Hi there

In the last few days my toes feel as if someone is pouring icy cold water over them, it's a really strange sensation. Is this a normal part of RA? Is it the drugs? Or just something else? It seems weird to have gone from burning hot feet to icy cold. Anybody experienced anything similar?

Thanks

Katie

hi katie,i am a sufferer of raynauds and boy do i know,the feeling is horrible,it is when the circulation goes from the toes and fingers and sometime the tip of the nose/ears, i have had this for years but the only advice i get from gp etc is to wrap up and keep digits warm,i now have finger less gloves i put on along with my dressing gown first thing plus good warm slippers and i use said gloves all day unless i get too hot,keep a warm cardi or body warmer handy,hat for outdoors as forehead chills as well, i am sure it is to do with the meds,i am getting more and more of it now the really cold weather is here,please be very aware when you have got the white digits as you can hurt yourelf badly as not alot of feeling if any,this also apllies to heating them up you can be burned on a cup of tea,ive done it,get it confirmed by gp or nurses as it should go on your records for future reference ie claims forms etc,i have a lavender heat bear it goes in the micro best thing ever just right to cuddle, all the best,dorothy

keep ankles warm as they can make feet cold.

Thank you everyone for this advice and information, it is so very useful. It's a good idea to speak to the rheumatology nurse and I'll ring her or email her. You're right I am sitting a lot more than I would do normally so I will try doing some exercises and wiggling my toes to keep the circulation moving. If I only I didn't feel so exhausted all the time I could do some more exercise.

Love Katie

hello everyone.
Sadly I have cold hands & feet as well.
Something I've had before ra - when I first met my husband I used to pop my feet on his back just as he was nodding off!! Couldn't bend my knees and try that now!
Instead I place my hands on his cheeks (on his face)!! or on his neck to prove I feel cold!

I use soft stretchy socks which are easy to put on, lidels sell them or supermarkets do (they have to totes grip things so you don't slide). The totes brand I can't get on because the are tight and a fitted product - don't offer flexibility.
I put the soft stretchy them on my hands at bedtime after creaming my hands with diprobase(prescription for dry skin) keeps my hands toastie and soft!

Anyone use hot water bottles/wheat bags?
I saw a garden centre selling small "hand" lavender wheat bags - an excuse to go back and check them out again! It maybe they are over priced?!

Bedtime
Xxx

I got heat holder socks for my girls when they are out riding - they love them! I bought mine at Matalan - and they've been advertised on telly recently so I expect lots of other street shops stock them too.

thanks peps will look on line now,dorothy

I've always got cold feet, hands and nose.

Told my husband that I want some of them slipper fur booties for Christmas to keep my tootsies warm, he always moans when we get in bed.

My hands are always cold, but I say ......Cold hands, warm heart!

Not sure about the cold nose, perhaps I am having too many Bob Martin tablets

Paula x

at least now you know and have a name for it,happy shopping,dorothy

I have Raynaud's too. It started with the onset of RA. It is therefore secondary as opposed to primary Raynaud's. I take Nifedipine for it and vitamin e. Last year it got so bad that I developed finger ulcers which was the start of gangrene (hence the drug treatment). Try to prevent attacks and if you can'r seem to get things under control do seek advice about drug treatment as Raynaud's can cause severe problems if it gets out of hand. Mine is in my fingers and toes and causes them to go completely white. Naomi, X

I don't know whether the finger exercises would help....I suppose anything that gets the circulation moving is good for the hands....but with Raynaud's there is severe spasmodic constriction of the blood vessels and the blood supply is completely cut off so I don't think excercises would really help (could be wrong here).