Product Reviews – On the Run Pain Relieving Products,

Product Reviews – On the Run Pain Relieving Products,

While on the caregiving.com Bahamas 2013 cruise (still in Miami) we realized the one thing “I” forgot to pack was the one time use ice packs which I usually have 4-6 packed and ready, but with the limits place on airline baggage I figured we would pick some up when we arrive in Miami.  Lucky for “me” there was a Publix Market not a block from our hotel, which is where Trish (my wife) ran to pick some up the night I could barely stand up straight and took a lot too walk from the hotel rooms door to the bed.  To our surprise they do not carry the one time use, snap and shake ice packs I’m use to using so she came back with three different items to try, Missions Endura Cool Towel, Freeze It’s Pain Relief Spray and the Icy Hot Medicated Patch.  Over the course of the cruise I will try and give you a breakdown of these products, how well they work (or don’t) and if I would purchase them again.

I am going to start with the ENDURA COOL TOWEL.  The product claims that it will cool to 30 degrees below normal body temperature when wet.  The towel is approximately 2-1/2 feet long x 1 foot wide.  The directions are pretty simple and that is to get the towel wet, ring out and then snap the towel this activates the cooling crystals inside the towel.  I was very iffy of this and did not hold out much hope, however the towel proved me wrong.  The towel actually dropped in temperature by quite a bit and without a way to get an exact amount I’ll just say it was cold and stayed so for 20-30 min.  After which the directions say to snap the towel again to reactivate it or just get it wet again and go from there.  The cost was around $13.50, yet with the re-usable aspect of the product and that it works, that’s not to bad of a price.  I will have to give this product a    Very Smiley Face.

The second product I tried was the ICYHOT MEDICATED PATCH.  This product is a 7″ x 3-1/2″ (+/-) patch with one side having a sticky substance  that allows it to adhere to anywhere on a persons body.  The patch says it will last for up to 8 hours and I have to say I tried that out and it is a valid claim.  I accidentally fell asleep with it on and pushed into the 8-1/2 hour area and could still feel the coolness of the patch.  if you don’t think its working just stand in front of a fan.  The only issue I would give this product is that when the backing is peeled off it is very sticky so it adheres very well and is hard to put on by yourself if placing on your back or your shoulders, you definitely will need a friend to get it in just the right spot. And for that reason alone I have to give this product a   Marvin Needs Help Putting it On Face.

The final product we found was FREEZE IT, EZ SPRAY.  I give it to the manufacturer, the can is able to be sprayed in any direction (upside down, right, left or laying on it side which is a positive).  This pain relief in a can is fast acting in providing a cooling effect to the area sprayed, however there is a smell to it.  My experience was the effects were short lasting and I never was able to get a deep or even semi-deep relief of my pain no matter the number of time I reapplied it.   It felt more like a surface relief and that was all.  Again, this is only my experience, others may have a different more intense experience than I had, please understand that everyone’s pain, tolerance to their pain and what every steps they are currently taking to control it.  For the short acting time period and ease of application I am having to give FREEZE IT, EZ SPRAY a    Back to the Drawing Board to Make it Cooler Face.

So what I can say is that if there is a product out there that your use to and it works for you, make room and weight in your luggage for it or put it in your carry on bag to ensure you have it when you land.  If your like me, the minute you hit the hotel room your searching for the one time use, snap and shake ice pack to help get the travel spasms in line and the excess pain under control.  Finally I wold recommend each of these products but of course for very different reasons.  If your needing long term, re-usable, light weight go with the ENDURA TOWEL.  If you have a short time frame or if you have to continue working or playing and flexibility is an issue, the ICYHOT Patch meets your needs and if your just looking for a 15-20 min blast of relief, the relief in a can FREEZE IT can do the job.  Here’s wishing one of these products fits your needs or that you have found something that does, if so congratulations.   “PAIN WITHOUT HUMOR IS JUST PAINFUL”