In our house, we’ve got about four heating pads and at least four ice packs that are in an almost constant state of use.

For rheumatoid arthritis, heat is generally considered best to soothe aching joints and muscles, but cold is better for dealing with swelling and inflammation. My wife is often trapped in a constant fluctuation of temperatures. In many cases, I’ve noticed that cold first, followed by heat seems to help her when things get really bad. I’ve also noticed that cold packs seem to help when she’s got a headache, and heat seems to make a headache worse.

The heating pads are pretty basic. I wish they would automatically shut off after a while, though. I occasionally find that one has been left on all night. It’s also important that they have a removable cover that can be washed.

The cold packs are pretty basic, but I recommend getting a couple of big ones. They can be expensive at that size, but they are totally worth the cost. The only problem I ever have had with them is that they don’t always get put back in the freezer.