how can i make a homeade hot compress?

Question

my husbands knee hurts and i dont have heating pad... can i put a damp towel in the microwave

Answer 1

Put the towel in a plastic bag and be sure it is cool enough to handle before you pick it up or put it on his knee.

Answer 2

Yes I make my own heating pads, I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. What I did is, I got some heavy cotton fabric, sewing it into little pillow like squares and one long rectangle. I left a small opening that I could easily pour rice into. I have alot of herbs that I grow, so I dried ALOT of lavender and dried it. Mixing this with rice, just plain uncooked rice. I filled the pockets with enough rice and lavender to where it would lay nicely over my shoulders or knees. I then sowed the small opening up and put it in the microwave to heat up. I put it in for 1 minute, then turn it over for another minute. Nice and HOT! If you dont have lavender just use the rice. It stays hot for close to an hour.

It's good to alternate with cold compress especially if there is some swelling. Every 15 to 30 minutes. But try at least making a small one of these and see how well it works. I've made them for almost all of my sister and brothers. I have 7 sibling! So they love em'.

I hope this helps!!

Answer 3

Yes, you can heat a towel in the mivrowave. You can also heat clay in a microwave bag, wrap in a towell and apply. It lasts a long time.
Or you can place a bag of frozen peas in a pan of boiling water, turn off the heat, cover and let stand ten minutes. After use you can re-freeze and use as a cold compress.
Actially, cold compress might be better for his knees. Try that with the frozen peas first. If it doesn't help, try hot..

Answer 4

The rice bags do help. Ususlly for knees the quads are tight.
Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 5

Yes, you can wet a towel and put it in the microwave. Don't know wattage of your microwave, but try 1 minute and check to see how warm it is, then only go in 30 second increments until it is as warm as you want. Be careful that it doesn't get too hot!

Answer 6

throw some rice in a sock and tie, or sew the end shut. pop it in the micro for a few minutes, or you can put it in the freezer for a cold compress. the hospital where i had my son gave me one and it works great (even hospitals have them!! ha !!)