Stiff fingers

[loum42]

Hi has anyone else's fingers when cold, gone so stiff that you can't undo your coat/open purse? I had this for second time yesterday. So painful and frightening I'd love some advice. It took about 40 minutes before I could hold cup handle to drink my tea. Kindly hubby undone coat for me! Thanks

[tall-tim]

Commiserations... no advice I'm afraid, except that my Sildenafil prescription makes such attacks unlikely for me. I can feel the positive effects within ten minutes of taking a pill.

[loum42 in reply to tall-tim]

Hi Tim, thanks for the commiserations. I shall look into the medication you are on, the Nifedopine is still making me feel rough, two weeks in and on the lowest dosage......

[StevieJoey in reply to loum42]

Yes mine did that this morning had to get out to do taxes early,i live in La & i have limited Scleroderma & RAYNUARDS it was in 70's yesterday today high is 47 !!! I take Nifedopine it took a good 4 to 6 weeks before my body got use to it so i did't feel so rouge !!!Also my Dr says for me to always keep my core (my body) warm like gloves,socks & stay out of cold much as i can !In winter i eat & drink a lot of hot stuff like coffee ,cocoa ,hot meals not cold stuff like salad's,ice cream !

[loum42 in reply to StevieJoey]

Hi Steviejoey, hope you feel better this afternoon. I do keep topping myself up with hot drinks, good excuse to now too, got to find the positive things don't we! Still struggling to get my layering right but it will no doubt come with time, I am not finding jeans very warm and then wearing tights underneath with socks upsets my feet, so I shall keep on trying different variations. Thanks for your reply. I hadn't thought too much about salads in winter but seeing it written down it makes sense.

[cpns]

Sadly, yes this happens to me when it is really cold, or there is a drop in temp i.e. freezer, or refrigeration isle in the shops. My fingers become cold, yellowish and unresponsive. I have no sensation in them until they thaw, them they burn like you have crushed them in a door. I have tried different medications, but the side effects are worse than the adjustments that I have to make. I buy food online & wear gloves to put away the chilled food. I keep my hands in my pockets when out & wear decent gloves. For me this is a workable solution, of sorts. If it gets worse I will have a rethink, I have also tried herbal remedies to no real avail. However, new meds are put out each year, so it might be worth asking to see what is on offer & testing how it works for you. Without a doubt, prediction & prevention is the key. Avoid the things that set you off, take precautions, ie gloves, heat packs etc., as it is the thawing that really hurts.

If this is all new to you, I would go & see your Doctor, see what they have to offer & get a referral - get some advice & build a strategy that works for you

[loum42 in reply to cpns]

Hello, thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. I too am struggling with the medication I have been prescribed and am in fact waiting a call from the surgery this morning about it. I shall definately take on board your tips. Do you wear any specific gloves, or have you found some that work better than others for you? Sorry for the questions but I am after any advice possibly as I was only diagnosed with Raynauds a couple of weeks a go so still finding what works best for me.

[cpns in reply to loum42]

I have had raynauds since I was early teens, First really noted there was a problem when I worked in a warehouse with a concrete floor & my feet were so cold that I couldn't feel them, hung them over a calor gas heater to defrost them & only realised that it was too hot when I smelt my tights melting. - no permanent damage, but took it a little more seriously from there. I am still learning new tricks that work for me, or things to avoid. Mine seems to have periods of change, not always worse, up *& down, some seasons are better than others & if my general health is up, or down, my reactiveness often falls into line with that.

I find space is a big issue. Tight, or snug gloves, or shoes are no friend of mine, as they almost make the problem worse. that little bit of air/space seems to act as insulation. Insoles in shoes also help, especially reflective ones. I like the Thinsula (not sure how you spell that) gloves, not too tight, not too thick - so you can still use your hands. Tried the silver glove, they were fine, but a bit tight on me (clearly I have hands like shovels!!!!)

Have tried gloves with inserts for heat pads & gloves with battery operated heating - huge beyond belief - looked like boxing gloves - seriously couldn't do anything wearing them (& looked a laughing stock!!!) Different things work for all of us, but try & be a bit self aware, 'Will I be frozen at fireworks/in the frozen food isle/going for a walk?' 'Yes', so plan to prevent your hands/feet getting too cold to start with. This is much easier & less time consuming than trying to thaw them out.

Wishing you well.

[Thelma in reply to cpns]

I also experience this problem. Ice cold fingers and hands and just when I'm at a cashier check out and have to go into my purse for the payment, and then have to ask the cashier, "can you get my money out, or my card out of here, my fingers are popsicles." I have to wear gloves as soon as I feel them getting a little cool and I never go without my best-protective gloves - absolutely no where. I find that the type of sanitizer that won't free my hands is the foaming soap style - regular hand sanitizer seems to upset the Raynauds. Taking a commuter mug of hot tea, hot chocolate or hot coffee is also a rescue tool - helps to keep my gloves and hands warmer and then the thermal hand warmer packs are a value-add to have on stand-by. We can find comfort with this condition, however, we have to have the tools that work best for us by our side at all times - no matter what the temperature is inside or outdoors. Sometimes we can't get to an add-on tool and the Raynauds just wants to invade and overtake - I just keep working with the discomfort for as immediate comfort as possible. Wishing you the very best on comfort, Loum42.

[loum42 in reply to Thelma]

Hi Thelma thanks for your reply. I like your positive thinking too, I shall take your advice on board as I've now been taken off the meds as the side effects were outwaying the benefits (none)! do you find a particular type of glove works better for you? I like having a good excuse for more hot drinks too! Take care

[AmyPS]

For me it gets to a point where they are so numb they don't function, can't hold things or just simply drop things as I lose the sensation.

I just try to keep my entire body, feet and hands warm, wear socks and gloves all the time - even then it's hard to pick up a mug of tea/coffee with a pair of gloves.

[loum42 in reply to AmyPS]

Thanks for your reply Amy, I regularly drop things out of fridge, I now know why! I'm taking on board all tips and advice. Take care

[AmyPS]

Yes it is a learning curve. I never knew why I would start going into shock when shopping either just general shopping or supermarkets - ie. air conditioning or freezer aisles. I find the cold causes stiffness and numbness.

[loum42 in reply to AmyPS]

I am definitely with you on this one, unfortunately. Thanks