Bad chilblains?

[ShonaGreen]

Having a bad attack of chilblains on my toes, usually get them on my fingers but none so far this winter. Saw GP today and they thought one toe looked necrotic, having blood tests tomorrow and mentioned referral to Rheumatology. Few years ago when my hands were bad I was referred to Rheumatology, had high ANA but all other tests normal so they said it was primary Raynauds and I was discharged. GP also mentioned diabetes and gout but think it’s probably just bad case of chilblains.

Has anyone else had toes like this?

[Craftyflower]

Hi Shona, Sorry to see you're suffering with bad chilblains. I can't offer much in the way of advice how to stop them, but just to say my feet look just like yours. I hope you can get some help from the rheumatologist.

I've tried pretty much everything to try and prevent them but to no avail and it's always worse at this time of year.

I do find soaking my feet in warm water with something like epsom salts (or dissolve a bit of soap in the water) and keeping them well moisturised helps to ease pain from them, and ibuprofen gel when they're particularly painful helps a bit as it helps to cool the heat of the swelling.

Take care

[Jrob14]

hi hope you get this sorted soon, looks painful. Bit random but my husbands ears go very purple and not just in the cold. I thought it was due to poor circulation but not sure.

Every day another symptom!

[blueberry20 in reply to Jrob14]

My feet look like yours too. I do everything I can but just unable to prevent them. One part never really heals even in the summer.

[cls_98]

Hi Shona,I used to get chilblains like that, but since my rheumatologist started me on tadalafil as well as a higher dose of coracten (nifedipine), I haven't had them. This winter, I felt one starting, so immediately increased the coracten dose and this seemed to stop it progressing into anything more.

I don't know if you're on any medication, but it may be worth asking? You have my empathy, your toes look so very sore.

Love Cx

[ShonaGreen in reply to cls_98]

Hi, thanks for your message. I take nifedipine but haven't heard of tadalafil so will look into that. Over the last few days I have a few more chilblains on my toes, another one looking brown and feel leathery like the toe in the picture, and starting on my fingers too so looks like just in a flare at the moment, least the weather is warming up a bit now!

[fairy56]

Hi, yes I've got severe chilblains too, for the first time in years.

[Jacko37]

Yes, very painful. Never had them on my toes until about 3 years ago. Wearing any kind of shoes is agony. They are on my fingers as well.

[Brychni]

Always wear socks in bed. Best fabric is real wool becauseit'sself cleaning, just hang them on the line or airer. Electric blanket, can't live without mine. Keep moving. When I'm on my day off and at home I find it unbearable because I can't just put the heating on for me, but if I'm sitting down at my laptop or knitting I really struggle with getting cold. I have to get on my step exerciser!My feet have never been as bad but had digital ulcer on my finger last winter. It seems to always be there just under the surface and tender. Hasn't made an appearance yet...