Dangers of Heating Pads!!!

Crew · Jan 13, 2009, 01:10 AM

Hello I go by ThaCrew

I know common sense tells you not to use a heating pad to the point that your back burns. I have burned my back to the point that I've burned myself under the skin.

Please be careful with those heat pads!!! My back will never go back to regular skin again.

My doctor said to quit using the heating pad and I really watch it now. You may be wondering if I have lost my marbles. Maybe! All I know is that I have to get past my pain today and I will almost do anything!

JUST Be Careful with those Heating Pada!!! ThaCrew

krzyk101 · Jan 15, 2009, 04:10 AM

Hello, 'thacrew'

I am really sorry to hear of the injury caused to you and appreciate that you are thinking of others and sharing your experience with others. That is kind to think of others, especially those who may not be familiar with heating pads or the dangers they can come with.

I believe they recommend some sort of moist heat, type heating pads. I do not use them much any more as I am prone to fall asleep on them and become injured, however I do have one that wraps around my neck, shoulders, and upper back and fastens with velcro in the front of my neck, and the reason I do try to use it still is that it has a safety feature of an auto shut off that goes from high gradually down to low and then turns off in a matter of time.

Thanks again for sharing, and hope you are having reduced pain levels today.

brephi · Jan 26, 2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaCrew

Hello I go by ThaCrew

I know common sense tells you not to use a heating pad to the point that your back burns. I have burned my back to the point that I've burned myself under the skin.

Please be careful with those heat pads!!! My back will never go back to regular skin again.

My doctor said to quit using the heating pad and I really watch it now. You may be wondering if I have lost my marbles. Maybe! All I know is that I have to get past my pain today and I will almost do anything!

JUST Be Careful with those Heating Pada!!! ThaCrew

ThaCrew, I understand where you are coming from with the heating pad. For the last 3 years I was under such excrutiating pain from my lower back that I used 2 heating pads. I was do desperate to relieve pain from a herniated, bulging lumbar disc that I actually adjusted the heating pad to the lowest temperature setting and slept with the moist heating pad strapped to my back so that I could get some kind of relief. Mind you I am diabetic

so I knew better. Let me tell you what happened, the sponge insert on the outside of the heating pad melted.

Take my advice and use moist, hot towels or some of the pain pads. The one that I swear by is Salon Pas. You can get that from Walgreens. It may help you. Any by the way you are not crazy, just trying to get some pain relief. I really understand and sympathize with you.

wickedwings · Feb 04, 2009, 04:37 PM

I so know what you're talking about. My 90-year old grandma did that months ago. She's ok, just got a little burnt. She healed up just fine - really well for a 90-year old, lol. Anyway, it's good that you put a word out to warn others.

Capp · Feb 05, 2009, 02:50 AM

Thanks for sharing about this danger...

It's one of the biggest reasons that I use a rice sock instead.
I've found it to be easier to use and it does help me.

Cap

(JD) · Feb 05, 2009, 07:11 PM

I do use heating pads from time to time. The "official" directions are quite interesting. Did you know you are NOT to sit or lie down on one? So I guess if you need to put one on your back, you are to literally put it ON your back, and not you on it.

I don't have good feeling about my body, so I do have to be careful about high heat etc. By following my physical therapist's guidelines of ONLY 15 minutes at a time, I prevent major problems (such as burns, building up a sensitivity so the heat doesn't help as much in the future etc.)
It is the same for ice packs. Any type of help is best used for 15 minutes at a time, 15 on, 15 off, 15 on etc.

hydrocare · Apr 06, 2009, 04:29 PM

Oh my! I'm sorry to hear that, and I really appreciate the warning. Hubby started using it and I don't want him to get burned instead of comfort.

Thanks for the heads up, be safe.

twiggy123 · May 14, 2009, 08:28 PM

Keeping a heating pad on for a long period of time can also be bad for fibro. I used one for months and the Dr. said that it was swelling the area and making it worse. Use one for limited times and use a low setting. I do love my heating pad!!

January · May 15, 2009, 11:11 AM

I use a special heating pad that has a built in safety feature that turns the pad off in time before it can burn you. My favorite place to sit while using it on my back is in my recliner. I lean against it but it always turns off before it gets too hot although it does get nice and warm. I wait a little while and then turn it back on and usually, before it's time to go to bed the pain is down to a somewhat manageable level.

I hope you feel much better. Will your Dr. give you a script for Silvadine cream? It's a wonderful burn medicine that takes the burning sensation away almost immediately.

Jan

Monty_girl · May 17, 2009, 11:40 AM

It's not just the heating pads to watch out for. My husband burned his back pretty good and is actually scarred from a thermo wrap. The kind that heats up it's self and you put them on. He put one on after pulling a back muscle and wear it to work. I guess he had it on longer then he should of. But since it wasn't a "heating pad" that was plugged in and all he thought it wouldn't get hot enough to burn him. But he was burned bad enough to have a scar now. So just a heads up. Might not want to fall asleep with those on as well.

nightbird · May 17, 2009, 03:41 PM

I found out that if you have had radiation, applying a heating pad is not the thing to do. Even hot water in a bath can cause harm.

So be sure, when applying a heating pad, that it is appropriate for your usage to begin with.

Peace and Wellness,
Night
xoxo

LovinbeingaMommy · Apr 19, 2012, 08:41 PM

Hello...I was wondering if you had any pictures of this??...I have something on my back that has showed up that I have no clue what it is...I have ALOT of back pain and regularly...I use my heating pad everyday....I fall asleep on it very often...It has a shut off timer so I didnt think burning was an option...But I am pretty worried about my back...Its not really red...Looks more like a bruise...If you could email me some pics or something to tell me what it looked like...Thank you so much....

LovinbeingaMommy

Jun 17, 2012, 05:34 PM

I use a heater on my back, and also those wheat packs, and have done the same! Skin is all discoloured etc, and I was told that it wouldnt go back. It does fade a bit in time tho, as I discovered a few years ago when I managed to cope without heat. Back on it now tho!!
Tbh, I dont really mind, anything to help with pain, I get that needy! Another doc said they called it old ladies disease, he meant the old ladies who sit too close to the fire end up with mottled burned skin on their legs.

-jimi- · Jun 17, 2012, 08:46 PM

I must be lucky. My heating pad has three settings, the lowest is mildly warm, and the highest is quite warm but not enough to burn you. Also it automatically shuts off after 30 minutes.Also have a microwaveable rice pad, it sort of can't burn since it only gets colder, not hotter.

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