Sharing PN Pain Relief Non-Medication Option

[mdamorris]

My husband has had bi lateral PN for over 6 years. We accidentally discovered this option several years ago when trying to get relief using ice which resulted in frostbite down there (not good)!. The frostbite doctor recommended a Cold Rush Cold Therapy System. Even though it does not cure anything it has been a daily life changer for us. It is normally used after surgery on a knee or shoulder. It basically looks like a small cooler with a hose and a flat pad attached to it. You fill it with a mixture of ice and water and sit on the flat pad. My husband puts the pad on top of his custom Rojo cushion (the only way he can sit). It is very thin and does not irritate the area. Cool temps flow through the hose to the pad and give him daily relief. It never goes below 55 degrees. This machine has enabled us to travel by car (adaptor for cigarette lighter) and plane (adaptor for battery). He uses a wheelchair to go to our son's performances as it guarantees a place he can tolerate sitting, but the "ice machine" as we call it goes everywhere. It cools down the nerve and gives relief. Since sitting on hard ice is not an option for PN! We also used to use those back gel pads that go in the freezer but they don't cool long enough. Wanted to share. Since it is used several times per day, we do wear these machines out probably 12-18 months, but have several on hand. Please let me know what questions you have. Hope this can help someone get some temporary relief.

[Violet M]

Thanks for posting about this cooler. Sounds like it could be an option for PNE patients, especially at night in bed or if you are staying in one place. Do you feel like it gets cold enough to really numb the area?

Violet

[mdamorris]

Yes, it does get cold enough, but not too cold. My husband developed frostbite from sitting on too cold gel pads which only added to his pain. His frostbite doctor recommended this unit. My husband uses it for long car drives which he could not do before. We have a cigarette lighter adaptor. We have also taken this on an airline ride. We can do more things because it provides relief. And yes we do use it at home as a daily relief tool.

[Violet M]

I think I remember some people on the old tipna forum saying they used this type of cooler on the plane on the way home after their surgery but that was before the 911 restrictions. Have you had any problems getting through TSA with the cooler?

Violet