Thermophore 155 (14 x 27)

The pad is gently warm in one minute, and reaches maximum heat within 3 to 5 minutes.With the pad laying on top the body it gets very warm, the pause and/or off button turns off heat at any point.The instructions say to not lay on the pad. When I tried laying my leg on top the pad, the captured heat was intensely uncomfortable.Curious how hot?> 1. I laid a candy thermometer between pad & body = 123 degrees.> 2. Pad wrapped around thermometer = 140 degrees.(Customer service says it can get up to 160 degrees if trapping heat by laying on it)> 3. Pad wrapped around thermometer, with blanket on top = 162 degrees.The pads moist heat penetrates tissue and joints which is very effective in giving remarkable relief.I purchased this to help with a knee injury and experienced improved mobility and less aches and painstarting from the first time of use. (Two 20 minute sessions)I felt the treatments alleviated soreness and jump started a healing process,because the area was still dramatically more limber the next day.OVERVIEW OF PRODUCT ~> 1. The 100% cotton cover is specifically designed to absorb moisture from the atmosphere between usesand release the moisture during heat activation. The moisture is obviously present because skin or clothing becomes slightly damp.> 2. Auto Switch ~ Small red light stays continually on to show it's plugged in properly ~ Aids finding switch in the dark.Switch has a bar of four blinking lights ~ one bar per 5 minutes. A light becomes solid with each 5 minutes used.Automatically turns off in 20 minutes. (Much nicer to use then Thermophore's 'Classic switch' (in their red boxes)which must be continually held down to heat)There's no control of heat settings, such as high - med - low. And no way to have it stay on continually.I phoned customer service to ask them why the product is designed this way, they said ~ safety reasons.Because it gets very warm/hot to provide good therapy, as hot as 160 degrees if covered or laid on top of,it can be harmful to a person ~ burns. And dangerous ~ electric shock and/or fire.> 3. Large pad (14" x 27") is weighted construction so it drapes better over the body. Pad with cover weights 2.12 lb.> 4. Latex free ~ On the box it says "contains no chemicals". Instructions booklet under warnings says"This product contains chemicals which are known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm".> 5. Made in U.S.A. Two year warranty from date of purchase, but if don't have receipt, 3 year warranty from date of manufacturing.Costumer service says they don't use reconditioned products, all replacements are new.A sticker on the end of the box contains the 3 digit model #, the middle 4 numbers are the manufacturing date.The first two # stand for which of 52 weeks of the year ~ the last two stand for the year. So 5113 = Dec 2013.This is an outstanding product in both high end quality and effectiveness.Suggested ~ effective uses for this moist heat, heating pad ~ arthritis pain ~ back pain ~ fibromyalgia ~ TMJ ~muscle spasms ~ chronic pain ~ and speeding the recovery of injury's.I found this #155 at out local medical supply store for $102.95 plus tax.I was delighted to purchase it on Amazon for less ($63.88 & free S&H)

I have chronic pain due to severe arthritis, you name a joint, it has arthritis. I also have fibromyalgia. This is my first electric heating pad. I have used smaller microwavable ones but not one like this.This heating pad is a lifesaver, it really help me with both the arthritis pain and the fibro muscle pain I have, I sometimes can get relief by taking a hot bath too, but it is not practical and possible to be taking hot baths all the time, so this heating pad is an excellent alternative. I got the large size as it can cover more body, I use it on my hips, legs, knees, ankles, back, shoulder, all over.I like the remote control, I personally think the temperature of the pad can get too hot for me if the pad is next to my skin, and don't forget you have to use the removable and washable slip cover too, so I use the pad on top of my clothes and the heat still penetrates deep and it is fantastic.On the remote control there's an on and off button, when turned on there is a 'green light' indicator which starts off with four small rectangle bars of lights, there is a twenty minute cycle and during this time the lights slowly decrease from four bars of light, to three bars of light, to two bars of light and then to one and then the pad switches off automatically, during this twenty minute cycle the heating pad temperature decreases slowly.IF during this time you feel that you do not want to wait out the 20 minute cycle and want it hotter again, then just press 'start' and it will resume back to the 4 bars of light and of course if you feel you have had enough before the 20 minute cycle, you just press the button off.I use this pad daily, especially in the evening when I am watching tv. My husband has used it too on his hip and lower back. Cold weather is sneaking up on us again and this heating pad helps my muscles and joints. I love this heating pad and it's the best money spent on a medical/health aid to help with my condition.