For patients suffering from pain in the back or neck heath and cold therapy is often a go-to solution for easing that pain. Properly applied it can be a saving grace for those who live with the pain daily, but some patients balk at the high cost of some over-the-counter items that are meant for this purpose. Thankfully hot and cold packs aren’t difficult to make, and are just as effective at applying heat or cold to the affected areas as their more expensive counterparts. Below we have some great cost-saving ways to help combat your spinal pain with hot and cold.
Homemade Gel Ice Packs
These are the ones that most often throw patients off when they’re told they can be made at home. Gel seems like a strange and complicated material that can only be made in a lab, but its really easy to make them right at home. All you need is rubbing alcohol, water, and a couple durable freezer bags with solid seals to make your own. 2 cups of water mixed with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol placed in a freezer bag (double bagged for security) and frozen will take on a gel-like consistency that is perfect for applying cold. These are best applied wrapped in a towel to avoid damaging the skin.
Homemade Moist Heat Packs
If what you’re looking for is a source of moist heat to apply to your spinal aches and pains, then try this little design. Moist heat is a popular alternative to dry heat since it doesn’t dry out the skin and allows heat to sink into the places you need it more effectively. To make a method of doing this at home all you’re going to need is some container made of cloth (old unmatched socks are perfect) and 4-6 cups of some sort of filling. Rice, oatmeal, flax seed, buckwheat, and other grains are perfect for this as they allow moldability and hold heat very well. Put this grain into the container and tie it or sew it shut to keep it from escaping. You can then heat it up in the microwave to warm it up. If you want to try some aromatherapy along with the moist heat, just dose the material with an essential oil of your choice before microwaving it. Job done.
Spinal and neck pain is no laughing matter, and it can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Using at-home treatments like cold and moist heat can help you avoid relying on pharmaceutical pain-killers by reducing how often you need to take them. This allows the pain-killers to be more effective and reduces wear and tear on your liver, keeping you healthier longer and getting better relief when you need it. Dr. Diana Wilson at Neurosurgeon and Spine of Fort Worth, TX works closely with patients like you to improve their quality of life and reduce their dependency on pain killers in treating their back and neck pain. Call today for a consultation.
FAQs
Homemade Gel Ice Packs
2 cups of water mixed with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol placed in a freezer bag (double bagged for security) and frozen will take on a gel-like consistency that is perfect for applying cold. These are best applied wrapped in a towel to avoid damaging the skin.
How to make gel ice packs at home? ›
Homemade Gel Ice Packs
2 cups of water mixed with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol placed in a freezer bag (double bagged for security) and frozen will take on a gel-like consistency that is perfect for applying cold. These are best applied wrapped in a towel to avoid damaging the skin.
How to make a gel heating pad? ›
To make your own moist heat pack, you'll need a cloth container like a sock or fabric, 4 to 6 cups of flaxseed, oatmeal, or another filling, and a thread and needle. Take your cloth container and fill it with your filling of choice. Then, sew or tie it shut and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes.
What are the ingredients in gel ice packs? ›
Reusable ice cubes are typically filled with distilled water. The gel beads in ice packs are usually made of sodium polyacrylate, which can be irritating if swallowed. Some early reusable ice packs contained very toxic substances such as diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol (antifreeze).
What filling makes the best cold pack? ›
Great fillers that will get cold but not freeze
Bag of peas: Mark as a cold pack, not food! Once in and out of the freezer it's no longer safe to eat. Water balloons: Use a small one that won't be too heavy when frozen. They are great for wrists, hands and feet.
What is inside a gel ice pack? ›
What is the Composition of Gel in Ice Packs? The gel in gel packs is typically composed of water and sodium polyacrylate, a super-absorbent polymer capable of holding significant amounts of water. Manufacturers may also utilize synthetic super absorbent polymers like chemically-altered cellulose.
What supplies do you need to make homemade ice pack? ›
To make gel ice packs, all you need is a quart or gallon of plastic freezer bags, two cups of water, and one cup of rubbing alcohol. Once you fill the freezer bag with the water and rubbing alcohol, get the air out of the bag and close it. Then, place it in another freezer bag and leave it in the freezer for an hour.
How do you make a heating pad for a hospital? ›
Fill a ziplock bag or sock with barley or oats, which will also hold heat well and mold to your body. You can add dried herbs or florals like lavender for a relaxing scent. You can make a reusable compress by sewing two rectangles of an old pillowcase or shirt, or scraps of fabric.
How to make a warm moist pack? ›
Wet both towels with water. Squeeze out the excess water until they're just damp. Put one towel in the ziplock bag, being sure to leave the bag open. Place the bag in the microwave for about 2 minutes.
How to make moist compresses? ›
Instructions:
- Wet the towels.
- Ring out excess water.
- Place towels in a heat-proof bowl.
- Microwave the bowl for 2 minutes.
- Using tongs, transfer the hot towels into a plastic bag.
- Seal the bag.
- Use as a warm compress.
- For extra comfort, wrap the plastic bag in a pillowcase or towel.
Inside meal delivery ice packs you'll often find a whiteish, gel-like substance. Two popular companies, HelloFresh and Home Chef, publicly confirm this is mostly water, with a small amount of a substance known as sodium polyacrylate.
What liquid is in ice packs? ›
Almost all ice packs contain water and some amount of propylene glycol, a chemical commonly used to reduce the freezing temperature of water. It is commonly found in antifreeze and airplane de-icers.
How do you make homemade gel packs? ›
How to Make a Gel Ice Pack
- Pour ⅓ cup of rubbing alcohol and ⅔ cup of water into a plastic bag. ...
- Squeeze out any air, seal the bag tightly, and mix the rubbing alcohol and water.
- Place your bag in the freezer for a few hours. ...
- Use your gel ice pack on sore muscles and joints.
Explanation: The Most Efficient Cold Pack Material: The most efficient material for a cold pack is one that can absorb a large amount of heat quickly, without getting too cold and freezing. This material is typically a mixture of water and a salt, such as ammonium nitrate or calcium ammonium nitrate.
Which is better ice pack or gel pack? ›
Interestingly, the freezing time of gel pack stored in a freezer before application affected probe temperature, with a freezing time of 36 h being the most effective freezer time before application. Conclusion: Gel packs were more effective at cooling than ice and water combinations.
How to make a gel ice pack without rubbing alcohol? ›
As an alternative to rubbing alcohol you may simply use dish soap, which has a gel-like consistency and will also freeze/retain the cold. Another way to apply ice to your painful back is by freezing water in a Styrofoam cup, and then asking someone to rub on the painful area of your back to reduce inflammation.
Are gel packs as effective as ice? ›
Interestingly, the freezing time of gel pack stored in a freezer before application affected probe temperature, with a freezing time of 36 h being the most effective freezer time before application. Conclusion: Gel packs were more effective at cooling than ice and water combinations.
How do you make homemade food ice packs? ›
Pour 2 parts water and 1 part rubbing alcohol into a plastic freezer bag and freeze it for 1-2 hours. Or, fill a freezer bag with dish soap or corn syrup or 2 c (473 ml) of water and 2 tbsp (34 g) of salt. Freeze the bag for 2-3 hours. Wrap the ice pack in a towel.
