Wellness

[colleena]

Absolutely hate using an ice pack but my pt person says to use 3 times/day while my hip bursitis is at its worst.  Any hints you have to make it a little more bearable?

[Justholdingon]

don't put the ice pack directly on your skin or it will hurt. wrap it in a thin cloth for a barrier between your skin and the actual ice pack. good luck and hope you get well. 

[Group 5 minus 1]

Ice pack in a small pillow case?

[gardenman]

Time is your ally.  Put the ice on and leave it and your body will adjust pretty quickly. In five to ten minutes you won't notice it much. I've used ice packs my whole life and if you just put it on, ignore it, and you'll forget it's there pretty quickly.

[rms1954]

I use the one that has a pocket and you can strap it on w/velco strap.  I got mine in CVS.

[Franklinbell]

@colleena @Hope you feel better soon! I use a bag of frozen peas and wrap it before I put it on my body. I re freeze the peas in a big ziploc bag so I know they are not for eating. I like using frozen veggies because it makes it more flexible around joints. I'm always icing something! Oh the perils of life!

[colleena]

@Franklinbell @rms1954  @gardenman @Group 5 minus 1 @Justholdingon   Thanks everyone, will give each a try.  I used my walking sticks, did a little over a mile this am but the ice pack on skin afterwards was like yeow.

[skatting44]

@colleena 

 using a bag of frozen peas is more pliable than some ice packs.

[chrystaltree]

I used a bag of frozen pees when I had my knee replacement and I wrapped it in a hand towel so it wasn't directly on my skin.  

[gizmogal]

I use a gel pack, not an ice pack. Very available in pharmacy first aid areas or medical supplies. Certainly can be ordered online from the big A.

A gel pack is squishy and gets cold without stiffening, stays cold, but flexible. I can apply it to conform to the body contour of a hip or knee or elbow with a thin cloth or a tee shirt wrapped around it to keep my skin from discomfort. The gel packs retain the cold, they don't melt or drip, and they are not stiff or heavy.  

If I need a heat application the gel pack can be put in the microwave briefly and it then retains warmth. Serves dual purpose depending on what therapy I'm pursuing. 

I'm not willing to waste a bag of frozen peas when gel packs are made for the purpose and can be reused over and over. Not a critic of the frozen pea method, but I think there's more practical and thriftier ways to be therapeutic. 

I sure hope your hip feels much better very soon.