(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best cold packs

I posted this in another thread but hope it helps you:

I had my hemithyroidectomy done 2 weeks ago and had never been under general anesthesia before so was also concerned. Pre-op, they gave me a gown, robe, skid-proof socks to wear, put in my IV. I was able to put my curly hair up in a top knot with a silk scrunchie (no metal) so it didn't tangle (listen its the small stuff!). I was walked to the OR (it's not like on TV!), give a hair net to put on, greeted all the surgical staff and then laid myself down on the table (again - SO WEIRD!). The anesthesiologist gave me an IV "cocktail" which felt like I had one too many drinks and then I was out. I came to when I was wheeled into recovery and complained about being woken from a REALLY good sleep ;)

The surgery itself was not nearly as bad as I thought it to be (and you read a lot of the negative experiences here). My voice is fine, my parathyroids are fine and I feel so much better than I did before. As someone else stated, the sore throat is 100% the worst bit of all of it. I didn't have to stay overnight but I only had my right side removed but I wasn't sure if I would go home so things I recommend:

- Have some good numbing cough lozenges (I had Cepacol: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FWS60RG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) or throat spray (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L4XC3I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and keep chewing ice, it'll help.

- Do not be afraid to ask for the good drugs from the nurse - it'll help to sleep a lot of the time.

- Wear comfy clothes. I was able to dress myself and lift my arms up to put things on (but they were super easy stretchy & loose clothes) but my sister had to help tie my laces as bending down wasn't as easy.

- Get some PJs that button down: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0772S54GH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- Comfy slippers/skid-proof socks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M24S9OF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- Comfy pillow to prop yourself up for the first few days - its easier to sleep sitting up higher as there's less pressure on your neck. I could sleep lying flat and on my side after 4-5 days.

- An ice pack that can stay strapped around your neck. I wrapped mine in a pillowcase first then used a velcro hair band to keep it in place. I got this from Amazon (so it can be used cold or hot): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CHLS3B3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- Silicone scar sheets for post-op (I can use them in about 4-5 weeks post-op): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P5G9PQD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- If you're a woman, I got these front close bras so I wouldn't have to lift my arms: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KKVLP2D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- A good thick lip balm. I like this one from Laniege but honestly anything you like will do: https://www.amazon.com/LANEIGE-Sleeping-Berry-Treatment-Qunce/dp/B00VR0Z0I4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=laneige&qid=1571934520&sr=8-1

- I took my Vicodin, Stool Softener (yeeeep it can cause constipation) with 1 Aleve (it's not acetaminophen) for the 1st 5 days at night only to ease my sleep but I didn't need pain meds after that.

Outside of sleeping a lot (recovering from surgery will do that), I was back to eating well chewed solids on the 3rd day post-surgery but that will all be on personal preference. You won't be able to shower for at least 48 hours so make sure to do that morning of if you can.

Most of all - good luck! You will be OK and the relief from having it out will be well worth it. I haven't had my bloodwork done yet to determine whether or not I will need medication (I know you will since its a TT) but that'll be the tricky part from what I've read. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions!

Currently going through this same issue. There's a few things I've found to give me some relief. I see in other comments that you're from Germany so I'll try to keep that in mind 👍

I use a gel ice pack that wraps around my neck. I also have a heat pack, but personally, the ice pack is much more relieving for my migraines.

Menthol cream like Biofreeze is a great way to give you at least a half hour of pain relief. Just rub some on your forehead, neck and maybe a little on your cheek bones, and you'll feel a cooling sensation that can really help you out in a pinch.

I'm fortunate enough to be in a state that has relaxed its medical marijuana laws, but I see that Germany is still keeping its MMJ close to the chest. Medical marijuana isn't for everyone, but it's worth looking into, especially since you're in a medication overuse predicament. There's a lot of different capacities medical marijuana comes in, at least in the States. I looked up some information about qualifying for medical marijuana in Germany if this is something that interests you.

Best of luck. This isn't an easy battle, but it'll get better.

EDIT: I also recommend the steroid taper for really troublesome migraines. I’ve gotten one mega-migraine per month recently and each time I’ve used a prednisone taper. My neurologist has his concerns about using this method too much, but so far it’s doing the trick.

Another thing I’ve thought of is ER visits. Sometimes you just can’t get any relief and your doctor isn’t readily available. I don’t know what the emergency healthcare situation is like in Germany, but in the States we have ERs in hospitals and standalone facilities. The standalone ER clinics are pretty badass, so if you have some equivalent to that I strongly recommend it. Most emergency rooms are armed with the “migraine cocktail.” It’s usually some combination of an anti-convulsant, anti-nausea, muscle relaxer, steroid, triptan or magnesium. You can tell them about your medication overuse headaches and they can adjust the recipe. Like I said, I’m dealing with MOH and going to the ER has helped me out, so I wouldn’t worry too much about their meds triggering another headache. It’s worth a shot, anyways.

First off, super sorry to hear this! I tore mine (and the meniscus) skiing Feb. 2016 and while I’m back to running, am still not 100%. Here’s my suggestions:

1. Everyone has already said it but do the PT. I went three times a week for 10 months and it makes a world of difference. It hurts. The squats, the leg raises, moving it again - it all hurts but the sooner you push through that the better.
   
   
2. Make sure you have a great surgeon and physical therapist. If you happen to live in Houston, I can give you some recommendations but do your research ahead of time on these people!
   
   
3. Focus on the food, which you can control. I felt sorry for myself and had trouble moving around so did a lot of takeout and bad food. I put on ten pounds and lots of fat because of the muscle atrophy. My body still doesn’t look the same. I also felt like I couldn’t “work out” so did nothing outside of the PT exercises for two to three months. The reality is I could’ve been doing arm weights and abs to at least keep strength there plus the bike at my apartment. Light workouts are better than none.
   
   
4. Don’t rush into running. I was so focused on getting back into doing the miles I did previously that I never truly got my form back. As I increased mileage and joined OTF, this led to a serious case of tendonitis in my foot late last year because I was compensating for the knee. I ended up freezing my membership and putting on some weight. Take your time to do it right so you don’t injure something else.
   
   
5. My PT’S favorite phrase is that “every surgery is different”. I would find myself comparing my progress to others at PT and he’d have to point out that the type of graft we had was different, as was our age, and our daily routines, etc. Your progress will not look like other people’s.
   
   
6. My two favorite purchases were an ice compression sleeve and ice cup - I still use both and they were by far totally worth it:
   https://www.amazon.com/COMPRESSION-Knees-circumference-Adults-Bundled/dp/B0744R4VF6/ref=sr_1_19_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520822621&sr=8-19&keywords=ice%2Bcompression%2Bknee%2Bwrap&th=1
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Cryo-Therapy-Inc-CryoCup-Single/dp/B004MNNLR0/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1520822688&sr=1-4&keywords=ice+Cup
   
   In hindsight I think I would’ve also gotten an ultrasound machine as those really helped with the pain.
   
   
7. If you care about scarring, make sure you’re religious with the vitamin E oil. I didn’t do too much of this as it seemed like my scars were fading on their own and weren’t super big (thank you quad graft!) I wish I’d done this more as they didn’t fade as much as I would have liked. They did stress not letting them burn in that first year or else you’ll never get them to fade. I use sunblock on them religiously.
   
   
8. Do your research on the type of graft you want. Your doctor will have a recommendation but you need to make sure you’re comfortable. The first doctor I went to was saying things that didn’t jive with what I’d read on the internet (like starting PT six weeks later when it should be started the next day if possible but definitely within the first week).
   
   It’s not the worst thing you can have happen to you but it does suck. Once you get past the first few weeks it gets better and I promise you’ll get back to your old self!

hahah well, you can laugh or cry, right? and yeah, im 19, so i should heal up pretty well. i'll be able to do about 90% of the things i want to.

1. yes, i take a lot of painkillers. especially the first few days, it is important to take them at the shortest safe intervals to stay ahead of the pain. if you wait longer than the shortest allowed times, it becomes a vicious cycle of pain building on itself. unfortunately, i had bad bone bruising each time, so i had lots of pain in addition to the surgery. i also purchased a special electric ice pump ( something like this ) which is an absolute lifesaver! id recommend one, especially if you are an unlucky fellow like me. injured friends also greatly appreciate borrowing them...
   
   
2. the surgery went well. i had some meniscus damage shown in the MRI, but the doc said when he went in it had healed itself! yay! however, my knee has been bleeding quite a bit under the wrap (not a normal thing), and i believe one of the stitches came apart. its not an emergency, but i will be going back to the doctor in the morning to have it fixed. AND as a matter of fact, yes, the doctor has been working with a slightly better procedure (for about a year and a half now) that i agreed to let him try. it is better for two reasons:
   A he only harvested one hamstring graft instead of two this time around. it is better because that leaves me with more hamstrings in my right leg (unfortunately, the first surgery used two out of my left leg). this will theoretically make the recovery time shorter, and, as you can imagine, leave the leg a bit stronger.
   B instead of tunneling through the bone at one point, he anchors the graft into the bone in both spots. it is better because i have no screws in my knee this time (even though they absorb eventually), and it is less invasive.
   
   
3. my family has to help me a lot for the first one to two weeks. it really isn't something you can go through on your own, you need a lot of help at first. just getting up to go to the bathroom is quite an ordeal right at first. i injured myself when i was off at school, and i had to wait to come back to my family to get surgery, as there was no way my roomates would have had the time to take care of me.
   
   
4. i do feel positive about my recovery. like you mentioned, im young, and i have a lot of things i want to do, so ill work hard to make a full recovery. seeing as i have done this once before, im a bit of an expert ;)
   
   i appreciate it! are you going to be going through this yourself?

I have recently solved my elbow problems, and I've definitely learned that everybody has a unique case of it; some solutions will not work for you. I still have slight problems when I'm really pulling hard on shitty holds, but it's getting much better over time.

I did three main things:

1. Ice. Like, every single day and at least twice. I bought this thing and use it morning night, and a third time on days that I climb. Inside of elbow, and outside. It stays the perfect temp for the right amount of time.
   
   
2. I bought an armaid. I was really desperate and it turned out to be worth it. I use it 4 or so times a week, for 15ish minutes each time. It's helped some friends as well.
   
   
3. REALLY INCREASE warm up/stretch time. I climb mid-11 usually, and so I feel comfortable warming up on 10a and below usually. Now, I start on 5.7 and below. Boulder lightly, hang on monster jugs, but take it slow. I used to warm up with one 5.9ish route, stretch for 2 minutes, and then hit 10+ to 11- right away...now I take 30 minutes to warm up.
   
   I also tried more push ups, and 1lb weight wrist curls, positive and negatives, and ibu. None of those seemed to have much effect for me. Good luck! Take a week off before starting these regiments.

Wow that's scary, hope you feel better and the clot is destroyed quickly. I'm guessing youre on stronger blood thinners? And how did they find the clot in the lungs? Its good you went to the ER when you did. I completely understand the frustration with the calf pain, it was annoying af.

I ended up going to the ER and got an ultrasound to. They didn't find any clots in my leg, but didn't check my lungs. I also didn't really have any signs of pulmonary embolism so it probably wasn't necessary. The ER doctors kept in contact with my surgeon which was nice, but were unable to give me a solid diagnosis. I finally had my post op with the surgeon a week later and he diagnosed it as a bad hematoma. Apparently my hamstring bled a lot during the graph, and all the blood pooled in my calf, eventually forming the hematoma. He still told me to monitor signs of a DVT, but to try and move around a reasonable amount to breakup the hematoma.

The calf pain was quite shitty for a solid 3 weeks or so but it got slightly better each day. I'm started walking crutch free (around 3.5 weeks post op) and now only a little bit of pain in my lower leg (closer to the ankle), but its definitely much much better. I found that elevating my leg helped a lot, same with regular icing. Also, do tons of ankle pumps.

​

These 3 products were really helpful:

https://www.amazon.ca/Milliard-Elevator-Cushion-Washable-Elevation/dp/B01BCQ7U5S/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=knee+pillow+acl&qid=1562975863&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07J1NCNNB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B06XZ5SBD1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

It was a bit painful using the knee pillow and took some getting used to but it helped tremendously. Ideally, you don't want to bend your knee much when sleeping, so I placed a small pillow under my foot at the top of this pillow.

The first ice pack is great as it stays nice and cool thanks to the insulation, and the straps work really well.

The second ice pack is great cause it wraps around your entire leg. I had 3 ice packs I rotated through, started off by icing my knee, then moved it over to my calf after around 20 minutes.

​

Hope you have a safe recovery man!

i am so so sorry you’re experiencing this; i know how maddening it can be when you get fixated on the ONE thing you know would bring relief and you don’t have access to it.

the bathtub helps me a ton too, and i’m not sure if this would work for you but often it helps me to put something warm directly on the vaginal area/perineum (through a layer of fabric of course!! don’t burn yourself!). it seems to relax the area and somehow sort of mute the pain signals down there.

i’ve had good results with a hot water bottle, but i’ve also now commandeered my bf’s bed buddy (he originally bought it for shoulder tension lol). it’s weirdly a good width to sort of lay between your legs, and i think the weight of it seems to help too. it’s also great because if you find out that a cooling sensation is more helpful, you can pop it in the freezer!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0722HW6PK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_51sADbF6AGT0K

having IC while unemployed can be brutal (i’ve been there! solidarity <3). if you can’t get the bed buddy right now, you can also literally just fill a sock with rice and microwave it.

good luck!! hoping you get some relief soon.

I had my tubal a month ago (started my first non-BC period in 10 years today... oh boy!). The only things I'd add to what /u/Hiwhatsupdoc listed include these:

• Consider a large ice pack instead of heat. Ice will help to reduce inflammation, and also can be mildly numbing. This is the type I use. I got it a few years ago because I have back problems and it helps that too.
  
  
• Bring your own period pad for when you are allowed to dress, just in case. I had an Essure insertion attempt before my tubal, so they stirred shit up quite a bit and I bled lightly for a few days.
  
  
• I cannot have codeine, so they did Tramadol for my pain meds. It caused me TERRIBLE cottonmouth. I drank tons of water, and ginger ale. So maybe stock up on hydrating drinks.
  
  
• Didn't ever feel that I needed laxatives, though it is something you should be prepared for. It took me about 36 hours post-surgery to have my first poop, and they were small for a few days, but I was never uncomfortable.
  
  
• Pets trying to lay on me was definitely a little difficult. I just kept pushing them off, redirecting them to lay on my legs or beside me.
  
  
• I was neither intubated nor catheterized. My procedure was done at an outpatient surgical center. I also never experienced the gas-shoulder-thing that a lot of women talk about.
  
  
• You might feel like the nurse who wakes you up is kind of mean because all you want to do is sleep and it is her job to get your ass up. I'm sure my nurse was as nice as she could have been but my drunk self felt like she was the meanest person in the world.
  
  I hope those points of my experience are helpful. Good luck!!! I've felt like a new, sexy, worry-free woman since I got my tubal done.

Can you feel the love tonight

I summon the lovely and gracious u/kyrira <3 You are very loved and appreciated. Please don't ever forget that.

___
Cheapest item on my "Wellness & Medical" list. Thank you for this contest!

I thought of something else you will want on hand. Actually, my husband thought of it when I was telling him about our interaction on reddit. I was giving him examples of the best interaction and worst interaction I had on Reddit that day. You were the best, obviously. :)

You will need Lots of ice packs or gel packs in the freezer to put on your incisions where they hurt, you will swell a bit at first. You will wear the binding they put you in for awhile. I can't even remember how long. I was doped up for awhile!:D I used packs we had gained from lots of teenage boys having their wisdom teeth out. I wrapped them in thin, flower sack kitchen towels or a pillowcase I had on hand. That is really only needed if you are applying the pack directly to your skin. You can use heat as well, I think, so a heating pad is good to have on hand.


I noticed this lightening deal for three ice packs, if you are a prime member on Amazon. I have not used these before, but they look like they'd work well. Especially with a bag of ice from a convenience store, rather than clumsy refrigerator ice. Again, congrats!
https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-No-Leak-Reusable-Post-Op-Therapy/dp/B01EH543WO/ref=gbps_tit_s-3_bb19_486f358a?smid=A23KD8V6Y9SIF7&pf_rd_p=41fd713f-6bfe-4299-a021-d2b94872bb19&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=V9CA65CV5MVHPS2X4H7X&th=1

Hers would flair up and turn blotchy/purplish as the rash went away (and stay that way for awhile even as the rash came back somewhere else). We were worried it would scar and stay that way but it all went back to normal. She has a scar from the biopsy though which sucks.

I feel for you.... Especially considering you might have awhile left if you're only 2 weeks into it. Did you have itchiness before? Hers started maybe 3 months into the pregnancy but got so much worse after she gave birth.

She really found the topical steroid cream they prescribed worked well but about the same as just Cortisone 10 that you can buy... But that only gave temporary relief.

She took Benadryl a lot since it was safe while breastfeeding but unfortunately with that it makes you tired... But she was at least able to sleep.

We also bought some of those ice packs that you can refreeze and then wrap around you. Those helped as well... Probably mostly by numbing but it did give her a bit of relief. Something similar to this

Good luck and hang in there. Hopefully it'll clear up on its own but if it's anything like hers was you might have another 4-6 weeks of it. The doctors were kind of useless... Not that I'm recommending ignoring them but in hindsight I wish she wouldn't have gotten the biopsy... Got a scar and our insurance didn't cover it and they didn't find anything anyways. Did a lot of running around to doctors and allergists and dermatologists.

ActiveWrap Hot/Cold Reusable Compress Therapy Wrist/Hand - Universal - OSFM #BAWH007 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YC01OE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hmyAzbKK5PNWW


Here's the link I got this for my mom for the same reason bc she has serious arthritis.. I was laughing when I saw bjergsen and hauntzer using it lol. It's a really awesome wrist warmer/ cooler, it helped her a lot. I hope it helps your mom :)

Just a quick tip: do not throw the packet in the microwave like bjergsen was saying, it gets way too hot and can burn you... it also ruins the packet.... Instead follow the instructions and put the packet that heats up into a small container with water in it and heat that up in a microwave. Doing this works much better as it doesn't ruin the packets and it does not get burning hot.

I'm a flight attendant. Get yourself a food bag. Ebags Crew cooler, luggage works, and strongman all make great one. To keep you food cool, get one of these... https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YBASCB4?psc=1

I make extra food when I cook and bring leftovers with me. Trust me, as a first year FA you're not going to want to spend your entire paycheck on overpriced airport and hotel food.

Good luck and welcome to the aviation family!

something like this could be really great! https://www.amazon.com/Redesigned-Therapeutic-Spa-Bead-Mask/dp/B019SCAWI0
there's a billion different types and colors (available pretty much in any beauty/health/drugstore), and the eye holes would let her wear it anytime and still be able to do other things. if she likes cold things, it can be put in the fridge before wearing! 😊

I messed with my DK2, and any kind of airflow really dries the eyes out. I think it's nearly as effective to cool the carotid arteries in your neck instead.

If you have dry enough air, you can just use a cooling towel or wet bandana around your neck like the military. I'd recommend trying that first, and also a frozen wet bandana (which won't last long.) Then, you'll know if you have to buy something non-drippy like these gel-packs, which are only good for 20-30 min each.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CRR7ZUM/

The real bonus is how a jaunty bandana or cooling towel completes your VR fashion look!

this is the same one i had, worked really well. i paired it up with one of these and used it as a buffer for later in the recovery period when there's no steri strips etc.

i also bought one of these and used just the outside of it to simulate compression therapy that the game ready machine does by simply pumping and deflating periodically throughout the icing session lol I'm sure its not as effective but if you read the description on the game ready that's pretty much what it does so in my head it made sense.

As you can tell i went into a bit of a panic and bought like $300bucks worth of ice equipment(i also got one of these ) and bands, but i used everything often and my recovery so far has been free of any setbacks (Fingers crossed) so i regret nothing.

Can't really address #1 but I'll take #2

• Warm up and stretch. Especially your quads and hammies
  
• Knee pads. The extra padding distributing the load when I'm kneeling always helps the pain when my knees would bug me
  
• Ice after training. Regular ice packs obviously work great but if you can afford it, I got one of these with my knee surgery and it is freaking great. Highly recommend it.

I have a giant bag of physiotherapy gel I keep in the freezer that stays cold forever (I think it can also be heated, but I'm not testing it). It isn't this one, but it is similar. I think I stole it from my parents when they were moving. I usually just wrap it in a towel and throw it on my head. But some sort of freezable gel is the way to go if you're going to buy a pack.

A frozen bag of peas or other veggies works pretty good too. We call our gel pack the headache peas.

6 years of rugby have done a number to my knees and things that have helped me in no particular order.

Icing with ice wraps after stressful conditions. (Plyo, basketball, etc.) The wrap surrounds the knee making sure you make contact with a larger area than a standard ice bag.

Using a sleeve with heavy leg days just to keep the knees warm.

A dynamic warmup followed by mobility work prior to lifting and I added another warmup set (3) before I go into my work loads.

Working out your muscular imbalances, specially your quad to ham strength.

Foam rolling your it band/quads/hams seems to get rid of most of the tightness.

Learn correct form for all of your lifts keeping in mind with foot positioning, keeping shins vertical, knees out, back straight etc.

As far as supplements I take, fish oil, krill oil, and glucosamine/chondroitin.

Also intermittent extreme compression. The brand of bands I use are called voodoo bands and they seem to make pain disappear. The name is very fitting cause you say this is really silly but after a couple of minutes you get real results.

I have been pain free for about 4 months now and it feels awesome.

Definitely check in to that, just to be safe!

In the meantime, as someone who also has no heat tolerance, I would recommend hats, lightweight, sun-protective clothes (even just a light button down shirt that you can wear when you are outside can help) keeping up with the water intake, and maybe ice packs. There are cooling patches like this that just stick on, you could freeze ice packs to take with you, and you could also keep a few instant ice packs with you as well. (I am planning to try out the instant ice packs when I go on vacation in August. Indianapolis the first weekend of August is HORRIBLY hot and humid!)

Edited to add: I forgot about cooling towels!

Hi,

If you're feeling discomfort, get more hydrocodone and order the huge ice packs they use at the physical therapy clinics.

In 2010 I had a L4-L5-S1 disc fusion... it comes with a cool 6.5 inch scar. I waited until it became hard to walk, which if I had to do it again, I would have had surgery about 3 years earlier. I used to have sciatica, but after surgery that went away... only to be replaced about six months later by the tingling and burning (bilateral neuropathy/neuritis) that usually accompanies diabetes (which I do not have). This pain is far worse than sciatica, because it happens all the time. I'm on Lyrica for this.

Best course of action would be to wait to find out what the MRI says. If it is a disc bulge, they will probably recommend trying an ESI (steroid injection) into the spine to reduce the inflammation. I've had 14 of these, my last was 5 weeks ago. Yes, I still need injections after surgery! I've also had radiofrequency neurotomy to see if it helped at all before my back fusion. It did not.

If the sciatica is going through your hip, then in the short term you can try doing the best stretch that my 2+ years of physical therapy taught me. It's called a piriformis stretch. This muscle wraps around your sciatic nerve, so stretching it may help.

If I can be of service, please let me know. I'm male, 35 years old, and I've had back pain since I was 19 years old. It runs (and has ruined) my life. I am having trouble sitting my desk chair as I type.

I'm really sorry -- you're not alone.

proof

Yeah, when we'd go hiking as kids in the desert in SoCal, it was always loose fitting, long sleeve shirts and big floppy hats.

I've a friend of mine who has a big floppy brimmed hat that fits under his helmet, but we don't usually get that hot in NorCal.

I think I agree that long pants probably won't help. Sunscreen, tho, fer shure.

Edit: How about throwing one of these in your saddlebag just in case?

For my ACL recovery I used a recirculator very similar to this one and was very happy with it. https://www.amazon.com/Ossur-Cold-Rush-Compact-System/dp/B006VWSVW0/ref=pd_sbs_121_5?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=KTKC2RA62AT8M3WP8GTG&th=1

If you're on a tight budget, try a bag of frozen peas. That has been my go-to for after-sports icing for 20 years. In my opinion it holds the coldness longer than commercial icepacks. Downside is smaller surface area unless you can find a big bag. Or just use 2? You can re-use it almost indefinitely. Just make sure you mark it with a sharpie so nobody eats em :(

They make something like that

I haven't seen this mentioned yet. The inserts are not very good and are not cold enough. I bought a large gel ice pack and use this to wrap my knees or elbow when icing down my joints after training. I'm sure you could find something different or cheap. I'm actually going to make one from fleece, elastic and velcro this week as mine does not stay closed after 4 years of using it.

http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Standard-Therapy-Universal-Color/dp/B001G0N70I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427835328&sr=8-2&keywords=ice+pack+wrap

You know you're not supposed to ice yourself for that long.

If you really want, you can get one of these from DR or Rite Aid or something. https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-Instant-Cold-Inches-24-Count/dp/B000RBUE3A/ref=br_lf_m_3jvto2dgd6zk6om_img?_encoding=UTF8&s=hpc

You could get one of those bandanna things that you freeze

http://www.thewarmingstore.com/icy-cools-ice-bandana.html?productid=icy-cools-ice-bandana&channelid=FROOG&utm_source=CSE&utm_medium=GoogleShopping&utm_campaign=SolidCactus

https://www.amazon.com/Wraptor-ThermaFreeze-Bandana-including-Insert/dp/B00CRR7ZUM

use a hot, not cold and not boiling, compress to bring it to a head faster, with a bag such as this

I’m almost 3 weeks post op but still ice after exercises. This is the ice pack.
https://www.amazon.com/FlexiKold-Pack-Straps-Standard-Large/dp/B07J1NCNNB

Most boring is this icepack for my back