CareOne HeatWraps Leave My Back in Agony

You have a reacurring issue with back pain since you've used other
brands over time. If that is the case, it doesn't matter what you
use, if even for a temporary fix to get to an appointment, although
I'm not sure how you did that since you had to "crawl on the floor" to
get scissors to open the package....that's unnecessary
dramatics.......but I digress............have you considered looking
into the bigger picture as to why you have back pain in the first
place? I'm sure you have. Doc in the box remedies NEVER work. We
all know that. Deal with the bigger issue and save your letter
writing antics for something more important.

I know that heat feels good, but you really should use cold. Heat
makes the swelling worse, cold brings it down. I know, totally
unrelated to the letter, but just thought that you might like to know.
Hope that you are feeling better.

I use "thermo" pads alot! Sometimes I get relief, sometimes I don't..
depends on what is affected. If it is muscle related, I do get relief,
most times. If it is bone related, not so much. But, I do have to say
that when I feel the "heat" it gives me comfort, even if it is just
psychological.

Not to feel even a warmth, is a waste of time and money! Glad you
wrote this letter and was happy to see you got a response!

BTW.. my heart goes out to you..hope you have found some pain relief!

You couldn't manage to wressle the PLASTIC open, so you had to CRAWL
around the house to find the scissors?

Save the dramatics...

I'm not trying to be mean here, but if you were in such agony that you
had to crawl to get a pair of scissors, how the heck did you manage to
get to a store, purchase this item and get back home???

GREAT letter!! Very well written.

I hope your back if feeling better now.

Deborah,

Thank you for contacting the Perrigo Company.

We are sorry hear that you were dissatisfied with our Heat Wraps. We
would like to obtain more information regarding this issue so that we
may evaluate your complaint. Please contact us and use the case
number printed on the subject line as a reference for this issue. We
can be reached by phone at 800-719-9260, Monday through Friday 8am -
8pm ET.

Regards,
Jose
Perrigo Consumer Affairs

**********************

I got this response and I called Perrigo and spoke to them. They had
a bunch of questions for me... to make sure I was using the product
properly. Did I sleep with it on? Did I use it while laying under a
blanket? Did I use any heating rubs or creams?

So who knows what's going to happen now. At least they are not going
to make me send it back. LOL.

GREAT letter - the OP says what the problem is (and doesn't threaten
to sue or say that it's discrimination), specifies the batch in case
that's the problem, and ends politely.

As someone with chronic pain, I can tell you that the invention of
those heat wraps should get someone a SERIOUS award or grant... or a
statue. They make it possible to leave the house when the pain is bad
(and when it's pain that can be treated with heat and not ice).

A heating pad costs about as much as three or four boxes of Thermacare
and lasts a lot longer... but I can't drive with a heating pad (nor
could I work, and still have the heat on me constantly at the copier,
at the file cabinet...)

I really hope you feel better soon. And I'm sorry the product sucked.
Thanks for letting us know; it's a generic I won't try in my quest
for low-cost relief.

You may want to go to the doctor's office or chiropractor and get this
checked out. You might have more than a muscle issue.

Just a consideration.

Hope your back heals quickly.

I sympathize with you,I have had lower back pain issues for years and
I know how bad it hurts.I take non-prescription Advil(which works for
me,strangely enough)and went out and bought a heating pad.I do
sometimes use the Thermacare heating wraps but only if I have to leave
the house.
The heating pad is wonderful.You may have to hunt for one but it is
worth every penny and it feels good!

You know, I think I have (ooh yeah, right there, vc) the best solution
to your back problem. Hold on... vc's working my lumbars for me...

Oh yeah, that's the sweet spot.

Anyway, as I was saying, get yourself a young, hot, boytoy to work
those kinks out of your back for you. I made vc go to massage therapy
school just for that purpose.

Bon Appetit!

I haven't had much back pain, so I can't relate. Thus, I have no
advice to give; but I hope your doctor's appt goes well and that you
feel better soon.

Great letter though. They definitely should know about the product's
limitations.

Although I don't experience back pain, I do suffer from cramps once a
month :s Last month, I ran out of my portable heating pads, so I
grabbed one of my husband's (clean) tube socks, filled it with rice
(not minute rice) and threw it in the mircowave for about 1:30-200
minutes - it worked amazing!!! (I also threw some cinnamon in there so
it smells good)

I hurt my back last week. May I recommend "Icy Hot" patches. I had
forgotten I had them in the house and put one on my back. Within
minutes I could feel it working and by the next day I was almost 100%.
Hubby pulls his back out often and these are the only thing that
really works for him.

Your letter is very well done, it explains how the product was
inferior, includes the pertinent information they need, in case others
have complained and it was a bad batch. I tried nex care when it first
came out and found it didn't perform as well as the Thermal Care line.

I do hope you hear back from them and that your back gets better soon.

Do like I do- see a chiropractor and buy a big old fashioned heating
pad. Nothing beats the two- not even drugs.

I know when you're in pain, the last thing you want to hear is that
it's all in your head, but John Stossel did a report on this awhile
ago, and it was pretty convincing. Here's some info about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tension_myositis_syndrome

I usually try to be funny, but I shall take a break and get serious
for a bit; I too used to suffer from horrendous back pain.

#1 Try to maintain your activities as close to normal as possible; it
might hurt, but it definitely helps you heal faster.

#2 Heat doesn't do squat, those pads only offer relief while you are
on them, as soon as you get up..pain.

# My last back incident was over 10 years ago, I used to get em 2 or 3
times a year. I wretched my back while shoveling snow, it was so bad I
couldn't even dress myself. A very good doctor asked me if I wanted to
be healed, of course I said yes.

Seems as if most back pain is from muscle strain and tightness and we
never relax our bodies enough for the muscles to properly heal
themselves. He gave me a single Valium and I slept for a long time.
When I woke up, the pain was gone and never came back.

You may wish to ask your doctor if this treatment might be right for
you.

Thanks for the heads-up about this product. I remember your previous
letter about how much you loved CareOne. I wonder if that particular
heatwrap is defective. There's no excuse for needing scissors
though.

I realize an old-fashioned heating pad isn't portable, but it's
probably more effective. Just be careful you don't burn yourself. If
you're in enough pain and taking pain medication, sometimes you don't
realize the pad is too hot.

Hope you made your appointment.