Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches Feedback Thread NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches provide drug free soothing pain relief from pregnancy related muscular back pain. Like an ice pack, but more convenient and easy to use, Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches work by cooling the skin and underlying tissue helping to reduce both pain and swelling.

Here's what Deep Freeze say: "Back pain affects three out of four pregnant women yet many areunaware of the risks of taking certain medication during pregnancy according to new research. But there is no need to grin and bear the muscular aches and pains of pregnancy as just over half (55%) of women currently do."

They go on to say: "The cryotherapy (cold cooling pain relief therapy) provided by Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patch provides fast acting, self-adhesive, cooling pain relief to the affected area for up to 3 hours."

So testers, please share on this thread your opinion on the following: all comments welcome!

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?

Everyone who tests the product and adds feedback as required will be entered into a prize draw where one tester will win £250 worth of John Lewis vouchers.

Please note your feedback and comments may be used by the team at Deep Freeze on social media and elsewhere. New pregnancy symptoms, including backache, should always be discussed with your doctor or midwife.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

T&Cs for prize draw here NB closing date now Monday 11 August 9am

[CheeseEMouse]

I wanted to try the patches as I am bfing and have a sore shoulder from carrying my little one .

The patch was on to apply though I think I would use deep freeze cream rather than a patch in future as the cream is easier to use

The patch helped soothe my shoulder and reduced the ache

I might recommend the patches but only for very localised pain relief. However I consider them expensive, and as I am bfing I think I would probably choose to take some paracetamol rather than buy expensive patches.

[AndHarry]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.
I'm breastfeeding my DD, who's my second child. I developed lower back pain during my pregnancy with her and it becomes quite bad when I'm sitting or standing for long periods. I wanted to try these patches to see if I could keep a stash at work for when it gets really bad.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?
They were a bit tricky to apply as they kept folding up on themselves and obviously I was reaching behind myself to get them on my back. It would be easier if they had a stiff removable plastic or paper backing on the non-sticky side tha could be peeled off after the patch has been attached.

The cooling effect took about 5-10 minutes to really kick in and lasted for a good hour.

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?
Yes it did.

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?
Yes I'd keep a box of these patches at work.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?
Yes I would.

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost 1.65 for a single patch and 5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?
The price is too much for them to be used as a regular treatment but I'd pay it to have a box handy for bad days.


Putting my professional hat on, I'm guessing that these large boxes are intended to be used to sell individual units but I was surprised not to see a CE mark and detailed manufacturer information on the box. It's something to think about, especially if you're going to be running more of these CATs in the future.

[Emzig123]

Q1 I'm 37 weeks pregnant and have suffered from back pain most days in the last few weeks. I usually find it eases with rest or a change in position but this is not always possible, hence wanting to try the patches.

Q2 Difficult to apply, kept folding back on itself. I found it uncomfortable to wear as I couldn't get it on straight so not sure how long it lasted as I took it off. It was hard to put on so I couldn't get it comfortable.

Q3 Yes it did provide some relief and comfort - I will be trying them again when I can get someone to put it on for me!

Q4 Yes if they were a bit smaller and easier to apply.

Q5 Yes - they were effective and a good alternative to paracetamol

Q6 I would not pay that for them, it seems quite expensive - maybe £5 for a 5 pack? I would be looking to pay under a pound per patch I think.

[onehackedoffmuma]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

I am 32 weeks pregnant with twin boys and suffering with chronic lower back pain. I'm also experiencing twinges in my hips and sciatica, all of which have been intensified since falling pregnant.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?

The patch was really simple to apply and the instructions were easy to use. I found the patch worked for longer than 3 hours, I'd forgotten that I'd applied it!

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?
It alleviated some of the pain which was helpful, and what with being a sticky patch, it meant I didn't have to sit in one spot as I could wear it on the move. I tried another one on my thigh as I was experiencing cramp and the pain/discomfort was remedied almost immediately.

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or CONTINUE to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?
Yes, I would certainly consider using them again and plan to stow the additional ones away for future use.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?
Absolutely.

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?
I think £1.65 is a little too costly for a single patch, as is £5.49 for the four pack. If the price of the four pack was lowered, I would certainly consider buying the patches again.

[DifferentNow]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

I'm breastfeeding and with 5 DC and huge comedy boobs, back pain is a now an everyday part of my life. If I have a lot of housework or ironing to do, I'll take pain relief in advance because I know that I'll be crippled by bedtime. I hate taking medication but find it a necessary evil most days.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?

I couldn't have applied the patches myself (how would one do that?) but DH helped out with that. They were very easy for him to apply and also to reposition. I was worried it might hurt coming off like a gigantic sticking plaster but the surface of it isn't really like that and there was no discomfort. I would agree that the effects last up to around 3 hours although I felt it less intense after maybe the first 30 mins.

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?

The patches were delivered to me during a particularly terrible spell of muscle ache across my shoulder blades which had lasted a few days and I really didn't hold out much hope that a flimsy patch could have any impact on pain like that but I was delighted with the results! The patch goes on initially a bit cold. That pretty quickly goes and then the cold/burny sensation slowly builds. It does have quite a strong menthol-ly smell though.

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?

Yes.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?

Definitely, especially to pregnant women when back pain is so much worse and pain relief options more limited.

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?

I do now I've had a free sample, however normally I spend about 25p on a packet of paracetamol or ibuprofen so I would have considered this too expensive before the trial.

[TopsysMum]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

I'm a Breastfeeding mum. I've suffered with upper back pain due to a whiplash injury ten years ago. Pregnancy/ Breastfeeding has somewhat aggravated the issue!

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?
I found it quite tricky to apply the patch as it would crease and curl but I got there in the end! That said it was much easier than trying to direct a spray and you didn't end up either excess product all over your hands. The effects lasted for the length of the patch use plus around 20 minutes. This is fantastic for me as muscular issue I have (myofascia pain) means I need to use the muscle as much as possible to stop the muscles from re knotting.

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?
Undoubtedly. There was a faint aroma but not like when you use deep heat and clear a room with the smell! I found it more effective than other similar products.

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?
Depending on price I would definitely consider it. If they cost more than £1-£1.50 each though it would become too expensive as a long term solution.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?
Yes.

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?
Ah, read this after question 4. I think they're a touch expensive for regular use. Using just two a day would set you back around £20 a week so to use long term this would be expensive and I think there are much cheaper comparable remedies out there. Even if they do smell or are a bit more faffy.

[cljmsh]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

I'm breastfeeding my 9 month old ds, I am also 14 weeks pregnant with dc7

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?

Not very easy, My pain is lower back. Every time I undid the plastic the pad folded over

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?

Yes for around an hour or so.

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?

Yes I would, but only when the pain was very bad.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?

Yes, but only for short term pain relief

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?

No, I would if the price for 4 was £4.00 - £4.50

[nevergoogle]

I have a 3 month old baby and am currently exclusively breastfeeding a very hungry baby.

I am also trying to regain my fitness by exercising most days. Unfortunately because of the hormone levels I am more prone to injury and keep straining ligaments. My ankle was sore after just one outing on my road bike after unclipping from the pedals. Yesterday having forgotten my goggles for swimming I adopted a side stroke and woke this morning with neck ache. It seems most days, something is hurting. I also have intermittent pain in my upper trapezius muscles from sitting for long periods to feed the baby and lifting the car seat in and out of the car all day long.

After lots of painkillers after a planned c-section also, I'd like to explore the alternatives to medication for pain relief so am glad to have the opportunity to review the deep freeze patches.

I'm off to give it a go now on my aching neck muscles, back in a bit.

[QuietNinjaTardis]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

I'm breastfeeding and wanted to try the patches as lugging my daughter around and chasing after a 4 year old means my back hurts and I also get a tense neck and shoulders, especially if I'm having a bad day and stressing.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?

It was difficult to apply to the back of my neck/shoulder and curled up and got stuck. I had to get my husband to help me.

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?

It's very good actually. My neck was very tensed up after a difficult time getting my daughter to settle at bed which involved several feeds/jiggling and picking her up and putting her back down again the muscles don't feel as tense and the pain is gone that I had just twenty mins ago. Just wish I had one for. My whole back!

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?

I think I would as it's worked better than I expected.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?

Yes I would.

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?

I think that's quite expensive, especially if you got aches/pains a lot.

[nevergoogle]

ok, it's on.

the packet shows a pair of scissors to open but it actually tore open easily, a plus if you want to use the patch when you're out and about. no scissors required.

the patch has a soft fabric backing on one side and a plastic adhesive film on the other. you just peel off the plastic, and slap the sticky side of the fabric patch on to the painful area. I've gone for the muscles on the right side over my shoulder blade and it was really easy to apply myself. i peeled it off and reapplied to get it over the right spot.

not much happened for the first minute but it's now feeling really cool. there's a menthol smell. the sensation is quite pleasant so far.

first impressions are that it is easier to use than the biofreeze gel as i get that all over my hands. biofreeze gel is a bit messy and would be on the sheets by now and also these patches would slip into my baby change bag easier than the bottle of biofreeze I have.

i'm going to log off and get some rest. I'll feedback on the results next time.

[mooglet]

Q1 I'm breastfeeding and wanted to try the patches as I still get days with lots of lower back pain, which is a hangover from my last pregnancy. I also tried them on my knees as I am trying to start running again to get fit and shift my baby weight.

Q2 I found them really faffy to apply, and never seemed to get the whole things to stick.

Q3 Hmm, not sure. I liked the feeling and loved the smell, but not sure that they did that much for the actual ain.

Q4 No, I'll use up the rest of the box, but wouldn't buy anymore

Q5 No

Q5 I think it is expensive for what they are

[vickipickernicker]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.
Breastfeeding. Suffer from some back ache especially after picking up or carrying my older son.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?
Easy to apply however can be awkward to get in right place on back by self.

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?
Yes - nice cooling sensation

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?
Yes

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?
Yes

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?
Expensive - would buy if on offer though.

[Kitkate78]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

I'm currently Breastfeeding my 24 wk old and was suffering from acute lower back pain with significant inflammation related to pregnancy pgp. My osteopath recommended the application of cold rather than heat to reduce the inflammation. I was in significant pain... Couldn't pick up baby or even roll over in bed. Was overlapping ibuprofen with paracetamol as pain meds.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?

Easy to apply, lasted about an hour.

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?

To some degree yes, but not as effective as an ice pack, but easy to maintain on area of pain. Probably could have done with a bigger patch, and something better to adhere it to the skin... Maybe a whole back wrap (similar to how the heat packs are applied).

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?

Probably


Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?

Yes... Anything's worth a try with back pain.

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?

A little on the expensive side... Would prefer them to be nearer to £1 a patch.

[crimsonwitch]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.
I am still breastfeeding my 13 month old ds, during pregnancy I had terrible SPD and spent the latter half of my pregnancy on crutches. The bones in my pelvis are misaligned now which causes me a great deal of pain in my back on a daily basis. I wanted to try the patches because I would love to have something that helps the pain but doesn’t put my ds at any risk.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?
It was very easy to apply by myself. However, it did keep peeling away from my skin, and sticking to my clothes. My pain is worse at night but the patch came off every time I turned over in bed.

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?
At first I thought I wasn’t going to work. The cooling affect was very mild and it went completely after about five minutes. I was just about to remove the patch when it started to get really cold, the feeling was very intense, like someone had rubbed my back with an extra strong mint. It worked really well, giving me a lot of relief from the pain and helping me to be more mobile. It worked very well for the first hour then gradually became less effective until the pain came back at about the three hour mark.

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?
Yes, the pain relief was as good as, if not better than some of the painkilling medication I am prescribed.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?
Definitely, They have the benefit of medication without the associated risk.

Q6 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?
I think the price is a bit steep, especially as they don’t stay in place well if you are moving around. However, I do think the product itself is very good so I will probably buy them while I am still breastfeeding, but switch back to medication when I stop.

Thank you mumsnet and deepfreeze for the opportunity to try out the patches

[Giraffeski]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

Pregnant.
I also have 32HH boobs so get both upper and lower back pain at the end of the day.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?
It was fairly easy to apply but kept coming off.


Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?
Not really, although fairly cooling in this hot weather I suppose!


Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?
No, probably not.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?
Unlikely

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?
No because they did very little for me!

[mowmylawn]

Q1 I'm 35w pregnant and have had severe SPD/PGP since 18 weeks. I also had it during my first pregnancy so knew ahead of time how awful the pain would be. I've been on a low dose of codeine as needed but you're not meant to take the codeine near the end of the pregnancy so I've been looking for an alternative method of pain relief.

Q2 I found the patch easy to apply (and re-apply to get into the right position, as not much co-ordination with a massive bump, round ligament pain, SPD etc). It didn't last 3 hours unfortunately. Was quite strong for the first hour, the second hour the cooling was less noticeable and by three hours I found the patch to be a bit warm - this could be because I'm always hot, the weather has been warm and I'm often sat in bed so not much circulation around the patch.

Q3 Yes it did the job quite well, SPD/PGP is incredibly painful and sometimes it was just a matter of distraction instead of actual pain relief, but I didn't mind because at least the pain was reduced! Found it worked well when applied straight onto the symphysis pubis area as well as my lower back. When I used the patch I made sure to not also use oral pain relief so I was able to compare, and I was really disappointed when I knew I'd run out of the patches because they were very helpful.

Q4 Absolutely, depending on the price.

Q5 Yes I would, I'm already telling people about how much it helped.

Q5 Don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth but I would probably not use at this price, even knowing how incredibly helpful the product is. Using during pregnancy isn't the same as if you have a backache from helping a mate move house where you might only need to use it for a day or two - in my case I will have had SPD/PGP for over 5 months and would want to use the patches several times a day, so at that price it would be completely unaffordable. It would be good to have around for times when you need something portable (although when the pain is really bad you're not going out very much anyway!). I understand the manufacturer's need to make a profit on this but if they are looking to market it at pregnant/breastfeeding women, we are often the ones who need it a) longer-term and b) don't have a lot of money due to having to buy things for baby and are on mat leave etc.

[milliejfrancis]

Q1 I am currently 32 weeks pregnant with my first child and chose to test the patches as I did not realise the backache would be such an issue! As I am still at work sat at a desk all day, my back is constantly aching, let alone carrying this watermelon!

Q2 It was difficult to put on my back myself as it kept folding over and getting stuck. Also, it would get lifted from clothing ie trousers when I walked. It probably could do with being stickier. It lasted a couple of hours but would fall off a lot.

Q3 It did relieve the pain and I liked that the relief would come and go. It would be normal then find it went really cold which I loved.

Q4 I would buy these patches as they do relieve the aches and pains and now I know what they do, and how well, my first thought would be to get the patch rather than pop a paracetamol, especially whilst breast feeding.

Q5 I would recommend them to a friend, pregnant or not.

Q5 I think you would generally buy a pack of 4 as 1 wouldn't do the trick but over £5 for 4 is quite a bit of money. When painkillers are so readily available for £1 or less this seems a bit much. I would happily pay around £4 for a pack of 4 or £1.50 for one.

[didiimaginethis]

Q1 I am 29 weeks pregnant with my second child, having sciatica pains running down my lower back into bum and through to leg. Running around after a toddler and standing up at work don't help either, I wanted to try the patches to see if they would help without having to pay for an osteopath.

Q2 I found applying the patch quite tricky due to the location of pain in my lower back and bum, it got stuck/caught on clothing and would come off after a couple of hours.

Q3 It worked in a similar way to using an ice-pack wrapped in tea towel but the cold effect lasted longer than an ice-pack and I wasn't worried about ice burns

Q4 I would use them again, I would buy them dependant on price

Q5 I would recommend them to friends and family, not solely pregnant women

Q6 I don't consider that price good value for money and am afraid I would go back to the tried and tested ice-pack in tea towel rather than paying that.

[DefiniteMaybe]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.
I am 23 weeks pregnant with my third child and get all the general aches and pains that go with that. By the end of a normal day my lower back really hurts.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?
I found it really tricky to apply the patch to the bottom of my back by myself, I got my partner to apply them for me after the first one which was ok but not great if I was in pain whilst he was at work.
I found they stuck for about 30 minutes to an hour, they were still cool after this time but had just gotten all creased up and stuck to my clothes rather than me.

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?
I found they sometimes helped and sometimes didn't. There didn't seem to be a pattern to why they did/didn't work.

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?
I've still got a few of my samples left which I will use as I feel the need to, but no I would not buy them as I didn't feel they worked consistently or for long enough.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?
No probably not.

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?
No, I think this is very expensive especially at a time where money is likely to much tighter for most people.

[Mummycherry2]

Q1: breastfeeding a 10 week old. Had a lot of pain in lower back during pregnancy and even before an still suffer with it now. Have always used heat to soothe so was very interested in trying this product.

Q2: I found the patches easy to apply, the tricky part was hitting the right spot!

Q3: I was skeptical before the trial about if these would work for me but surprisingly they did! My criticism would be that the pain relief did not last longer than an hour for me and go me that's not enough based on how much they cost.

Q4: possibly, it would depend on price and I think would be superb in the summer when heat is not the preferred option.

Q5: yes, a great alternative to pill popping

Q6: possibly, quite expensive for what they are. Would only use sparingly and in hot conditions.

[Cherryjellybean]

Q1 Please say whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding etc and why you wanted to try the patches. Please describe how the muscular aches and pain affect you on a day to day basis.

I am currently breastfeeding. When I applied I had just given birth and still had back ache from pregnancy, and giving birth. That pain has now gone and now I have back ache from breast feeding and on my left side from winding my baby. Every time I do it, it hurts.

Q2 Please describe the application of the patch- how was it to apply? How long did it last?
I think it was hard to apply because it was on my bra strap line, so it was a hard place to put it on myself and it folded up a little. If it was anywhere else on my body I was say it was easy. I forgot to take it off before bed and it stayed on for 9 hours oops!

Q3 Did the patch help relieve muscular aches and pains?
Yes it did, it kicked in after 20 mins and was a real help.

Q4 Do you think you'd buy the patches again or continue to use them if you had a similar muscular ache or pain?
I will definitely use up the packet, as they are really good.

Q5 Would you recommend them to friends or relations who are also pregnant or breastfeeding or unable to take oral painkillers?

Yes, and have already suggested them to dh.

Q5 Deep Freeze Pain Relief Cold Patches cost £1.65 for a single patch and £5.49 for a 4 pack: do you consider this to be good value for money?

This is the only reason I wouldn't buy them. I would probably buy a pain relieving Jell first, as it would probably be similar in price, and it would last a lot longer. If money was not a problem though I would buy them I think.

[billybear]

1.left with a bad back after being pregnant recently.painfull when picking up dc and household chores, pain 50% of time. 2. patch quite easy to apply,lasted few hours.3,helped relive the pain .4 would use patches again,safer than pills if pregnant. 5, would recommend to friends. 6 are quite expensive so would have to use sparingly

[workingmumto1]

Q1 I am 39 weeks pregnant and have been suffering from SPD, Sciatica and have a connective tissue disorder that has made all my ligaments stretch too much.

Q2 I got my DH to apply the patch to the middle of my lower back as I couldn't reach. He didn't have any troubles applying it. It lasted for about 3-4 hours.

Q3 Yes, although I had to keep reminding myself what the cool water sensation was on my back! It was at least as effective as the heat patches I usually use but much more useful in this current heat!

Q4 Quite possibly

Q5 Maybe, it would depend where there pain was and how long it lasts for as the patches don't last as long as heat patches do and I think they would be best for acute pain rather than chronic pain.

Q5 It's more expensive than the heat pads I get, but reasonable for the price of the other products on the market. As they don't last as long, I wouldn't want to be spending that much on a regular basis.

[Ikabod]

Q1: I started using the patches at about 23 weeks pregnant for back pain, a really achy left leg and hot swollen ankles.
Q2: I found the patch really difficult to apply to my back. It keeps folding in and sticking to itself when you peel off the plastic. It also wrinkles up once applied and came off a couple of times. Other, more accessible areas are easier to apply.
Q3: The patch has helped every time I've used one. The coldness of the patch when you first apply can be quite uncomfortable. Once that subsides you get the feeling of a cold damp patch where it's applied.
Q4: Once my trial box has finished, I'm not sure I'll be buying any more. I'd have to think hard about whether to use a patch because they're expensive. I'd rather use a gel as I think it'd be more cost effective and easier to use.
Q5: No.
Q6: I think they're very expensive: the difficulties using them outweigh the benefits, especially if there is a cheaper and easier-to-use alternative.

[MinnieMooo]

1. Currently breastfeeding and have back pain which was made worse by falling down the stairs this week so the patches arrived at a good time!
   
2. I had help putting it on as it wasn't easy to get to my back due to the pain I was in.
   
3. Thought they were great - really helped to ease the pain.
   
4. I would buy them again whilst breastfeeding but not sure if I would once I can use strong painkillers again.
   
5. Would definitely recommend to anyone pregnant, bf or unable to take painkillers.
   
6. They are expensive. I would buy them if I was unable to take medication but otherwise I would think twice.