Icy Cold Feet

[SpinningGwenny]

I have lymphoedema in legs,arms, abdomen etc. Problem is, when the rest of my body us uncomfortably toasty warm my feet feel like locks of ice. I’ve done the obvious like warm socks but it makes no difference. Anyone got any tips?

[Lynora]

Secondary or primary lymphoedema? Are your feet and toes swollen too? Do you wear compression? Do you have numbness in the feet when they are cold? Does the skin of your toes go white or a murky grey/purple?

[SpinningGwenny in reply to Lynora]

Yes to all. My toes and legs are very swollen too and I wear those neoprene compression garments. My toes go a bit paler but not grey or purple.

[Lynora in reply to SpinningGwenny]

Which form of lymphoedema - primary or secondary? Lipoedema? Neoprene garments - NHS prescribed or supplied privately? Are you under the care of an NHS Lymphoedema clinic?

[SpinningGwenny in reply to Lynora]

Secondary. The neoprene garments are supplied by the NHS and I’m under the care of an NHS nurse practitioner.

[Lynora in reply to SpinningGwenny]

What is the name of the garments you use - I don’t know of neoprene - would be interested to know.

If you wear stockings, are they open or closed toe? Are your feet cold when you are wearing garments? Do they warm up once the garments have been removed?

One of my clients runs a farm, and uses open-toe thigh length garments. For years she’s had chilblains on her toes - then she discovered thermal socks made with aluminium thread - apparently developed by NASA for astronauts (??) - but they work, and now her feet are always warm - even when she’s out breaking ice on water troughs at 0530 on a winter morning in deepest darkest Fife!

[DeadfootMo]

Hello SpinningGwenny, I have vienous lymphoedema and sometimes I feel that my feet are like blocks of ice with icicles for toes but in reality my feet are actually warm, what is mentally making me feel like they are cold is the fact that they are so swollen and puffy I feel a little pain in the crevices and at times they are tingly like pins and needles. They are worse too if I wear compression for pins and needles to the point of numbness, extra sore ridges to what I already have, and horrendous cramps. I feel that I could do with a gentle to vigorous exercise programme to rid me of excess fat and to possibly reverse or improve my condition. Unfortunately, I can't afford to join a gym but my GP still tells me that I need to exercise and increase my metabolism to see any improvement and that I need to be on a low GI diet.

[SpinningGwenny in reply to DeadfootMo]

That sounds really unpleasant, DeadfootMo. Ihope you are able to find some relief soon.

[DeadfootMo]

Thank you. I hope you too find the answer to your issues.

[Hidden]

I also have really cold toes all the time, socks don’t seem to make a difference, but I’m going to search for those thermals with aluminium mentioned above, will try anything.

Sorry it’s not exactly a constructive comment, but you aren’t alone.

[Bev-1966 in reply to Hidden]

Hi faethe, they sell them socks on easylife web site £6.99.

[SetFreeAtLast]

Hi

I have cold feet much of the winter. I have insulated insoles, wear an extra pair of socks, wear bed socks at night (apparently most women sleep better with bedsocks!!) try to keep wiggling my toes, rotating my ankles when sitting. Those astronaut socks sound good....might get a pair!!