****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
The wrap isn't long/large enough. The power cord is inconvenient. The dead man switch approach is distracting and irritating. No joy.I like this smaller heating pad & am keeping it but I wish there was one size up WITH the Velcro. Same design as this, just one size bigger.My head is the size of a bowling ball.I carefully read many, many reviews of moist heat pads for the neck. I settled on this one, knowing from reading the amazon description of the product that it would have a manual switch that I would have to hold down or put a rubber band around if I wanted to avoid constantly holding it down while reading, etc. To my surprise it arrived with a new advanced four-stage therapy switch which cycles through a 20-minute moist heat therapy session. You can turn the switch off at any time or press it again for another 20 minute round. The switch makes no sound, so you do not wake or annoy a sleeping partner. There is only one heat setting and it is as Goldilock's discovered "just right", not too hot and not too cold. I can't say enough good things about this neck pad. Also it arrived in just a couple of days - very prompt delivery and earlier than I even anticipated. I've read the directions and am handling it with care. Now I just hope it holds up. I'll write an update after a period of time concerning endurance. The box depiction on amazon.com is red, but my box was black and is labeled "Thermophore Arthritis Pad" In looking at the instruction book, I see that it is only the "arthritis" pads that come in the black box while the red boxes have the automatic switch which means they have to be held down to provide heat. If you want this 4-stage hands-free switch, you may want to indicate that on your order or call amazon to make that request.If I could give this things zero stars I would. First of all it doesn’t even fit around your jaw up to your head. I had to buy this because I had draw surgery I couldn’t get it to fit you said you have to hold the button the entire time for it to heat which is extremely inconvenient. I had to tie a rubber band around it so that it would stay on this thing was absolutely horrible. I ended up buying just a longer heating pad folding it in half and I used Velcro to hook it together above my head so that it would stay at my jawWe have had the larger Thermophore since the early 1980's and have convinced many of our friends to purchase one for their numerous aches and pains. This smaller one was purchased for a lower leg issue and has proved to be just the right size. It wrapped well around the problem area and the strap was effective in holding it in place. My wife has also used it for her neck and loves the size of this unit for that purpose. Heat control was the same as our older one, so that just was not the issue for us that other reviewers have noted. Frankly, the Thermophore generates heat so quickly in a few minutes, I prefer to be my own regulator.When my wife purchased the first Themophore and explained the concept of "moist" heat, I thought that she needed it for her head. But, I used it and its been a part of the family medicine treatment plan ever since. We are glad that we purchased the smaller one for specific issues as the larger one can be a bit much for smaller treatment areas.To turn this pad on you push a button and hold it in. If you release the button it turns off, which is apparently intended to be the heat control because there in no high/low/medium setting - just on or off. Better be sure about your choice because returns are not allowed!This exact product was used on me during physical therapy after a car accident. It felt so good I had to buy one for myself. I really like it and it does the trick. The only thing I don’t like is that the on off switch is a spring lever which you must hold for the desired duration. i’m sure this is a safety feature to protect from accidental burning, so I can live with it. Also, I think it’s pretty expensive. That said, getting warmth around that part of the neck with the right pressure is hard to do without something like this product. I recommend it .Slow to heat and then doesn't seem to get hot. Not like the older models (I've had two before). Very disappointed, but they don't accept returns. I should have read the fine print. Buy something else--not this.We bought this production on the recommendation of a friend. We were happy to see that her Battle Creek heating pad was Made in the U.S.A., because we try very hard not to purchase products Made in China - mainly for political reasons.The product arrived and our hearts sank when we saw that it is now, indeed, Made in China, the very thing we want to avoid. It is very disheartening to see yet another manufacturer look only at the bottom line, and moved their manufacturing offshore.The heating pad itself has a very dumb design, because the heat will only flow when you keep pressing the switch. My wife ended up sitting on the switch to ensure that the heating pad stays warm.If we continue to think only of lowering manufacturing costs by going offshore, what are we doing for our own industries in North America. Will we become a country that relies solely on the manufactured goods from other nations?This product has worked extremely well for us in the past. I'm sure this one will too. But we really prefer a on/off switch using a clip. The picture showed a clip. But the item shipped did not have a clip but instead had a thermometer. We had a little problem with one like that in the past. But the main thing is that the item sent was NOT identical to the one advertised. Normally this would be a 5 star review. I don't know how to address this on future orders of this item....I LOVE Thermophore heating pad (I have 2). And I have a jaw problem soI used to struggle with home made straps to hold it at the right place. Then, I used to feel the heating path in the pad (wires).... With Thermophore, you don't struggle anymore. I strongly recommend.Great little heating pad. Fair price, excellent quality. Heats up real fast. Has a Velcro strap sewn in to affix it snugly where you need it. Moist heat is the way to go for the aches and pains of getting mature. (Old). LOLThe one I received was defective and I'm not allowed to return it.
