Raynauds in my feet - help

[SnowyQueen]

My hands and feet are cold all year round. However, in the winter my feet get so cold that my toes go numb and I struggle to walk. My fingers are freezing despite wearing gloves. I’m starting to feel it already!

I haven’t been diagnosed as having Raynaud’s but it seems very plausible. My hands and feet take forever to get warm.

Any recommendations for non-chunky socks and gloves that will keep my toes and fingers warm? The only thing that works are sheepskin boots, but sometimes I want to wear black leather boots. Heat Holders socks are cosy, but not great for wearing outside the house because they’re so chunky.

srukshop.co.uk/

Please get it checked- because it can be linked to many other medical conditions! Don't just buy warm things to cover it up before you investigate if there is a cause, cure and/or treatment! Anemia other deficiencies etc which can be corrected.

If it is indeed just reynauds, then at least you'll know you don't have any of the associated medical conditions. best of luck.

@Spikeyplants I asked a doctor a couple of years ago and they just told me to keep warm… well obviously! I might have to go back. I’m not anaemic.

You can get sheepskin insoles to use in any of your shoes, I put some in my trainers last year and it was really cosy.

I also have raynauds and used to get white fingers and toes but ever since I started taking garlic capsules about 5/6 years ago I don’t get them anymore. My fingers and toes are still cold but they don’t go numb or painful anymore.

Also cashmere long gloves that also cover wrists
seems to work better at warming up fingers

I went to the doctor's, told her I thought I had reynauds and she agreed with me.
No one ever checked for anything else like pp said.
Although I don't have specific advice about things.
It's not a nice thing to have 😟

Silk socks and glove liners. Also invest in a really good pair of winter boots - and I mean ones that people who live in really snowy places wear! I have found that it’s not just the cold that causes pain but damp too - so time outside on cold, damp grass was agonising. I’d have sore patches on my feet and would have to sit with my feet in warm water for 20 min stints to stop them hurting so much (apparently you shouldn’t rub them). I am not looking forward to winter this year!

[quote Hawkmoth]srukshop.co.uk/[/quote]
Beat me to it

Calcium channel blockers medication eg nifedipine are sometimes prescribed for Raynauds. They are effective in expanding blood vessels but can give you quite a headache until you get used to them.

You maybe need to investigate further if anything is causing it. Mine is a side effect of lupus but there are other reasons.

M&S heatgen thermal long, thin socks are quite good, and never wear tight boots or shoes. I buy thermal soles too and I like Gabor boots, some of which have a warm lining. It's important to make sure you're hands and feet are properly warm before you go out in colder weather as they won't warm up later even with layers of thermals etc.
I usually keep my gloves on the radiator and often put boots / shoes on there too before I go out!

Yes that's true and the medicine

Unfortunately I'm already on a different blood pressure medicine (for actual high blood pressure) so that option's out for me 😟

While Raynaud’s itself isn’t life threatening, it can present as a symptom of other medical problems which can be. There are other medical problems than anaemia to worry about, ie, diabetes. (Tbh, more worrying in these circumstances.) Are your feet simply cold, or turning blue & white? Is it just your feet or hands and other extremeties? I have Raynaud’s and it sucks.
I am going to make a suggestion below, but it comes with a serious caveat. You need to ensure that you genuinely DO have Raynaud’s and not diabetes or a nerve problem. If you buy something like I have suggested and you have issues with your nerves, you could do irreparable damage with this.

There are battery-operated (rechargeable) heating pads for shoes and boots and also heated boots, coats and jackets specifically for motorcycle riders. (Amazon, Wish).
www.thewarmingstore.com/heated-insoles.html

Possum fur & merino. So warm & cosy, very light, don't smell so can be worn for a while without washing. Not cheap but do last if looked after. I get cold hands and have some fingerless gloves for WFH that are a godsend.

There are several suppliers in UK - this is one
www.nznature.co.uk/

Possums are an introduced species in New Zealand that devastate native flora and fauna (they eat Kiwi eggs for a start) and are very hard to eradicate, so you are also dong a good thing by buying these products too.

I'm the same as you, OP. Never been diagnosed (docs don’t listen) but my hands and feet ache all winter. My hands especially since I can't really wear gloves when I'm working and stuff. I've been known to put them on the cooker hob to get heat in them

Reading the recommendations with joy!

No! never put your frozen hands in something hot! Dad always told me to run warm water over your wrists and warm up gently. Don’t now if it’s the ‘right’ thing (but I always listened to my dad).

Me friend has Raynauds. Her fingers look dead in a heatwave! Swears by handwarmers in gloves.

Perhaps Extra thick socks on the feet and a covered hot water bottle?

Could you wear heated slippers?

I wear cashmere gloves and socks and have to say that wearing face masks out and about in the cold has really helped my nose and lips stay warm.

I was diagnosed in childhood and was never given any info on the potential comorbidities and long-term issues. Something to look into now. Thanks for this thread.

It always interests me when people say on these threads make sure there's not an underlying problem.
The doctor never looked into anything when I went about it she just agreed I've got reynauds
Which I'm sure is right as I've had it for years and no other problems
So I think you'd have to present with other problems before they investigated anything else

My doctor said - you need to do what they do in the Indian army... (ooh I think, what’s this?)... wear thick socks.

@Justilou1 thanks, but I’m not diabetic or anaemic (had a blood test a couple of months ago). I’ve had freezing cold feet and hands for years, since I was in my early teens. The get done numb I can barely move them. They take ages to warm up. Doctors have always just say “wear warm gloves and socks.” I don’t mind super thick socks and slippers at home, but I’m going to look into getting some socks to help with my circulation and heated insoles (that I can wear in boots).

@MrsDThomas

Me friend has Raynauds. Her fingers look dead in a heatwave! Swears by handwarmers in gloves.

Perhaps Extra thick socks on the feet and a covered hot water bottle?

Yeah I do this at home. Extra thick socks with a hot water bottle near them😭

I constantly have cold feet and I always wear two pairs of socks. A thin pair then a thick wooly pair over the top. A friend recommended it a few years ago and what a difference it made.

I also wear cashmere fingerless gloves even around the house in mid winter weather.

Puts socks on warm or your just insulating the cold.