Would a heating pad be bad between visits to the ice machine? Coming up on 3 weeks and sometimes I feel like heat sure would feel good on those muscles. Another week and a half I think and I'll be allowed to get in the whirlpool tub.   ;D

Don't know, since I never tried it.

I was usually only icing since I wanted to control any swelling and irritation of the hips and the muscles.

Before the surgeries, whenever I got an injury I would ice until the inflammation / swelling went down, then heat when all of that subsided to promote blood flow - I guess I treated it like an extended injury and didn't go past the icing until any discomfort went down.

I'm no help either - I've been too busy bonding with my polar ice machine to think about doing anything else. 

Contrast would be good for you.  Heat and then Ice.  Always finish with ice. 

I have not used a heating pad since the surgery. It was once part of my furniture. I think ice does more post op.

I'm a big user of a heating pad.  It sure feels good.   I always ice after exercise but at the end of the day or in the evening, heat feels just great!

Heat before exercise/pt ice afterward...

Oh my!! This is niiiice!!!! Don't know why but my muscles just feel extra sore today. My quads down to the knee are a little tender in addition to my behind. Got the ice machine pre cooling and I'll put that on after 15-20 minutes of this heating pad. I haven't walked in a few days (like real not stop straight line walking) because I've been so busy at work. Worked at the office until noon then went and bought a fridge for one of my rental properties and met the delivery guys. Transferred the tenants food to the new fridge and by the time I was done at 3 all I wanted to do was come home and get horizontal for a while. Now I'm gonna veg out and watch basketball. Come on Kansas! I can't bear to watch Calipari win this. Memphians still hold a grudge. Ha!