Long Lasting Ice Packs or Cooling??

trotter_inc

My problem: I work in Cork and run most days after work in and around Cork. However, I live about 25 miles outside of the city. Over the past few months I've been getting pains in my lower legs which my physio seems to think is compartment syndrome (I hope I got that right). He has advised me to put ice on my lower legs straight after my runs, but seeing as I have a 40 minute drive home after my run this is a little difficult.

I have been in to lots of different pharmacies and sports shops but I cannot find any ice blocks which remain ice cold for approx 10 hours. I need something which I can take out of the freezer when I leave work in the morning and still have it ice cold for after my run.

I was watching Dragons Den last night and there was a re-usable cooling bandage on it (called Physicool) which sounds great but which is quite expensive as you have to buy the cooling gel/spray along with it.

I've tried the Biofreeze gel but it doesn't have the same effect as pure ice on the leg.

Anyone any ideas here? Thanks!

tunney

Chemical ice packs.

An endothermic reaction cools them when you activate them.

Best you'll do I think

hunnymonster

Tunney, that's expensive (and not particularly good for the environment) if trotter is going to be doing it longer term.

How good would an ice box be at keeping ice for 10-12 hours? Depending on your work situation, could you keep a mini-freezer in your office. Would need a couple of sets of ice packs (use A on Monday, bring them back in Tuesday to put in Freezer, Use B Tuesday, put in freezer Wed morning etc).

trotter_inc

tunney wrote: »

Chemical ice packs.

An endothermic reaction cools them when you activate them.

What sort of shop would sell these? As I said, I've tried most sports shops and pharmacies. Might do a bit of reading up on them...

Any idea on cost? I know Hunnymonster said they're quite expensive...

trotter_inc

hunnymonster wrote: »

Tunney, that's expensive (and not particularly good for the environment) if trotter is going to be doing it longer term.

How good would an ice box be at keeping ice for 10-12 hours? Depending on your work situation, could you keep a mini-freezer in your office. Would need a couple of sets of ice packs (use A on Monday, bring them back in Tuesday to put in Freezer, Use B Tuesday, put in freezer Wed morning etc).

We used to have a chest freezer in the office alright but they got rid of it

Have tried keeping an ice box in the car, it's seems effective up until about 6 hours and once it's out the cooling effect goes quite fast!

hunnymonster

somewhere like physioneeds.ie are bound to have them. We have half our freezer devoted to reusable ice packs so it's a while since I've bought the disposable ones but they're not insanely expensive as a once off but not for everyday.

tunney

trotter_inc wrote: »

My problem: I work in Cork and run most days after work in and around Cork. However, I live about 25 miles outside of the city. Over the past few months I've been getting pains in my lower legs which my physio seems to think is compartment syndrome (I hope I got that right). He has advised me to put ice on my lower legs straight after my runs, but seeing as I have a 40 minute drive home after my run this is a little difficult.

I have been in to lots of different pharmacies and sports shops but I cannot find any ice blocks which remain ice cold for approx 10 hours. I need something which I can take out of the freezer when I leave work in the morning and still have it ice cold for after my run.

I was watching Dragons Den last night and there was a re-usable cooling bandage on it (called Physicool) which sounds great but which is quite expensive as you have to buy the cooling gel/spray along with it.

I've tried the Biofreeze gel but it doesn't have the same effect as pure ice on the leg.

Anyone any ideas here? Thanks!

Only noticed the bit about biofreeze - cooling gels and sprays only give the sensation of cooling. they do not actually cool the leg.

Peterx

I use the foldable blue glycol packs that are designed for keeping picnic cooler boxes cold. They are rock solid to start with and gradually thaw to the consistency of the more pliable ones designed for runners. They stay cold for much longer then the ones for runners.

4 or 5 of those in a cooler box just big enough for them should stay cold for 10 hours and then you can strap one on to your lower leg for the drive home.
You could get a minifridge that runs off the car battery, put the glycol pack in the cooler box in the mini fridge and then it only starts heating when you have to unplug it as you arrive at work - probably overkill:)

Domer

Another option could be to go to a local off-licence / supermarket and buy a bag of ice for about €1. Your injury should not last long, so this would seem to be the most cost effective way of getting ice to the area.

On a side note, what kind of training are you doing? Are you doing easy runs, or interval / speed sessions? The problem could be caused by lactic acid build up in you calfs, and it is being made worse (cant spell exaserbated!?) by sitting in the car for 40 minutes after your run. Look at your training, and ensure that you are doing a sufficient cool down to help work the LaO2 out of your system before getting into the car for the drive home. If it is Comp Syn, then maybe what you should be doing is resting till it subsides, and getting some deep treatments into your calves, peronials etc., followed by some rehab before resuming your full training regime.

trotter_inc

hunnymonster wrote: »

somewhere like physioneeds.ie are bound to have them. We have half our freezer devoted to reusable ice packs so it's a while since I've bought the disposable ones but they're not insanely expensive as a once off but not for everyday.

physioneeds look promising hunnymonster, thanks!

trotter_inc

Domer wrote: »

On a side note, what kind of training are you doing? Are you doing easy runs, or interval / speed sessions? The problem could be caused by lactic acid build up in you calfs, and it is being made worse (cant spell exaserbated!?) by sitting in the car for 40 minutes after your run. Look at your training, and ensure that you are doing a sufficient cool down to help work the LaO2 out of your system before getting into the car for the drive home. If it is Comp Syn, then maybe what you should be doing is resting till it subsides, and getting some deep treatments into your calves, peronials etc., followed by some rehab before resuming your full training regime.

I started marathon training in February and it's been an on-going problem. No matter how long the distance I intend on running the pain starts at about the 2.5 mile mark and lasts for about 2 or 3 miles, after that the pain goes and I could run another 10 miles or more pain free. Even after running the Cork marathon in June I felt pain free and finished it quite comfortably.

I visited the physio for about 7 weeks and it helped a little alright but not majorly. Even after completing the Cork marathon I took a month off and eased my back in to it, but the pain still keeps coming back.

It's not from a lack of stretching, I do quite a bit before and after each session.

Most of my training recently has been on the road, though when I run on the threadmill I never get pains, must be impact related I suppose....

Zuppy

Might be time to see a Medical practitioner.

On the Ice thing, I suffer pretty much as you do. Is there a pub or cafe nearby? double ziplock bags and ice from them if it a temp measure.
Otherwise most car coolboxs come with a mains adapter. I am sure work has a plug.

Domer

I would echo the previous post... you need to seek help from a professional.

We can't give any specific medical advice on Boards, but I would suggest you get a second opinion on your condition. 7 weeks of treatment with little or no improvement is not good. And being told to continue running on an injury, but just keep icing is not the solution to your problem, and IMHO is not the right course of action.

trotter_inc

Domer wrote: »

I would echo the previous post... you need to seek help from a professional.

We can't give any specific medical advice on Boards, but I would suggest you get a second opinion on your condition. 7 weeks of treatment with little or no improvement is not good. And being told to continue running on an injury, but just keep icing is not the solution to your problem, and IMHO is not the right course of action.

Maybe it's time to try a different physio so! The pain is quite annoying as it takes away from the pleasure that is outdoor running.