ThermotexHeating Pads Platinum Infrared Therapy

I use Thermotex and Venture IR heating pad brands, here are the pros and cons. Overall IR heat works very well for me. I get results within about an hour of muscle flareups. After getting such great results I now own multiples of both brands.Thermotex Platinum Pros:Heat goes the deepest of any brandYou can use directly on skinHas calmed muscle flareups, headaches, migraines related to myofascial pain syndrome.It's fairly stiff, but you can fold it aroundCons:Takes about 5-10 minutes to warm upCan’t sit on it or you’re not supposed, must lie on itIt can be hard to hold it on some areasLong term reliability is not great. A section on two different pads has stopped working. One pad was under 1 yr warranty, so I sent it back and they replaced the inside, but shipping to Canada was pricey. The other pad was past the warranty. Definitely get the extended warranty on their website. Thermotex customer service is excellent.Venture IR Largest Heat Pad Pros:Can fit around anywhereCan sit on itAuto shutoff, with a shift to cooler temperature at 1 hr.10 hour auto off (not sure why 10).Small size is 30 minutes auto off (1 hr would have ideal)Can be set up with a battery pack, to make it portable. I did this with the small size.Cons:IR heat doesn’t go as deep as ThermotexYou cannot use on bare skin, which is more inconvenient than I thoughtThe power light is extra bright. On the large one it dims though.

I have a back overuse injury that I need fixed ASAP, so I tried this heating pad (Platinum version). While the pad isn't large enough to warm my entire back, my injury is mostly in my mid back. So, it works, but It would have been nice to get my lower back at the same time.After reading reviews, I was hesitant about the level of heat that this pad would provide. But the heat is enough for me. It penetrates and raises my core temperature. When used for the duration in the instructions, I start to sweat.The strap fits around my chair and can hold it in place at the correct height. The instructions suggest using it a few times per day. With a warmup time around 15 minutes, and around 45 minutes per session, the time can add up quickly. But if i am going to be working at my desk anyway, it is fine. I paired heat therapy with strengthening and mobility exercises, and it does seem to work well.Cons:- price- slow warmup time of about 10-15 minutes- smallish sizePros:- penetrating heat- improved blood flow- moderate pain relief- easy to position using straps

Thanks to this device, I can touch the floor when bending over. I can get increased movement in my neck (more cracking and popping, less restricted range of motion), seems to be better circulation to my arms / neck / back just by using this on my upper back. More than a few times I've used this to help alleviate acute upper back pain and decrease pain for muscle overuse strains in my mid-back.That said, when I want to use it on the top of my shoulders, on the side of my hip, part of my neck, etc, it's awkward, difficult or impossible to get good, comfortable placement. The heating elements, or the thing that surrounds them, is quite stiff and large, so there's not a lot of flexibility. You may need to prop pillows or leverage different things to get decent coverage for some use cases.In fairness, I primarily use this while I'm working, so my usage options are limited to how I can work with it sitting on a chair of some kind. Maybe if you were relaxing, watching TV, laying down or something more flexible than sitting in a chair to work, you could manage getting coverage on a smaller / rounder surface area more easily.The design and quality is solid, the plug is solid, strong and not too short. If I need some length or flexibility due to the cord length, I use a heavy-duty plug strip with longer cable.If you're looking for a "hot" heating pad, this is not that. If you're looking for a heating pad that can produce results in terms of improving flexibility, this can work to that end. It has for me, anyway.I go back and forth on whether this is "worth" the $250 or whatever price it is now. The thing is, the only time I have that debate is when I'm not in pain needing something to provide some modicum of relief. This device has helped me numerous times, and while I don't use or need it every day or even every week now, I don't think I'd want to be without it.

Been using the Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad – Platinum for a little over a year.During that year my wife and I have switching between a handmade pad filled with rice that you heat in the microwave, a generic $30 electric heating pad from Walgreens, and this Thermotex. The Termotex is by far our least favorite. It has several problems:1: It takes a long time to warm up, about 10-15 minutes.2: It is uncomfortable and not very form fitting. It’s made up of three plastic panels wired together. Each panal is inserted into a pouch in the cover. Each panal is very ridged. The cloth cover can fold in two places, so it can fold around a straight limb. But if you have a spot on the side of your neck, or the top of your shoulder it will not be flexible enough to reach it.3: It gives very little perceived heat. And there is no low/med/high. Just on/off. Just to note, it uses 14 watts.4: The manufactures says not to lay on it or it can be damaged.5: The heat feels no different than any of the other pads we have. Except that it’s not much heat at all. Thermotex markets it as such: “After just 20 minutes of use, the soothing infrared wavelengths penetrate up to 2.36 inches into the applied area.” I believe some infrared might make it through the black cover. But I can feel the cover getting warm, and when I press into the pad I feel more heat. That makes it seem that a lot of the power is just going to heating the pad up, and not emitting infrared light.6: The heat is very mild. You can hardly feel the heat. I would often check the power switch to make sure I didn’t flip it off. Unfortunately it was always still on. The best way I can describe the heat is when you are up and walking about and you steal your wife’s seat while she goes to get something, it’s that kinda warm, and it’s gone in 30 seconds to a minute. It is not the kinda warm like: I feel like an icepick is lodged in my back and I need the closest thing to burning me to dull the pain for 2 minutes to loosen me up. If you need this kind of quick relief take an old sock and fill it halfway with rice, tie the open end up and microwave it to your desired heat and lay it on/lay on it for 1-2 minutes. Be carful to not burn yourself. Cost is only an old sock, 50 cents of rice, and the power to the microwave.7: My wife and I don’t find any relief from the Thermotex. Our other pads do a much better job of wrapping around and heating the affected area.8: It is expensive! I’m no stranger to paying for a premium product. But I expect a premium product to be user friendly, comfortable, and most importantly: work! We found it did not do any of these.I thought it might have a longer lasting affect for deep tissue or bone/joint pain. I’ve had those kind of injuries or pain 3-4 times. Each time I used the Thermotex for multiple days. I feel it caused more discomfort and problems trying to use it then if I had nothing. If I didn’t use it I at least would have been comfortable and been able to relax the whole time. Instead I struggled to get it in the right spot, I was uncomfortable, and I felt no relief. My condition improved once I gave up with the Thermotex pad, took Ibuprofen, stretched, and did mobility exercises for the same period of time as using the pad. Felt much better after that.All that to say, it doesn’t work well and is not worth the money.

Pros:The Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad – Platinumm is an excellent product that heats noticeably deeper than standard heating pads. It uses far infrared technology to penetrate deep into the body's tissues, providing therapeutic heat to help alleviate pain and discomfort. Unlike many heating pads, it doesn't feel burning hot next to the skin, which makes it more comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Additionally, the heating pad helped you recover from a back injury quicker, which is a testament to its effectiveness.Cons:One downside of the Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad – Platinumm is its cost, as it is more expensive than a typical heating pad. Additionally, the heating pad is thick and not the most comfortable to lay on, which may be a concern for some users. It also doesn't bend very well around limbs, which may limit its effectiveness for certain types of injuries or conditions.Overall, despite the high cost and slight discomfort, the Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad – Platinumm is an excellent choice for those who need deep and penetrating heat therapy for pain relief and injury recovery. The benefits of the far infrared technology and the pad's effectiveness in aiding recovery make it worth the investment.