Far Infrared Heating Pad – Gold – Premium Heating Pad for Discomfort Relief – Warms and Relaxes Muscles, FSA-HSA Eligible – Medium Size for Back, Torso, Arms and Legs – 15 in. x 15 in.

I purchased mine in July of 2022. I’m writing this in March 2026. I use this almost every day - often twice (morning and night). It has helped my lower back pain tremendously. While I don’t feel that it gets as hot as a regular heating pad, it gives me more relief. It heats my lower back while not making me hot or sweaty like other heating pads have. I have the platinum edition and all 3 panels still work well. I place it in my recliner (but chair is not reclined) and lean back against it.

For three weeks I had back pains in my lower back that were so severe that I thought I had kidney stones. I have a very high pain tolerance but could not stand up straight and walked hunched over. I purchased this and within 3 days of use I had zero pain. It is very well made with excellent stitching. It is easy to use and the heat, though not as hot as regular heating pads, seems to penetrate and work far better than conventional pads. I have already recommended this to a close friend who has neck issues. It is not inexpensive but it is worth the money.

Been using the Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad – Platinum for a little over a year. During that year my wife and I have switching between a handmade pad filled with rice that you heat in the microwave, a generic $30 electric heating pad from Walgreens, and this Thermotex. The Termotex is by far our least favorite. It has several problems: 1: It takes a long time to warm up, about 10-15 minutes. 2: It is uncomfortable and not very form fitting. It’s made up of three plastic panels wired together. Each panal is inserted into a pouch in the cover. Each panal is very ridged. The cloth cover can fold in two places, so it can fold around a straight limb. But if you have a spot on the side of your neck, or the top of your shoulder it will not be flexible enough to reach it. 3: It gives very little perceived heat. And there is no low/med/high. Just on/off. Just to note, it uses 14 watts. 4: The manufactures says not to lay on it or it can be damaged. 5: The heat feels no different than any of the other pads we have. Except that it’s not much heat at all. Thermotex markets it as such: “After just 20 minutes of use, the soothing infrared wavelengths penetrate up to 2.36 inches into the applied area.” I believe some infrared might make it through the black cover. But I can feel the cover getting warm, and when I press into the pad I feel more heat. That makes it seem that a lot of the power is just going to heating the pad up, and not emitting infrared light. 6: The heat is very mild. You can hardly feel the heat. I would often check the power switch to make sure I didn’t flip it off. Unfortunately it was always still on. The best way I can describe the heat is when you are up and walking about and you steal your wife’s seat while she goes to get something, it’s that kinda warm, and it’s gone in 30 seconds to a minute. It is not the kinda warm like: I feel like an icepick is lodged in my back and I need the closest thing to burning me to dull the pain for 2 minutes to loosen me up. If you need this kind of quick relief take an old sock and fill it halfway with rice, tie the open end up and microwave it to your desired heat and lay it on/lay on it for 1-2 minutes. Be carful to not burn yourself. Cost is only an old sock, 50 cents of rice, and the power to the microwave. 7: My wife and I don’t find any relief from the Thermotex. Our other pads do a much better job of wrapping around and heating the affected area. 8: It is expensive! I’m no stranger to paying for a premium product. But I expect a premium product to be user friendly, comfortable, and most importantly: work! We found it did not do any of these. I thought it might have a longer lasting affect for deep tissue or bone/joint pain. I’ve had those kind of injuries or pain 3-4 times. Each time I used the Thermotex for multiple days. I feel it caused more discomfort and problems trying to use it then if I had nothing. If I didn’t use it I at least would have been comfortable and been able to relax the whole time. Instead I struggled to get it in the right spot, I was uncomfortable, and I felt no relief. My condition improved once I gave up with the Thermotex pad, took Ibuprofen, stretched, and did mobility exercises for the same period of time as using the pad. Felt much better after that. All that to say, it doesn’t work well and is not worth the money.

WHY I PURCHASED IT The Thermotex Far Infrared Premium Heating Pad - Platinum has been a vital part of my recovery from an initially debilitating bout with Spondylolisthesis four years ago. I was diagnosed following a car accident. The lower back pain was excruciating... sciatica shooting from hip to toes, shoulder and neck pain, even leaky gut symptoms. My life felt miserable. I prayed for guidance and asked God to show me a natural path to healing instead of relying on all the medication my doctor prescribed. That’s when I found: - Bob & Brad (YouTube Physical Therapists): Brad had the same diagnosis and recommended the Thermotex Far Infrared Premium Heating Pad - Platinum. Bob has since passed away... may his soul rest in peace. - Stuart McGill’s book The Back Mechanic: While not specific to spondylolisthesis, it gave me vital insights into back hygiene and the importance of walking daily. - Pahla B and yes2next YouTube channels: Their pain-sensitive, low-impact workouts (yes, even as a man I had to swallow my pride and start very light!) kept me moving safely. ---------- MY RECOVERY JOURNEY Within weeks of using the Thermotex on my lower back for 30 minutes at a time, several times a day, along with very light exercise and a whole foods diet (that helped with inflammation), I started to feel hope. Mentally, I was finally fighting instead of just suffering. Physically, I noticed steady improvements from the infrared heat: - Better circulation and a little more mobility. - Reduced pain, allowing me to increase exercise little by little. - Over time, I regained strength and mobility. Fast forward 4 years: Thank God, I can now jog, jump, and do full calisthenics workouts (push-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, etc.). This heating pad played an important physical role in that journey. Even today, I use it whenever I overdo things or just need to relax tense muscles. ---------- WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT 1) Design/Detachable Long Cord - A fantastic feature. I can move around without removing the pad, and if I need to go beyond the cord’s reach, I simply detach it while leaving the pad strapped to my body. In my apartment, I can go from my office space into the adjoining kitchen without detaching the cord. 2) Straps & Fit - Customer service impressed me right after purchase. I emailed asking for an additional extra-long strap, and they sent it quickly, free of charge. With two long straps, I can wear the unit like a backpack, which is amazing for upper back and neck pain or relaxation while working at my desk. 3) Durability - The inner pads aren’t pillow-soft, but I see that as a positive. They’ve kept the pad sturdy all these years. The outer velvet-like covering is still soft, and despite daily use (99% of the time with a shirt on), I’ve never needed to wash it. No smell, no major wear. 4) Safe & Comfortable - Sometimes I use it for 30 minutes or more because it’s simply relaxing, not just therapeutic. It has never burned my skin. Not having a timer is not an issue for me. The only “issue” is that the green status light doesn’t always display, but it hasn’t affected performance at all. All three retractable heating sections still deliver the same deep heat they did on day one. ---------- MORE THAN BACK PAIN RELIEF Stomach issues: - When I overdo it with the fork and feel bloated, this pad on my stomach for about 30 minutes provides relief. - My daughter also uses it on her stomach for relief during her cycle. ---------- FINAL THOUGHTS If you’re considering this for back pain, recovery, or even general muscle relief, it won’t be a magic cure on its own. But as part of a holistic recovery plan, it can be life-changing. It was for me. At 46, I don’t have the back of an 18-year-old, but I’m thankful to God that it’s much better than it was 4 years ago. I’m able to live normally and stay active. There’s no question in my mind that this product was a key part of my healing journey. Thank you to the company for making a great product that truly helps people through tough challenges. And to anyone considering it... be patient, stay consistent, and focus on what you can do, even if it feels small at first. Healing is rarely an overnight process; it’s a journey made up of steady steps forward. For me, this pad became one of the best investments I made along that journey.

I really like the heat and how it puts it out. What I didn't like is the design. The internal parts and their location/size. They were/are very rigid and make's it so you can't position the unit around say your shoulder for example. That said, because of the type of heat it dispenses I was able to feel the heat and gain benefit from it.

Bought this for a hip problem or any future issues. Researched the infrared feature and apparently it is better for healing so I was willing to pay extra for something more effective. It works well and so far it has been helping. Although one side is padded, this is not the heat side. The heated side is mounted against a hard board, presumably to facilitate more efficient heat transfer to affected areas. For someone with hip problems, sitting on a hard piece of wood is not ideal. I can tell that leaning against it for back problems or maybe lying on your side with the heating pad between you and a sofa would also work but unlike conventional heating pads which are flexible and can be wrapped around an area, this is not flexible.

It is hard as a rock on the side you’re supposed to lean on so very uncomfortable if you have a bad back! Plus it doesn’t really do much!

works

I've loved this brand since I started using it over 10 years ago. When I needed to get one for my grandma, there was zero questions asked except one... WHERE am I getting my next thermotex pad? There wasn't even a wonder if we were going to shop elsewhere; it was an absolute no brainer that we were getting a thermatex for managing pain and circulation. My favorite use of these pads is having them on my feet and ice on my neck when I catch a migraine early; helps me manipulate blood flow into my feet and away from my throbbing skull. Everyone needs a thermatex. Period.

I like the heat, gets plenty hot enough for me. There is a hard board inside that's not removable... fine for flat areas, but you can't wrap the pad around any bodyparts, as some poeple may want to do.