A Sock Full of Rice Does the Trick!

[serenityqueen]

Over the past several years, I have spent a small fortune on different types of heating pads, the disposable heat packs that can be bought at the store and the things I thought were bean bags that were available in cute fabrics at craft shows (for anywhere from $12 - $20 depending on the size) that you pop in the microwave to warm and instant relief. Much to my surprise, and a few hundred dollars later, I found out how to make this at home for a few dollars. You more than likely have these things at home right now.

Supplies Needed: lg. box/bag of uncooked rice
2 tube socks
needle and thread

Pour the uncooked rice into a clean tube sock (check for little holes in the sock first!)

Leave a few inches to roll over tightly then stitch the sock shut. Place stitched end into another tube sock and stitch this end closed.

Pop in the microwave about 1 minute to warm (as in cooking, microwave time may vary)

This makes an incredible, long lasting heat pack that can be laid over a knee for example and it forms around the body part that's hurting. I have a few of these and on days when the knees are really hurting, I elevate my feet, put one of these on each knee and ahhhh, it feels soooo good!

For extra warmth, you can wrap a towel around it also. If you are putting it on a shoulder or elbow and it keeps falling, wrap an ace bandage loosely to hold it in place.

**Warning** Please don't heat it up extremely hot. In this case, the hotter the better isn't the best. It can cause burns. Also, use caution if applying certain pain relieving creams such as BenGay. Read directions on tube.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY HELPFUL HINTS SUCH AS THIS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

Happy Relaxing!
Judy

[hbb]

That's an incredible idea! You should market those, bet it would make good money, but maybe who knows cause of the rice shortage around here! Glad it worked so well for you. I'm definitely trying this one! Thanks Judy

[Done_With_It]

I actually sell these, and make them for gifts at the Holidays!

If you don't want to make your own, you can get some great ones on Ebay.
They have some really cute and inexpensive one on there!

[Done_With_It]

They make great dog beds to!
You can use them in the car, etc.
They are great for long trips, etc. in
the cold. They love them.
You just have to put extra covering on them
cause the smell makes them try to get to the rice. lol

[barb dwyer]

Hey Done!

I wqas given a 'gift pack' of almost exactly this kind of bean bag thing when I opened a new account at a local bank.

There's a little 'eye' pack
(you know what I mean - shaped like sunglasses or a blindfold kind of thing)

FEET packs - that slip into these house shoe looking things
(tried 'em they're WONDERFUL!!!)

Then there's a long strip with posckets you put three of those packs into and lay along you back, or down a leg - whatever.

*I* quickly learned that taking the eye pack,
heating it-
then turning it backwards and putting it on your NECK ...
is the way to go.

These- to add to your recipe - have LAVENDER and other herbs
so it smells quite nice when heated up as well.

[barb dwyer]

what a great thing to get stitching on for christmas presents.

hmmm... and I have all this wild western sage here ...
little polar fleece to stick the bag in .. wow.

[Jimmy123]

A little Chamomile tea also makes it smell great in a relaxing bedtime sort of way

[nandm]

Buckwheat actually tends to be better than rice for those that heat the pad in the microwave as the buckwheat will not wind up getting the odor that rice will. Either way these are wonderful things to have. I have one that I use on my neck and shoulders when I am stressed as I hold all my stress there.

[ksos]

The mere imagery of a warm sock full of rice being placed on the lower right side of my back is helping me!

I am finding that I have never focused much on alternative methods to pain management, and it is just amazing what people come up with when they want something so bad...By the way, all my socks are old so they fit the criteria, I suppose!

[CarolD]

For cold compresses....I use a bag of frozen Peas.
Fit's nicely in a hand towel.

[Freedom1990]

Originally Posted by CarolD

For cold compresses....I use a bag of frozen Peas.
Fit's nicely in a hand towel.

I've done that too!

Also, when I used to work for my veterinarian, we would get shipments of cold stuff like vaccines with small ice packs in the styrofoam chests. I started taking those home as they threw them away, and also donated several to the grade school for the nurse to use on sprains.

[Aysha]

Well..There goes the rice we have in the house.
Never heard of this before. But bet your bottom I am going to try it.
Thx..

[rozied]

Good Idea...................another alternative my grandmother used to use whenever I had an ear ache was salt in a sock. She would heat the salt in a frying pan ( this was before the microwave days ) & pour it into an old sock, this worked great.

Diane

[Fluttering]

Originally Posted by ksos

The mere imagery of a warm sock full of rice being placed on the lower right side of my back is helping me!

I am finding that I have never focused much on alternative methods to pain management, and it is just amazing what people come up with when they want something so bad...By the way, all my socks are old so they fit the criteria, I suppose!

Great way to put the socks to use whose mate got lost somewhere between the washer and dryer and have never been seen since

[jazpoppy]

Judy;

Thanks so much for this idea! I have so many "mate-less" socks kicking around that I was going through out! Now I have a use for them! I have one question though? I hear that damp heat can also be very good for sore joints, muscles, backs, ect... Can this sock get damp or can a damp towel be wrapped around it to get the comforts of damp heat without ruining the sock/rice??? I want to be sure before I try it. Thanks again for this great idea!

Love;

Jaz

[serenityqueen]

In answer to your question Jazz about moist heat, I really have never tried it. But as cheap as rice is and as hearty of an appetite washers and dryers have for socks, it wouldn't hurt to try. I'd be sure and put the heated sock in a few plastic bags before wrapping the moist towel around it.

I have to share something that tested my ability to keep a straight face as to not laugh at someone's misunderstanding . . . or perhaps just common sense. One of my neighbors, whose familiy my Son and I refer to as the Beverly Hillbilly's (God forgive me) decided to try to make a heat sock. A few days after I told her about it, she came over to ask me how I kept the rice from making the sock so soggy. Folks, she cooked the rice.

"God, grant me the Serenity, To Accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things that I can and the Wisdom and Tolerance of those who's stars don't shine the brightest . . . Amen.

On the other hand, they are quite entertaining.

God Forgive me
Judy

[barb dwyer]

A few days after I told her about it, she came over to ask me how I kept the rice from making the sock so soggy. Folks, she cooked the rice.

[ksos]

Judy,

I microwaved two mismatched socks filled with Uncle Ben's Rice which was sealed in those quart sized plastic bags, and I was able to finally lay done on my couch, and watch a movie on TV!

Here is a case in which a non-narcotic alternative method of pain control surpassed my narcotic regimen. Unbelievable, but wonderful!

Now, Judy, I do not sew, but I simply put another sock over the opened end, and "locked them together" without needle and thread! Ha ha! My idea based on Judy's initial, innovative method! My copyright to mhy enhanced method has been submitted, and I will call it "Men who cannot sew may still be pains in the neck"

Love ya,

Ksos