Elasto-gel Cervical Collar
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List Price: Our Price: $24.49 You Save: $25.51 (51%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Elasto-gel Cervical Collar
Customer Review: elasto-Gel Cervical Collar
Summary: 5 Stars
I agree with past reviews. The collar does not get quite hot enough and I assume not cold enough either (although I only heat it). After having my neck operated on (C2-C7) last Novemeber, I have suffered from muscle tightness at about shoulder level in my neck. I have gone through many microwavable gel packs from Wal-Mart likely imported from China. The gel in those are much more liquid and will get hotter and stay hotter longer. Unfortunately they blow out at the seams when heated and spill heated oil-gel all over its cover, your neck and any furniture. The last one purchased we immediately put it in a secondary "seal-a-meal" plastic bag prior to its first heating to hopefully extend its life... still leaked all over me, burning the skin on my neck and hands after its second heating.
This device is wonderfully fitted. The gel is not liquid so it stays evenly distributed in it's cover. It does give wonderful temporary relief and does allow a person to remain active or at least mobile. I find myself wearing it even when it cools down because it does keep the cold air off the back of my neck which is a primary cause for the muscles tightening. I cook it as recommended, about 40-45 seconds each side, but there is no way in the world that I would let it cool off for 60 seconds before applying to my neck as recommended. I think this product is fantastic and I look forward to purchasing some of their other products in the future.
Customer Review: Does not retain heat, poor fit.
Summary: 3 Stars
I was really looking forward to getting this item as I was dealing with a reoccurring problem with my neck that has plagued me since my early twenties. Unfortunately, this item didn't live up to expectations. I followed the directions for heating the collar in the microwave and secured it around my neck and that's when the problems began.
Firstly, I had a difficult time getting it to fit snugly around my neck. I have a 15 3/4" neck and I couldn't get it to fit tight enough and the Velcro wouldn't keep it into place once I had it secured. I had to hold it closed with my hand to keep it from coming apart.
Secondly, the collar doesn't get hot enough nor does it retain heat nearly long enough. I usually use a clay heating pad which I place on a rolled up towel and then lay down on the floor. The clay heating pad retains heat for more than fifteen minutes and works excellent. I was looking for something that I could use while sitting and moving around and thought this would be a great product but the heat retention and fitting just isn't there.
I'll probably pass this on to my brother as he has a bigger neck and maybe he'll have better luck with it as I can't see ever using this item again.
Customer Review: Would like it a little smaller
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm 5'5" weighing 160lbs - not a small woman, but I find this wrap to be too large. I can't get it to fit well in the area I need it to be snug. The arm portion sits almost to my elbow. I use the previous reviewer's advice about putting extra gel packs inside of it and that's working to put the cold where I need it (snugs it up in a sense).
Since first writing this I tried to contact this company to inquire about getting a smaller size (I noticed that the company that makes this product does make a smaller size), but this seller never replied to my inquiry. So, I went looking elsewhere on the web and found that a company called painrelieverdotcom does carry the small/medium size. It is working much better than this large one available here. I highly recommend it if you're an average to small size woman - as I said, the "large" size is too big to fit snugly enough to apply the cold directly enough to be effective.
I really like the concept, and using it is allowing me to move around and work on my computer while I do my post-exercising icing.
Over-all, it's better than conventional ice packs that require you to sit motionless for the duration of each icing session.
Customer Review: Outstanding in several ways, cools off too quickly
Summary: 3 Stars
If this just stayed warm longer, it would be perfect.
On the plus side: Perfect fit. The Velcro works perfectly and keeps it as tight or as loose as I want it. It has a nice heavy feel. Heavy enough to stay close to the skin for good therapy, but not too heavy to be uncomfortable. The neck is a difficult place to treat/fit. This does it very well. It's great to be free of electrical cords. I can move about freely. It fits snugly against the neck so I can wear a sweater over it without a problem. Being able to do hot and cold is a plus, although I have not used the cold yet.
The only negative is the temperature control. It takes a bit of experimenting to find the right time, since each microwave is different. Then it cools off very quickly. Even if I heat to the point where I can barely stand the heat, it is almost cold in 15 minutes. This means I need to keep running back to the microwave.
The TheraTherm shoulder pad is a better option for me. It is electric and has excellent temperature control. The cord is long enough to make it usable. I just wish its strap was as good as this one.
Customer Review: Outstanding in several ways, cools off too quickly
Summary: 3 Stars
If this just stayed warm longer, it would be perfect.
On the plus side: Perfect fit. The Velcro works perfectly and keeps it as tight or as loose as I want it. It has a nice heavy feel. Heavy enough to stay close to the skin for good therapy, but not too heavy to be uncomfortable. The neck is a difficult place to treat/fit. This does it very well. It's great to be free of electrical cords. I can move about freely. It fits snugly against the neck so I can wear a sweater over it without a problem. Being able to do hot and cold is a plus, although I have not used the cold yet.
The only negative is the temperature control. It takes a bit of experimenting to find the right time, since each microwave is different. Then it cools off very quickly. Even if I heat to the point where I can barely stand the heat, it is almost cold in 15 minutes. This means I need to keep running back to the microwave.
The TheraTherm shoulder pad is a better option for me. It is electric and has excellent temperature control. The cord is long enough to make it usable. I just wish its strap was as good as this one.