A disposable brief is provided with exterior front and rear pockets to receive and hold in position thermal packs, either hot or cold, at locations such as the lower
abdomen, the
crotch, the anal area or the lower back. The preferred brief is inexpensive and universal in that it may be worn by both males and females and is readily adjustable in size to fit various sizes of waists, hips or legs to reduce the inventory needed by an institution. The preferred disposable brief is in the form of a diaper that has a rear portion or panel that may be slid under a prone patient's back, a
crotch portion that may be pulled between the patient's legs, a front portion or panel that may be positioned over the lower
abdomen and securable hip or
waist portions such as adjustable straps to secure the brief to the patient and retain the thermal packs in position for a patient in
bed or for a patient when
ambulatory. The pockets are easily opened and the cold or hot packs may be easily inserted or removed from difficult locations such as behind a patient's back. The preferred brief is reversible so that what would be the rear portion can be positioned as a front portion on the patient, usually for the purpose of locating the pocket on the rear portion at a particular location on the
abdomen to apply heat or cold to this location. The illustrated brief may have two or three pockets which are located at the
crotch, a rear portion and / or a front portion of the brief. In other embodiments, an absorbent pad such as a sanitary pad is provided for use with the disposable brief. A hot or cold pad may be inserted into a pocket of the disposable brief having the sanitary pad to alleviate cramping if it occurs during the
menstrual period. In a still further embodiment, an inexpensive brief or panty has an integral sanitary pad with the used brief and pad being discarded after a single usage thereof.