Heating Pad (cold, cramps, legs, shoulder)

[Cunucu Beach]

I cannot find a heating pad that will remain on until I turn it off. Everything I have found either in store or online has automatic shutoff after 2 hours. Anyone know if there has been a law passed that all heating pads for home use must have automatic shutoff now?

[cncracer]

I have found nothing but the on or off without timers. I think I need the timer. Last week I had shoulder cramps from a broken collar bone, and used heat to ease the pain. When I went to bed I opted to put it under my back and fell asleep with it on medium. It caused light burns in just a few hours. Nothing to get treated, but still it was only a few hours.

[stillkit]

I can't say for sure if there's a law to mandate it, but you'll have a hard time finding one now which doesn't turn off automatically. Obviously, fire hazard is the reason.

[tilli]

You could try the chemical heating pads like the ones made by Thermacare, they give off heat for a long time and won't burn you or start a fire.

[Crashj007]

My quick search revealed that heating pads appear to be rated as 'medical devices' and are regulated by the FDA. I did not burrow down to the specifics. You can do some research here:
U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page

[Cunucu Beach]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I continued searching online last evening and finally found one at Walgreen's online that stays on until you turn it off. As an aside.....there are many sites that have a "product review" page and many people who post on the heating pad review page are leaving bad reviews, even for the more expensive ones. They are saying that they just stop working after a short time. That's been my experience, too--a heating pad will do well to last through one winter. (All are made in China, these days.) I use one around my lower legs when I'm sitting watching TV in the wintertime. Guess it's not our mother's heating pads anymore. When I was a child I remember my family having one for years and years before it finally wore out. (It was likely American made as that was many years ago.)

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by Cunucu Beach

Thanks for the input, everyone. I continued searching online last evening and finally found one at Walgreen's online that stays on until you turn it off. As an aside.....there are many sites that have a "product review" page and many people who post on the heating pad review page are leaving bad reviews, even for the more expensive ones. They are saying that they just stop working after a short time. That's been my experience, too--a heating pad will do well to last through one winter. (All are made in China, these days.) I use one around my lower legs when I'm sitting watching TV in the wintertime. Guess it's not our mother's heating pads anymore. When I was a child I remember my family having one for years and years before it finally wore out. (It was likely American made as that was many years ago.)

Have you considered an old fashioned hot water bottle? They're rubber and you fill them with hot water. That's what we used before electric or chemical heating pads were invented and they worked just fine.

[Cunucu Beach]

Yes, actually I did but they cool off too quickly. When I was a child, my mom heated sad irons on the stove, wrapped them in newspaper and a piece of an old blanket and put those into our beds to keep our feet warm on a cold winter night. Today I have an electric blanket.....lots less trouble. :-)

[sgresident]

they probably have updated all of the old ones that stayed on forever. Mine is old and does stay on. I think it is hamilton beach.

[Gerania]

What about this one?

Amazon.com: Sunbeam Health at Home 756-500 Standard Heating Pad with NEW Arthritic Controller: Health & Personal Care (http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:fc7Nfajs8_kJ:www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-756-500-Standard-Arthritic-Controller/dp/B00006IV4N+electric+heating+pad+no+automatic+shut+ off&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us - broken link)