Well Tykey, I think your post was deleted but I see your point (and also removed regional references from this one, to be careful not to offend ). I drive my sweetie up the wall sometimes with my frugality, but to me health has a pretty high priority so I just forged ahead with great determination and bought it (on Amazon also, $200 here).
As you can imagine this was difficult enough, but adding to the difficulty is the fact that Medicare gives TKR patients a FREE ice machine to take home from the hospital. But, I needed it before surgery since I could hardly walk, and also wanted to know how to use it right away as soon as I got home from the hospital. So I bought it, then got the free one, and actually I have two now.
I think it would be a modern miracle if you could make your own safe, easy to use ice machine (and knee conforming pad to strap on your knee) and have it ready to use even in months, much less in time to help with your pain. So I'd suggest giving up that idea because of time constraints.
My suggestion is to pretend for a moment that you are a rich playboy who buys whatever extravagance strikes his fancy, then buy the icing machine, then revert to former frugal habits and start icing. Once your knee is better you could sell it. Another possibility is renting one from a medical supply place if there are any there, and if they rent ice machines.
Oh well, I guess bags of frozen peas are OK. Sort of.
But not for me, I am such a princess.