Raynauds disorder/working outdoors anyone?
Discussion
You have my sympathy. I have a wussy office job but suffer from this when I go outside. I find that as long as my core is properly warm, them it's OK but it does mean taking more clothes than you think you need.
I find my hands are a much more sensitive measure of temperature than the rest of me. I can be perfectly comfortable but gradually my hands start to stiffen up, even before I feel cold. I have a pair of fingerless gloves to wear in the office which makes me look a bit like fagin.
I find my hands are a much more sensitive measure of temperature than the rest of me. I can be perfectly comfortable but gradually my hands start to stiffen up, even before I feel cold. I have a pair of fingerless gloves to wear in the office which makes me look a bit like fagin.
8Ace said:
You have my sympathy. I have a wussy office job but suffer from this when I go outside. I find that as long as my core is properly warm, them it's OK but it does mean taking more clothes than you think you need.
I find my hands are a much more sensitive measure of temperature than the rest of me. I can be perfectly comfortable but gradually my hands start to stiffen up, even before I feel cold. I have a pair of fingerless gloves to wear in the office which makes me look a bit like fagin.
Same here. The thickest gloves make no difference, it’s all about the core temperature. If you’re not insulated enough, best thing to do is to get the heart pumping in one way or another.I find my hands are a much more sensitive measure of temperature than the rest of me. I can be perfectly comfortable but gradually my hands start to stiffen up, even before I feel cold. I have a pair of fingerless gloves to wear in the office which makes me look a bit like fagin.
Well I think I have it, have all the symptoms just waiting to see doctor for blood tests. I work as a bricklayer in temps of around 2°C upwards.
Single digit temps absolutely kill my fingers they feel like they've been hit with hammers.
I've read up a little on medication but there seems to be alot of side effects. I was wondering how anyone else was getting on with their meds. TBH I'm not one for really popping pills everyday for the rest of my puff.
It's a bit of a kick in the nuts as I can't see me working my trade much longer.
Single digit temps absolutely kill my fingers they feel like they've been hit with hammers.
I've read up a little on medication but there seems to be alot of side effects. I was wondering how anyone else was getting on with their meds. TBH I'm not one for really popping pills everyday for the rest of my puff.
It's a bit of a kick in the nuts as I can't see me working my trade much longer.
I’ve never bothered a doctor with it, I know what it is and from what I’ve read there isn’t a great deal to be done, although I’m interested in anyone’s experience of treatment. As I said, work up a bit of a sweat and mine isn’t an issue (I can walk fast/cycle on the coldest days without issue). Stand around or sit still and it’s miserable.
I've suffered reynauds for over 20 years. There's nothing worse, especially as a biker trying to undo your chinstrap when you can't feel any sensation in your fingers.
I tried all the normal "therapies" (wrap up warm/gloves etc)
It was only when I went to the doctors a couple of year ago and was prescribed nifedepine that I had any results. Pop a small pill half an hour before going out in the cold and jobs a good un! Usually lasts around 12 hours, sometimes have the side effect of a light headache (not sure if this may just be me being dehydrated) would definitely give this a go in your position if any sort of dexterity is required in the fingers
I tried all the normal "therapies" (wrap up warm/gloves etc)
It was only when I went to the doctors a couple of year ago and was prescribed nifedepine that I had any results. Pop a small pill half an hour before going out in the cold and jobs a good un! Usually lasts around 12 hours, sometimes have the side effect of a light headache (not sure if this may just be me being dehydrated) would definitely give this a go in your position if any sort of dexterity is required in the fingers
Ah, been waiting for this one to come up. Apparently on the increase. What causes it - obviously blood vessels narrow, ask deeper and nobody knows - how often do I hear that when asked for a 'cause' - 'we don't really know'. Yet loads suffer, in fact the NHS now describes Raynaud's (syndrome or disease - you choose!!) as 'common'.
Affects I was told mainly younger, 18-35 yr olds, more so females.
Well, I'm not in that age group, I'm miles on from it in fact. Spoken with lots who suffer and we it seems have to suffer in silence. Tons of research money is piled into other things but not Raynauds.
I know exactly when mine started - near Xmas 2016. June earlier that year I developed an inguinal hernia in Lanzarote - only mention that because I had no other health issues. Hernia got worse and so did Raynauds. Went for op (hernia) in 2017, but op cancelled outside op theatre because of another syndrome (white coat!) in my case. They wanted me on pills. No thanks. So I went private, hernia sorted. I asked about Raynauds. Again, thinning of blood vessels - yeah, know that. How do I get rid of it? Pills - Nifedipine. Any side effects? Oh yeah! Common ones include headache, flushing, constipation, feeling tired and swollen ankles. These usually improve after a few days of treatment. And don't eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you're taking nifedipine. It can make side effects worse. Sorry, I like grapefruit, not excessive, I might have a couple or three a month. So... No thanks. I don't pop pills - it seems every one of my friends my age does.
It is f. annoying, like today in a supermarket, it's chilly, grab a 'cold' handle shop trolley and within seconds fingers are dead. Once they have 'gone' trying to get them 'back to life' is almost impossible. Heater on full blast in car with fingers stuck in vents, still dead. Drive off, eventually life comes back. Get out car touch cold door handle, back to square one. I've tried everything, those hot things you press, nothing works. I was in a charity shop back in Nov and was rubbing my hands together trying to get them back to life. This guy comes up behind me and says 'Raynauds'. He was same, nothing works. He'd been on pills, tried this, tried that. Just prays for the Spring and sunshine - like me now!
I was in Waitrose a few months back (choose your own supermarket) and I dropped my wallet, couldn't hold my credit card - lady at the till realised what was up and I asked if she suffered? No but Sarah does who works in here, she can't go near the fridge areas. She's 19 ffs! Christ, imagine having to go through life with this I thought from that age. How the f
k would I have worked on cars and stripped engines/boxes down unless the weather was warm?
Here is the only way to get rid of it quick. Under tap warm water (not hot) and within couple mins max, back to normal. Apols for 'big' pics! LOL
Affects I was told mainly younger, 18-35 yr olds, more so females.
Well, I'm not in that age group, I'm miles on from it in fact. Spoken with lots who suffer and we it seems have to suffer in silence. Tons of research money is piled into other things but not Raynauds.
I know exactly when mine started - near Xmas 2016. June earlier that year I developed an inguinal hernia in Lanzarote - only mention that because I had no other health issues. Hernia got worse and so did Raynauds. Went for op (hernia) in 2017, but op cancelled outside op theatre because of another syndrome (white coat!) in my case. They wanted me on pills. No thanks. So I went private, hernia sorted. I asked about Raynauds. Again, thinning of blood vessels - yeah, know that. How do I get rid of it? Pills - Nifedipine. Any side effects? Oh yeah! Common ones include headache, flushing, constipation, feeling tired and swollen ankles. These usually improve after a few days of treatment. And don't eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you're taking nifedipine. It can make side effects worse. Sorry, I like grapefruit, not excessive, I might have a couple or three a month. So... No thanks. I don't pop pills - it seems every one of my friends my age does.
It is f. annoying, like today in a supermarket, it's chilly, grab a 'cold' handle shop trolley and within seconds fingers are dead. Once they have 'gone' trying to get them 'back to life' is almost impossible. Heater on full blast in car with fingers stuck in vents, still dead. Drive off, eventually life comes back. Get out car touch cold door handle, back to square one. I've tried everything, those hot things you press, nothing works. I was in a charity shop back in Nov and was rubbing my hands together trying to get them back to life. This guy comes up behind me and says 'Raynauds'. He was same, nothing works. He'd been on pills, tried this, tried that. Just prays for the Spring and sunshine - like me now!
I was in Waitrose a few months back (choose your own supermarket) and I dropped my wallet, couldn't hold my credit card - lady at the till realised what was up and I asked if she suffered? No but Sarah does who works in here, she can't go near the fridge areas. She's 19 ffs! Christ, imagine having to go through life with this I thought from that age. How the f
k would I have worked on cars and stripped engines/boxes down unless the weather was warm?Here is the only way to get rid of it quick. Under tap warm water (not hot) and within couple mins max, back to normal. Apols for 'big' pics! LOL
I feel your pain mate. It annoys the piss out of me because I'll drive to work ( 5 minute commute) and as soon as that index finger touches the cold steering wheel, it's game over for most of my fingers, numb by the time I get there.
Same when I'm trying to work on my bike or car, can't feel the ends of my fingers after touching a cold bolt head.
To be fair, I know there's a few side effects, but I tend only to take the nifedepine if I know I'm doing something that will require it e.g. Going out on the bike, playing football outside, working on the car etc.
I find the headache may happen maybe 1 in every 5 times I take it and it's a price worth paying.
Same when I'm trying to work on my bike or car, can't feel the ends of my fingers after touching a cold bolt head.
To be fair, I know there's a few side effects, but I tend only to take the nifedepine if I know I'm doing something that will require it e.g. Going out on the bike, playing football outside, working on the car etc.
I find the headache may happen maybe 1 in every 5 times I take it and it's a price worth paying.
Chatting to someone today who goes skiing a lot and suffers cold hands, she said 'silver gloves' - go inside normal gloves (I've tried all sorts of glove, thermal, you name it, find I'm better without - gloves on, IF fingers go cold, I could have ten pairs on top of each other and it would make no difference!) but never tried 'silver' gloves.
Might give them a try while waiting for ...warm spring... summer!
These sound good and reviews are good.
https://www.healthandcare.co.uk/raynauds-disease-a...
Others I looked at -
can't see these helping, very parts of fingers that go white still exposed?
Might give them a try while waiting for ...warm spring... summer!
These sound good and reviews are good.
https://www.healthandcare.co.uk/raynauds-disease-a...
Others I looked at -
can't see these helping, very parts of fingers that go white still exposed?
Holy thread resurrection!
It is coming to that time of year where us sufferers dread, already my fingers are feeling cold but the full symptoms have not yet kicked in.
As a mechanic the next 6 months really do fill me with dread as the pain and numbness really affect my job and well being.
So, other than the ongoing dunking of hands into a bowl of warm/hot water for 5 minutes until the super painful pins and needles arrive signalling the return of circulation (repeat every couple of hours all day
) has anyone else come up wit or found a better solution?
I am reading good things about silver gloves but real world experience of them would be handy.
I know about the drug, Nifedipine, but I have various arrhythmias so I have to be super careful what drugs I take or it can kick that off one way or the other.
So little has been done to try and find a solution/ fix for this and yet I am genuinely filled with dread about the next few months of constant pain in my fingers and the thought that it is getting so bad now I might have to give up my job and look for something where I can try and control it.
Anyway, sorry for going on, short story, Silver gloves; do they work? Other solutions?
Thanks
It is coming to that time of year where us sufferers dread, already my fingers are feeling cold but the full symptoms have not yet kicked in.
As a mechanic the next 6 months really do fill me with dread as the pain and numbness really affect my job and well being.
So, other than the ongoing dunking of hands into a bowl of warm/hot water for 5 minutes until the super painful pins and needles arrive signalling the return of circulation (repeat every couple of hours all day
) has anyone else come up wit or found a better solution?I am reading good things about silver gloves but real world experience of them would be handy.
I know about the drug, Nifedipine, but I have various arrhythmias so I have to be super careful what drugs I take or it can kick that off one way or the other.
So little has been done to try and find a solution/ fix for this and yet I am genuinely filled with dread about the next few months of constant pain in my fingers and the thought that it is getting so bad now I might have to give up my job and look for something where I can try and control it.
Anyway, sorry for going on, short story, Silver gloves; do they work? Other solutions?
Thanks
I have this too, (AFAICT, as it's undiagnosed)
Mostly an issue for me when hillwalking in winter, as my day job is inside.
The main trick I've found is to stop the hands getting cold in the first place. This may sound obvious, but once they're cold, no amount of gloves will help. So gloves on from the start, and shaking out the arms/hands to keep circulation.
Fingerless mitts or silk liner gloves work well for me underneath thicker gloves/mitts. The advantage is that if you need to remove outers for dexterity, you've still got some warmth. Look for ones that go well beyond the wrist.
Mostly an issue for me when hillwalking in winter, as my day job is inside.
The main trick I've found is to stop the hands getting cold in the first place. This may sound obvious, but once they're cold, no amount of gloves will help. So gloves on from the start, and shaking out the arms/hands to keep circulation.
Fingerless mitts or silk liner gloves work well for me underneath thicker gloves/mitts. The advantage is that if you need to remove outers for dexterity, you've still got some warmth. Look for ones that go well beyond the wrist.
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