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Gel Packs for Icing...LOTS better than frozen peas!

Posted , 9 users are following.

cheryl90571
cheryl90571

Hi All!

I have always used bags of ice or frozen peas, corn, green beans, etc. for icing ankles, knees, etc.

Recently, at my PT session I found that they had the same type of gel packs used there FOR SALE.

Since I go in for my second knee replacement Friday I decided to get my knees a PRESENT...two gel packs for icing!

My soon-to-be SURGICAL KNEE has really been acting up, so I used the gel packs tonight.

They worked SO WELL, and were very easy to wrap around my knees because they are about a foot and a half wide. I just wrapped each in a bath towel and enjoyed the experience without any drips or frozen peas escaping onto the floor!

They were pricey...$25 a piece...but the convenience, the great performance, and the ease of use definitely are worth every penny in my opinion!

Unlike ice the gel conforms to do a very efficient job of touching the exact areas you want them to touch.

I wish now that I had known about them sooner!

Oh, and they don't slide off like bags of ice always do.

The ones I got were Sammons Preston Cold Packs. No latex and all non-toxic ingredients inside.

They are like a PARTY for my KNEES!

1 like, 21 replies

21 Replies

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  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 cheryl90571

    Posted

    Be rather gentle with the gel pac as they have a heat treated seal and will leak if abused. Its not like having Ice water run out, its a rather gooey green slime that you can't reseal. I've have gone through a couple of them over the years but much, much better than messing wit ice bags. In addition to the other positives you mention, they refreeze in a very short time.
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Thanks for the tip on the gel pack care! I want them to last a good long time!

      How have you been feeling?

      How is your wife doing?

      We all appreciate you SO MUCH for your concern and especially your knowledge about so many things!

      Thank you!

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Hi! Thanks for asking. I'm doing as good as can be expect e d and maybe a little better a t times. ROM is right on target but leg strength is coming back slowly. I'm in therapy once a week and really get pushed hard. I had set my goals to be further along than I am but my therapist keeps encouraging me to move my October expectations to Christmas. My wife is going through another down time. Having a lot of GI problems due to the Parkinson's. They keep juggling the meds but without much success. It is just a slow, insidious disease that relentlessly moves forward.
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      It is so good to hear that you are progressing well. You sure have had a rough road. The leg strength will come. You are persistent, so we all know you will make it!

      So sorry to hear that your wife has hit a bad patch. She is very fortunate to have you supporting her and understanding her situation.

      Glad to hear you are still in therapy. My PT sessions have been incredible. My therapist is very tuned into my needs, and that has made all the difference.

      My TKR for the RIGHT KNEE is scheduled for this Friday. RIGHT KNEE has been really acting up these last few days. LEFT KNEE gets annoyed with all the DRAMA!

      Take care!

      So glad things are looking up for you with your legs!

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Good luck on Friday. It seems to be a common complaint, the good knee takes so much abuse during the recovery that it becomes a problem. I'm having the same issues for the 1st time, using as much ice on the good one as the bad. I dont think it a permanent situation but that doesn't take away the pain. Keep us posted on your progress this go round.
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Will do!

      Yes, I think at one point the PT was actually good for RIGHT KNEE. It helped strengthen, straighten and allow LEFT KNEE to do the work needed to recover.

      Then through all the PT then exercise at home and getting back to working around the house, going shopping, standing in lines, working outside again etc. , RIGHT KNEE just got EXHAUSTED and began complaining...LOUDLY!

      I plan to rest and ice with my new gel packs and have a nice cup of tea for the rest of the evening. Shhhhhhh!

      Thank you for the good wishes!

      I am SOOOOO READY to get going on RIGHT KNEE surgery and recovery!

      I will keep you all posted on how things go!

  • lfr33
    lfr33 cheryl90571

    Posted

    I had a PKR 2 weeks ago and have been using a home made gel ice pack which works brilliantly and costs pennies.  

    Take two zip lock bags

    Fill one with bag with 2 x mugs of water and 1 x mug of rubbing alcohol (you don't want the bag to be over full)

    Get as much air out of the bag as possible and zip lock it

    Place the bag zip lock end first into the 2nd bag, and removing as much air as possible, zip lock it

    Lay flat in freezer

    This has worked so well for me, the liquid doesn't freeze completely but it's colder than the frozen peas and more flexible, and certainly works very well for the 15 mins on my knee.

    And, as we say in the UK, it's cheap as chips!

    Lynne

  • nancybone64
    nancybone64 cheryl90571

    Posted

    Just curious,

    has anyone else receive an ice machine from their hospital? I was given an ice machine to take home and keep that you wrap around your knee using Velcro. You just add ice and water to the machine and it pumps cold water through it.    

     

    • ElaineA
      ElaineA nancybone64

      Posted

      I wasn't given a machine, but I was given a double ice pack sleeve with 4 gel refils that you pop in the freezer. It is about 18 inches long with a break in the centre, each side about 6 inches wide, to enable it to wrap around the knee and fastens with velcro. You put one gel pack in each side. I will be given another when I go into hospital tomorrow. They also give me a loo seat raiser.
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 nancybone64

      Posted

      In the US they seem to be a rarity. I have one because of having had a synovectomy which caused heavy bleeding. My understanding is most insurances including medicare (US) won't pick up the tab anymore.
    • ElaineA
      ElaineA Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      I looked them up on Amazon and here in the UK these machines cost £135 so they are expensive.
    • debz13
      debz13 nancybone64

      Posted

      Yes, I was "given" an ice machine. I don't use it anymore, but I was so grateful to have it for those first few weeks. Most of the people I know who have had TKR still have their machines.
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