Raynaud's disease - what do you do?

[Skylar]

What has worked for you and what didn't?

I'm very lucky that my Raynaud's is pretty mild. I know someone who has an extreme case of it and his hands and toes turn patriotic red/white/blue when the weather hits the 60's. So I don't complain too much about mine after seeing his. But with my current flare, I see that mine will be worse than normal this year. What do you to to minimize the pain etc.

Has anyone bought those little heating packs to stick in their gloves? Did that help?

I've tried dressed super warm, extra layers of gloves mitts (I wore two pair and one was a down filled) to the point where my body was uncomfortably steaming hot but alas my fingers and toes turned white and painful.

I look forward to reading about your experiences - both good, bad and ugly.

[susan]

I do use the warmers in my mittens and they are wonderful! They keep me dog walking through the cold Wisconsin winters. I use Dakin mittens, the kind used for skiing.

[KellyG999]

I wish I knew!! It is only November, a mild one at that, and I already had several episodes of frostbite and the blisters on my toe tips from it. The blisters are sore and sometimes itchy.

I am allergic to wool, so wool socks are out.

I try to always warm up my car before getting in and driving in the cold. I have found that the pointier my shoes are, the more vulnerable I am. But they are so fashionable!! 

I hope to hear lots of good ideas.

KellyG

[Jellyb]

Hi Skylar,
I am like Susan, I use the pocket warmers also and the ones that go in the shoes. I also wear only mittens, not gloves because my fingers need each other to stay warm.

But what I have found most helpful is to try and not get chilled. If my body gets chilled it sends me into a raynauds episode wear my fingers toes nose lips go numb and it is soooo hard to get warmed up.

I also have a heating pad i use all the time at home and I live in fleese jammie pants too

[jazzlover]

It is true that you must keep your core body temp warm. I wear "long johns" when it gets cold. Target has some nice silky ones that are warm. I've never worn mittens, except maybe when I was a kid... but I did grow up in Texas. Living farther north now. I dread this winter because I'm already having trouble with Raynaud's. (for at least the past 6 wks and it's not been COLD)  We had our first hard freeze last night.

[Skylar]

jazzlover - I'll check out "long Johns" at Target this year - it just feels like it's going to be a cold winter. Thanks

Jellyb - thanks, for another vote for the pocket warmers. I'll buy some this year - in fact I should buy some soon to have on hand (have on hand - bad pun LOL ). I edited what I wrote because I'm wearing mitts, not gloves for the same reason you state. I've also had my nose and lips go numb from the cold too - and I never thought it was related to Raynaud's - but it probably is?

KellyG999 - I feel sorry for you - you definitely have it much worse than I do - and I hope we both learn some new tricks to help.

susan - thanks it's good to hear the the pocket warmers work and I'm going to check out those Dakin mittens. I bought a very expensive pair of down filled mittens from LL Bean last year and stuck another warm pair inside and that wasn't enough.

[jazzlover]

They also have matching tops to wear under sweaters. Go NOW before they are all gone. I bought another pair about 2 wks ago and they didn't have many left.

[Jellyb]

Hey, Skylar,
I dont know if they have a costco in your area, but the have the best price on them. You can get a whole box that also has a fewbof the feet warmers also. The box runs about 14 to 17 dollars, and lasts me about 2 years

[arina83]

KellyG999, try silk or alpaca. I have silk glove liners and alpaca fingerless gloves with a mitten flap. Wish I could find silk gloves with grippy palms. I got my alpaca gloves at Whole Foods. I also have fleece gloves, and many other gloves too (plus a ton of long underwear and winter clothing.... Gotta love living in Maine!).

And I'll also wear gloves and socks to bed... and even my fleece bathrobe too.

[jazzlover]

How do you fit anything besides your FOOT into a shoe?

[KellyG999]

KellyG999, try silk or alpaca. I have silk glove liners and alpaca fingerless gloves with a mitten flap. Wish I could find silk gloves with grippy palms. I got my alpaca gloves at Whole Foods. I also have fleece gloves, and many other gloves too (plus a ton of long underwear and winter clothing.... Gotta love living in Maine!).

And I'll also wear gloves and socks to bed... and even my fleece bathrobe too.

SILK! Of course! That sounds slim, smooth and warm. Great idea! Thank you.

[Patze]

Oh yes, I sure do use the hand warmers.  I've had Raynaud's for years, but I've noticed that the longer this mess goes on, the worse the Raynaud's is also getting (shucks, its only November and my fingers are already hurting 24/7).

I also wear silk under clothes when the temps only reach in the 50s....they are so comfy and they do help keep the body core warm.  I also like the sock liners with warm hiking socks, ahhhhh, nirvana for the much abused feet. 


Patze

[newhorizons]

Just posted about peripheral neuropathy on fingers and toes. I'm a senior and have had Raynauds for years with age comes newhorizons...excuse my silliness!

I'm sitting here with a fuzzy knit hat that covers head and ears and leg warmers.
Reason being, it's about bedtime as I have turned on the heating pad to warm my bed as its to get in lower 20's here tonight.

Finished my cup of hot tea... so nighty nite, sjoggie friends!

[gilth]

I have a great tip for Raynauds actually. I stumbled over it years ago for martial arts purposes (training up fingers) and when Raynaud symptoms started hitting me (even though I didnt know thats what it was at the time) I started using them again and they are aeons better than any other form of finger trainer I have seen.

They are called Baoding balls. They are metal balls with a small chime inside. Ancient chinese invention. The purpose is to have two of them in your palm. and rotate them around eachother, using your fingers to control. Takes a little practice to start with. Using them means your every finger joint is in movement, and they are scientifically proven to increase blood flow in the small veins. They helped me with the pain, the numbness and the cold. And they dont cost much either. Anmd it's actually quite fun and relaxing!

I'll reccomend them at the warmest!

You can find videos of them on youtube, and can order them online from a variety of shops. Maybe some of your local shops has them too.

They should be handed out for free to anyone when they get Raynauds diagnosis in my opinion. I lended mine to my father that has severe Raynauds, and he says they help a lot too.

[jazzlover]

gilth... that's cool... I have one of those squishy balls to exercise the hands. I rarely use it. Think that would work too??