Electric Heat Pads

[Jo198919]

Hello

Recently, I have been using an ELECTRIC heat pad for my lower back pain which I find really useful.

I find it easier and more comfortable than laying on hot water bottle and I don't lay directly on it always wear a t-shirt or equivalent.

I have just been told that they should only be used for an hour or so a day as too much use can lead to something called toasted skin syndrome which impacts your blood vessels and cause inflammation in your body or possibly cancer?

Does anyone know whether this is true or just scaremongering? I am now reticent to use my heat pad for pain relief.

Thanks

[greekqueen]

Hi Jo, yes this is true, the condition is called Erythema ab igne. I had it this year and had it over a large part of my back. It does fade though. It is caused if you are too near to heat, it used to be caused when you were sat too near a fire.

Mines was caused when it was extremely cold and I couldn't feel the heat from my heat pad on the normal setting so turned it up, I do remember it being a bit too hot as it was burning me and this was over two or three nights.

I showed it to a GP and they confirmed it, the pattern is like a fishing net.

You can get it from any electric heat source but also from a hot water bottle that is too hot.

If you burn consistently and always have the skin pattern there is a risk of cancer in the future.

I still use mines but usually stick to the same warm not hot setting.

Hope this helps

Lila

[Batty1]

never heard that before… definitely should put a tea towel between your skin and heating pad.

[Stuart22022023]

well….. I’ve never heard of ‘toasted skin syndrome’ but, after breaking my leg very badly many years ago, I used a very gentle heat source overnight to ease the terrible ‘achey/arthritis-type’ pain I suffered with a few months after my leg had been operated upon.

It was a heated throw that didn’t get anywhere near as hot as say, a hot water bottle. After a few weeks of using this at night I got very, very dry skin, itchy, flaky, red and very irritated.

My knee surgeon said “stop with the heat now!! Use gentle heat for no more than 15-20mins at a time with a good 12-hrs in-between sessions.” In addition to this he told my GP to prescribe a particular POM moisturiser (can’t remember what it was) and to take better care of my skin in future. Yes, I felt thoroughly ‘told off’.

So, in short, I’ve not heard of TSS but have been told that heat for too long (as opposed to too much heat) is bad for your skin.

[Konagirl60]

Hello. I had a pinched pudendal nerve in my groin and the doctors I saw in Vancouver, Canada brushed me off. They didn’t believe that I had 24/7 burning pain.

First I started sitting on ice gel packs but as the condition worsened I used a heating pad.

I couldn’t sit without feeling electrocuted. It really HURT. I used a lounger that tilts back and put the heating pad in my crotch and lower right buttock area ( it was right sided ).

I went with a friend to see my doctor to specifically ask if the tissue in the area I used the heating pad was okay. She said it was.

My friend took me home and I asked her to look. She was shocked! I had blue marks all over the area. The GP lied!

They went away. I guess I’m lucky.

If I were you I’d used capsicum pain patches if you can find some. Good luck.

[loopy-lee]

Hi, I have a shoulder/back electric heat pad and I always make sure I have a thick jumper on and its on the lowest setting. Mine has a cut out after 30 mins, I think this is in case you fall asleep with it on. I would not stop using the heat pad if it gives you relief just maybe keep it on the lower settings for a shorter time. I have been using mine for over a year and I'm not going to stop using it, I just limit the time spent in one go.

Hope this helps x