Bed Buddy Microwave Heating Pad - Body Wrap Heat Pad With Flexible Soft Fabric - For Hot or Cold Therapy, Great for Cramps, Muscle Pain, Joint Pain from Arthritis, Headaches, Hot Flashes

These are fantastic! I'd previously only used the original Bed Buddy, but this one is perfect for the area where your neck / back / shoulder meet. Super comfortable, and it has as good or better heat retention than the original Bed Buddy. While efficacy is different for everyone, it works great for me to help relieve neck and inner shoulder pain and stiffness after a day of desk work, or before bed time. Although they're above average thickness, I don't even need to us the velcro straps, as instead I just let it sit on my shoulders and neck because of it's heft / weight (almost like a weighted blanket). For the cost, this thing is a great value, IMO!

First of all let me say that this is one of my favorite purchases in a long time. I'm not sure why I waited so long to buy one of these. I guess it was because I didn't know it existed. I'm so glad that I discovered it. It was a "gift to myself." It just keeps on giving and giving. I suffer from chronic health issues that bring pain and stiffness to various parts of my body. The bed buddy is a god-send. It is living up to it's name as I've taken it to bed with me every night since it arrived. And let me say, that I was concerned that it might have an odor generally or when heated. It doesn't. I'm so glad because I have a sensitive sense of smell. For over 15 years I've been using another product in the Carex line. I'd noticed in recent days that even though it still warms without issue it sags so much when I put it around my neck that it's no longer doing it's job. I love being able to put this in the microwave for a minute and a half or two and then either drape it around my shoulders, put it around my waist (the velcro comes in handy) or lie down on it. It gives moist heat that is soothing. It's generous size of 23" x 16.5" makes it suitable for larger areas. And although it is large I don't find it to feel heavy when I walk around with it on. You'll want to experiment with your microwave and be sure not to overheat this. I'd say that less is more. Start with what is directed on the small tag and throw it back in if it doesn't feel warm enough. Here is what is on the tag: There are a few cautions on the label: -Microwave heating times vary--DO NOT overheat -DO NOT use convection function of your microwave oven -Always heat on clean empty microwave safe dish. Lay flat and distribute contents of Bed Buddy evenly lengthwise -Microwave Bed Buddy for 1 minutes and 15 seconds at standard power -DO NOT leave Bed Buddy unattended while heating -Always touch-test by shifting contents to check for hot spots before use -If higher heat is required, continue microwaving in 15 second intervals-repeat above -DO NOT exceed 2 minutes total heating time -Contamination by food or liquids can cause overheating resulting in burns to the skin -Continually shift the position of the Bed Buddy when in use -NEVER place a heated Bed Buddy over the eyes -Never wash this Bed Buddy product. Wipe with a damp cloth only and let dry thoroughly DO NOT use this product on persons with nerve damage, circulatory problems, sensitive skin, or with damage or broken skin, or on persons unable to remove this product such as infants, children, and some older persons I haven't tried the cold feature. According to the box you can put this in the freezer overnight and use it as a cooling wrap. I have gel packs that work well for that so I'll probably use this exclusively for heat. I would have liked for this to have come with a casing of some kind so that if it gets dirty I can wash the cover. It didn't, and I suspect that is due to the shape and size. No problem, I can throw it in a microfiber pillow case if needed, and I intend to ask a family member who sews to make a little thin cover for it. We just recently replaced a moist heating pad for one of my close relatives because her's had burned up. Fortunately no one was hurt and nothing was damaged. The new heating pad was nearly twice as expensive as this and doesn't allow all that much more coverage. Plus it didn't have a cover either. So dollar for dollar, I feel that this is a better deal. I suspect that we'll need a second one of these as my husband immediately wanted to try it when I warmed it up the first time. He loved how it felt!

I've had lower back issues on and off for a couple weeks now. I have other moist heat packs but non had the strap to hold it in place so I could move around. This heat pack works great for moistness and the amount of time it stays hot. However I'm taking a star away as the Velcro tip does not adhere to the strap very well. I ended up wrapping the strap around itself after placing thru the tension loop like Huck Finn would his rope belt.

This is by far the BEST heating pad I've ever used be it microwave or electric!! I have used them for years & will continue to use them. Please please please don't stop making them!! They easily heat up in the microwave at your desired heat level (be sure to give it a good shake to redistribute the hot stuffins before you place it on your skin to remove any hot spots) It is PERFECT & I MEAN PERFECT for the neck & shoulders!! It starts out a little stiff but softens with use. I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IT! Be sure to read heating directions accordingly to your microwave. Enjoy your relaxing pain-free time that I feel really lasts a long time.

I ordered another Bed Buddy neck and shoulder pad because my old one was very old. The old one was stuffed with some sort of grains and had a very strong unappealing smell. I am so happy that this one no longer smells. It states the contents are buckwheat but it has barely any odor. I'm so happy that this was improved. I use this pad heated in the microwave when i go to bed to help alleviate my neck discomfort. I keep a towel on it to help retain the heat longer. I love this pad. Highly recommend.

I've been using the Bed Buddy products in various sizes on a daily basis for the last 3.5 years, as I have chronic pain. This one just got a hole burned right through it, even though I followed the heating directions! I'm having a replacement sent to me to try again, but I have read where other viewers say that this happened to them as well. I'll update this review once I've used the new one for a while. Since mine got burned at the narrow end, I'm guessing that it heats unevenly, so in order to get the large part heated enough the narrow ends would get too hot! On another note - I would have given this product only 3 stars even if this hadn't happened. As some others said in their reviews, the wrap is not as large as it looks on the website, and when I held the product up next to the picture of it on Amazon, it doesn't have the same profile lines at all. The picture on Amazon makes it look like it sits up on the neck, but it doesn't at all. It is still soothing, just not for as large an area as they make it seem. I'm only 5'4", not a large person, so it should have covered more area. ** Update 1/14/14 I did receive a new product and have used it for a couple weeks now. There are definitely different models of this same neck wrap out there, because the second one that I received is even smaller than the first one. Possibly some of these out there are fraudulent products? Hard to say. This is the first Bed Buddy product that has ever had a really harsh chemical smell, and the first time I used it I broke out in a rash on my neck and the underside of my jaw where I had placed the heated product. For the time being, I have tried using this daily and it helps some, however, it only stays warm for about 15 minutes, which is not as long as other Bed Buddy products that I own and use regularly, but I guess that's better than nothing. I hate to do it, but I guess I will have Amazon try sending me another one again! For heating: I have found that the reason the first one burned up at the narrow end was possible because I was folding it any which way prior to heating in the microwave. With this second item, I have made sure to fold it with the ends tucked into the middle and haven't had any problem in that regard.

I have chronic back pain and use the original Bed Buddy. I've been using it over 10 years and never had any problems. Inside both Buddy's is some sort of rice or barley or other. When heated it doesn't smell great to some people, but I don't think it stinks. I'll be honest I kind of like it, it's soothing to my senses. Maybe because I associate that smell to the warm, back pain relief. So until recently decided that I wanted one that I can use while being mobile and having my hands free. Seeing this bed buddy, I thought, how convenient and easy. Because until I found this one, I would use my original Buddy strapped to my back using my back brace, but in order for me to put it on, I had to lay my brace on the bed, lay the buddy on top of that, then lay on top of both, and then strap it to myself. While this Buddy looks pretty self explanatory, there are no instructions on how to fasten the strap, no FAQs to answer any questions. There are, however, warming and cleaning instructions on the tag attached to the Buddy. They had an amazing idea with this product but did not execute it well. You have a back sized (17"x7.5") Bed Buddy, one side has an elasticized strap (26" long unstretched and 2" wide) and the other side has a sort of D-Ring. The belt is supposed to fasten "hook and loop style" like Velcro. On the end of the belt there is a 2"x2" Velcro hook piece. Well my first thought was to pass the belt through the D-Ring, pull and fold back over then press the Velcro to the belt, however it doesn't stick to the belt. So I have to pull it tighter to get it to fasten to the blue Buddy, it fit but since it was a little tight, I thought that couldn't be right because I'm kind of on the thin side and I thought there was no way this is one size fits all since a larger person would likely suffocate. So instead of folding over, I tried just pulling the belt through the D-ring, then straight across my back, and pressing onto the Buddy. It was wonky and didn't feel right. The strap side of the Buddy felt securely pressed on my back but the D-ring side was loose and when I move around (getting up and down from my chair, or walking around) it would slide along the ring and I'd have to pull and tug at the ring to get the Buddy back in place. I've attached pics showing the 2 different ways to fasten so you have an idea what I mean. I'm going to keep it since I do like how this Buddy is larger and has great back coverage. I will probably sew a Velcro loop patch on the belt so I can fasten it the "fold over way" since that felt most secure and I felt the heat evenly across my back. Too bad they didn't just make that way in the first place...

I use this heating pad to help with soreness in my next and back. It heats up quickly and holds the heat well. Would recommend.