that help ease arthritis pain and help with flexibility.

Back Warmer

Too many food opportunties

Last summer, after discovering Bam Bam Bakery – a gluten-free store in Portland, Maine – I gained ten pounds. They have pizza, sticky yeast buns, Whoopie-pies, and the most decadent, delicious dessert squares, including my favorite -- a truly unique one that is made with blueberries and rosemary. Everything in this bakery is gluten-free.

It took me 6 months to lose the extra pounds, since I tend to gain weight whenever I even think about dieting. I chose instead to focus on feeling better, eating smaller portions, and not feeling deprived when I had to forgo dessert.

With so many daily food opportunities distracting us almost everywhere we go, it can be difficult to avoid foods we should only eat in moderation. We have to pass pastry and coffee shops on our way to work, pizza and sandwich stops, fast food restaurants, home-made food in slow restaurants, and ice-cream stands.

 In a grocery store, on the way to the fish department, we are distracted by pies, cakes, and muffins. On the way to Dairy one can find new goodies on the end caps of the aisles. When we look for a bag of frozen peas, low and behold, there are all kinds of interesting hors d’oeuvres just a few glass doors away. Near the checkout are candies and chips, and if one turns around to avoid looking at them, specialty ice-cream cakes in the end of aisle freezer beckon. Even the magazines sport covers with great big honkin’ chocolate cakes. Some publications show a Photo-shopped skinny model with headlines that we can look like her, then the sub-headings mention easy-to-make wonderful desserts on the inside pages.

How to deal with this? Wear blinders in the grocery store, take a deep breath, and relax. We’ll all be okay without the extras. 

Of course a Maine Warmer will relax tense muscles. Curl up with a back warmer and good book as an alternative to baking a cake or eating dessert. Maine Warmers' Cozy Critters offer comfort without the calories.

PS 

I still go to Bam Bam Bakery to buy bread and an occasional dessert.

Aromatherapy for keeping the mind alert and in shape

The aroma of peppermint may help with memory and alertness, according to a study published on the and a study done at Wheeler Jesuit University.

Variegated Peppermint in my garden

International Journal of Neuroscience

There are conflicting reviews on this subject and one study showed that aromatherapy had no significant impact on health. Maybe the smell of mint will help one become more alert if the mind is set to believe. Like taking a placebo, it could have a psychological benefit.

Common sense tells me that learning new things, interacting with people, remaining physically active, and maintaining a healthy diet are the best and most natural ways to stay alert and keep the mind in shape. 

One thing is for sure. When one is rested one is more alert and physical and mental well-being are more apt to be at optimal levels.

Sleep doesn't always come easy when we are stressed. Medical professionals all agree that heat helps relax tense muscles. A heating pad offers a way to chill out before bed. Maine Warmers Comforting Creatures are unique and whimsical and are microwaveable or freezable. A Dachshund Neck Warmer wraps around the neck, soothing away tension. A variety of Back Warmers may also help relax tense back muscles. They do not have fragrances -- mint or otherwise.

By the ways, a good use for mint is to place snips of fresh mint leaves over a plate of fresh orange slices and dates (pitted and sliced). It makes a healthy, easy dessert.

Dealing with Chronic Back Pain

Pain makes us appreciate life more when we are pain-free. Any pain is the "worst pain" whether it is a toothache, a headache, a hang-nail, or something else. Pain can be our best friend, when it stops us from taking action that causes more damage. As our worst enemy, it becomes an anchor, dragging along with us everywhere, and keeping us from the things we like to do most.

Because Maine Warmers' microwave heating pad are used as a home remedy for pain, I often receive phone calls from people who experience chronic pain. When I met Andrea Bowen, the creator of an audio CD, The Art of Living with Chronic Pain, I never dreamed I would soon have a personal need for her materials. After a back spasm that left me with terrible back pain, I listened to her CD. It helped me confront and deal with a nagging pain, that like a cranky child, had hold of my leg and would not let go.

Traditional Microwave Back Warmer

Andrea's CD on living with pain does not offer a cure, but provides awareness and help in dealing with chronic pain. I was lucky that back surgery has given me the freedom of living normally again with a few minor adjustments in lifestyle. 

I am also pleased to say that my trusty Maine Warmer microwave heating pad for the back brought soothing comfort during the journey to recovery. After surgery, I kept it in the freezer for gentle cold therapy to help reduce swelling. It was soft and gentle -- not harsh like ice cubes -- and made icing more pleasurable than not.

If you know of someone who is living with pain, or is recovering from back surgery, the gift a fun extra large Whale Back Warmer may be just the thing to bring relief and a smile.

Extra Large Microwave Heating Pad for the Back

Kicking the Sugar Habit

We love it in chocolate chip cookies, in ice-cream, and a whole range of delectable desserts. Go to Pinterest as see what gooey beautiful confections make your mouth water and send you clicking through to find the recipes..

White sugar, found in most recipes, comes from sugar cane, a tall grass that is grown in tropical climates. Large quantities of refined sugar can also be extracted from sugar beets, a crop once grown in Maine where the climate is anything but tropical. Small quantities of unrefined sugar can be enjoyed naturally in veggies and fruits.

The health benefits of sugar are zero. It packs energy in the form of carbohydrates, but lacks any nutritional value. Mixed with other foods, sugar adds appeal.

In small amounts sugar adds to quality of life. In large amounts it adds to the risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, tooth decay, possibly Macular Degeneration, skin issues, and more. Some claim that sugar is as addicting as heroin. Sweet alternatives to refined sugar are pure maple sugar, agave, and honey. But even with these, moderation is key.

If you find yourself craving sweets, nicotine, alcohol, or some other type of addictive substance, try some relaxation techniques instead – deep breathing, meditation, Yoga, exercise, or even a heating pads to help you physically relax muscles.

Maine Warmers Cozy Panda Bear Heating Pad

Maine Warmers offers microwave heating pads that are portable and safe to use, especially for those with diabetes. Their products range from traditional Neck and Back Warmers  to Hand Warmers a variety of attractive and fun Comforting Creature Warmers.

They offer easy, online ordering, or one may order by phone. 888-735-7485 

Dietary Decisions -- to take supplements or not

Well-meaning family and friends may recommend that you take dietary supplements to help you deal with health issues or pain. Often these people don't know the side-effects or actual active ingredients contained in them. The FDA does not have to approve supplements in order for them to be sold over-the-counter.

Your physician should be the best guide to determine whether or not you should take a supplement. Your eating habits may determine what you need for supplements. If you are on a restricted diet then you may have a vitamin deficiency, and your doctor may recommend a supplement. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and veggies might be better for you than taking supplements.

Age also affects how well you body absorbs vitamins and minerals. A lack of exposure to sunlight or the need to wear sunblock might mean that your levels of vitamin D are low. If you are pregnant, then it is critical that you maintain appropriate levels of  Folic acid. If the vitamin or mineral supplements you are taking are found in natural foods then you may be getting too much by supplementing. 

The National Institutes of Health has a more detailed article on “Dietary Supplements: What you need to know” and a fact sheet about supplements that offers in depth information about supplements.

They also issue Safety Alerts for foods and beverages, dietary supplements, and infant formula.

If you are thinking of taking an herb or supplement to help you relax, try using a little heat therapy instead of taking Velarian. Heat is one of the oldest and safest of home remedies. Maine Warmers microwave heating pads can also be frozen and used for cold therapy to reduce swelling. Try placing a Back Warmer on your feet at bedtime to help you relax and go to sleep. It is versatile and can be used to relax tense back muscles, stiff necks, and cramps or spasms.

Benefits of exercising with arthritis

Studies have shown that resistance training can help reduce the painful effects of arthritis and increase range of motion. Building stronger muscles around the joints, increasing bone density and, burning calories to help keep weight down are all added benefits of exercising with arthritis.

Three great articles from reputable Web sites, extol the benefits of exercise for those with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I found these online after reading an article in Arthritis Today, May-June 2013.

• Exercise helps ease arthritis pain and stiffness
• Rheumatoid Arthritis and Exercise
• How Weight Lifting Benefits Rheumatoid Arthritis

The idea is to start with a minimal routine and increase activity as your body adapts, and you are able and ready to go to the next level. A physical therapist can be helpful in the initial stages. He or she can tell you what to avoid, depending upon your specific needs. A follow up visit once a year or as needed might give you new information and exercise routines to keep the boredom at bay.

Maine Warmers Cozy Black Sheep microwave heating pad for the back

It only takes a few weeks to begin to feel the progress and see positive changes. You may sleep better and feel less tired during the day, thus feeling more mentally alert. If you have depression you may find it has lessened and that you have a better outlook on life.

When you exercise it is normal to feel some muscle stiffness.  A heating pad can help relax stiff muscles, increase circulation, and help with flexibility. Maine Warmers has Neck and Back Warmers and a variety of Comforting Creatures that offer a fun way to feel better. All of their products can be frozen and used as gentle ice packs.

Physicians offer better communication than medical web sites

Online diagnoses are not the real deal, although web sites, such as the Mayo Clinic, offer a lot of facts and information to help one find the right questions to ask. Your physician is your best bet. Asking reputable people for physician recommendations is also a must – especially when it comes to surgery.

If I had just looked on web sites for medical information about surgery for a bulging disk I would never have been able to decide whether or not that was a serious option for me. Talking with an orthopedic surgeon directly and hearing from the person who would do the surgery about exactly what it entailed, helped me to make the decision to have the procedure that finally eased the pain in my hip and leg. It turned out to be a 45 minute day-surgery with a two week recuperation period. Actually it was longer than two weeks recuperation, but from the moment I came out of the recovery room, I felt cured.

Maine Warmers' microwave heating pad and gentle ice pack for the back

All the Maine Warmers in the world couldn’t help what I had, but now that the surgery is over, I can enjoy the gentle coolness of a frozen back warmer to help reduce the swelling. Maine Warmers microwave heating pads make great ice packs because they are not harsh like ice cubes.

Maine Ice helps reduce swelling on the face an other sensitive areas. For those who have had prostate surgery and need a soft ice pack, check out Maine Ice -- it's not just for the face.

Check out their Comforting Creatures for a fun way to feel better.

Retired Service & Assistance Dogs Make Great Pets

She looked like she might tear your arm off in 2 seconds, but she was one of the sweetest dogs I ever met. A young German Shepherd, she was trained as a police dog because she would not bite anyone. She never graduated to active duty in a police department and was put up for adoption instead.

I helped my daughter-in-law one week end as she walked and fed this dog whose owners had gone away. On a walk, the dog heeled without being told, she stopped and sat at every road and looked both ways before venturing forth. She loved to play. I often thought that if I ever owned a dog I would find one that had been retired from a training program assisting someone who was visually or otherwise physically handicapped.

Guide Dogs of America say, “To be a successful guide dog, many factors including health and willingness to work come into play.  If a dog in our program does not meet all the proper criteria necessary to be a guide dog, they must be removed from the program.”

The waiting list to adopt a retired or what they call a “Career Change” Dog is less than the six year wait for a working guide dog to help with a disability.

They also recommend getting in touch with rescue organizations if you are interested dog adoption. Rescue dogs come with a whole set of issues, but can make great pets.

Other organizations that may help you locate a retired assistance dog:

Canine Companions

Guiding Eyes for the Blind

The Guide Dog Foundation

While you are waiting to adopt a dog, you might consider a Maine Warmers’ Dachshund. It will curl up on

Maine Warmers Cat and Dog microwave heating pads

your lap and keep you warm (if you microwave it for a minute and a half). There aren’t any vet bills to pay, no feeding, walking, dog hair, or picking up doggie doo-doo.

If you prefer cats, the same can be said for Maine Warmers’ Cozy Cat microwave heating pad.

Check out their other Comforting Creatures that provide comforting companionship for people with arthritis and other conditions that cause muscle or joint pain.

Cooling off with Maine Warmers

You're suffering in the heat of summer and you wonder why we recommend a Maine Warmer in this heat! If it's frozen, it will help you cool off gently. The whole corn filling doesn’t get as cold as ice cubes because the water content of the dried corn is less than water. It provides a soothing coolness that is perfect for chilling out on a hot summer night.

Store owner of New England Everyday Goods, Jim Therriault, in Peterborough, NH writes,

“I’ve been telling visitors who hover around the MaineWarmers display that they are not just for the microwave. In this hot sticky weather, nothing cools you down like a “frozen” Warmer. Put on in a zip-loc bag a few hours before bedtime and then take it to bed with you up by your pillow. Cools you down for a night of deep sleep.”

View all Maine Warmers products on one page.

Keeping Hydrated

Summer is a time when it is easy to get dehydrated. Water help your body function well. According to the Mayo Clinic, water dissolves minerals and nutrients and delivers them to the whole body via the blood, and blood cells need water to function. Water helps keep your body temperature regulated, keeps your joints lubricated, and flushes wastes out of your system.

If you don’t take in enough water to replace what you lose by sweating during exercise, while working, playing, crying, breathing, vomiting, or from diarrhea, you may feel tired and you may not function as well as you would if you were hydrated.

SpryLiving.com , July 2013, has some recommendations for staying hydrated.

• When you see a water fountain stop and take a drink. 
• Drink water during meals and in between bites. 
• Think of water as a type of vitamin and incorporate it into your routine. 
• Carry a bottle of water with you and sip on it. 
• Drink water while you drive (just keep your eyes on the road as you do).
• Drink before going to the gym, during exercise, and after. 
• Keep a glass or pitcher at your desk, and order water when you are dining out.

If you feel very warm and tired and have not been drinking enough fluids, stop and relax with a glass of Maine Warmer around your neck and enjoy relief from the heat externally while you cool your insides by drinking water. Or enjoy a fun Comforting Creature that has been store in the freezer.

water. Drink it slowly over a few minutes instead of all at once. Wrap a cooled (from the freezer)

Tips for Dealing with Pain

When you are in pain or just have discomfort from exercise, illness, a condition such as arthritis, or an injury, there are some things may help.

Remain as active as possible. Talk with a physical therapist or your physician about the things you can do to remain physically active.

Find a friend and go out for a walk, a cup of coffee, or lunch. Try to talk about things in the news, books you have read, movies you have seen, and inject humor into the conversation. Keep the conversation away from your health or pain.

Eat well. Include lots of fruits and veggies in your diet and go light on the sugar. You don’t have to give up sweets, just limit your intake to one small dessert a day instead of one at each meal.

Find something to do that you enjoy that will help keep your mind off your pain. Create art, play music, go dancing, sew, garden, read a good book -- something you love to do.

Find ways to relax. Make some iced or hot tea with Lavender. The flavor is wonderful and it may help to calm you down when you are feeling anxious. You may find lavender tea in some health food stores. Sometimes it is combined with chamomile tea.

Read more examples Natural Ways to Feel Better, Arthritis Today, March-April 2013, pp 52-54.

Check out this CD called the Art of Living with Chronic Pain, by Andrea Bowen (Pooka Publishing).

Cozy Sheep heat therapy for muscle pain

I found it helpful to hear her narrative about accepting one’s pain and then dealing with it. The exercises also helped me work through my back pain. 

Maine Warmers microwave heating pads help promote relaxation and provide a natural home remedy for minor muscle aches and pains. A Cozy Bear provides soothing warmth and companionship for someone who is feeling a bit under the weather.

Managing at home after surgery

Returning home from having surgery can be challenging but there are a few things to keep in mind to help make the transition easier according to Emily Delzell, (Arthritis Today, March-April 2013, pp. 50-51).

One, prevent pain from becoming overwhelming by taking medications as prescribed. Once pain intensifies it becomes harder to find comfort again.  Managing pain also helps during physical therapy so that you get the most out of the sessions.

Two, check for signs of infection including redness that worsens instead of feeling better, increased pain around the incision, and/or a fever of 101 or more. Call your physician if you suspect an infection.

Don’t expect to run around like you can conquer the world. Ask your doctor what kind of recuperation period you can expect. Someone who is in their twenties will bounce back faster after surgery than someone in their 60s or 70s. Keep the lines of communication open with your physical therapist and make sure to do the exercises. If you feel pain, don't do them. Discomfort from exertion is normal, but if you feel pain call your physical therapist and find out why.

As the swelling goes down and the muscles start to feel stiff from lack of use, try using a heating pad area before exercising to help with flexibility.. Maine Warmers sells a variety of microwave heating pads that can help relax stiff muscles, increase circulation, and help with range of motion.  Neck Warmers and Back Warmers are versatile and can be used for different body parts.

Simple home aids to help after surgery or injury

There are a few things to have at home that may help you manage simple procedures that, after surgery, seem like monumental tasks.

The National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus, Getting your home ready – knee or hipsurgery, offers many helpful suggestions for aids such as a reacher/grabber to pick up things off the floor or just beyond arm’s length.  Have a sock aid and a long shoe horn. Arthritis Today also recommends elastic shoe laces so that your tie shoes can be easy to slip on and off.

Either a portable toilet or a toilet chair with arms to fit over an existing toilet allows you to use your arms to steady yourself and prevent falls. Have grab bars installed next to the shower (do not use towel holders) and keep non-slip mats in the shower to prevent accidents.

Have a basket on your walker or wheelchair to carry things with you as you go from room to room – portable phone, pad of paper, pencil, tissues, and other essentials. Or wear a fanny pack.

Maine Warmers' Knee Pack -- Freeze and/or microwave

Have an ice pack handy to help reduce swelling. It is recommended that you do not place ice directly on the skin. Wrap it in a towel. Most health professionals recommend cold therapy for no more than 20 minutes at a time.

Simple gel ice packs can be purchased at a pharmacy. MaineWarmers’ Knee Pack is filled with whole corn and offers gentle cold without the harshness of cubes or frozen veggies. The Knee Pack will hold a one-pound bag of frozen peas or corn and has a strap to help keep it in place. Maine Warmers microwave heating pads and gentle ice packs come in a variety of shapes and sizes for backs, necks, hands and feet. Heat stimulates circulation and flexibility once the swelling has gone down.