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Raynaud's Sufferers--special gloves?

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Lupus
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Posted 12/29/2008 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all.  I'm sorry I'm  so terrible about keeping up with everyone here.  I do check in every once in a while, and I'm familiar with many of your stories.  I must admit that I"m much more of a lurker these days.  In any case, I believe my raynaud's has been getting much worse this year.  The pain in my fingertips has increased 10-fold, and when I'm cold (especially outside, but inside too), my fingertips swell something fierce.  I have the pitting edema, where the flesh at the tip of all of my fingers including thumbs will stay indented for quite a while after depressing it.  I was reading about special raynaud gloves and I was wondering if anyone here had heard of these or ever used them. 

http://www.raynaudsgloves.com/

I've gotten to the point that even having my fingers exposed while I work on the computer (at work with a temperature of 74 degrees) will cause pain and stiffness, although not a full-scale raynaud's attack.  But I figure if I can keep them warm, then perhaps I can prevent future damage.

Anyone have any experience to share?

Thanks so much!

Elcamino

Posted 12/29/2008 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
No experience with these but they seem similar to some space age fabrics used in high end technical clothing for skiing, climbing ,etc.

Here is a site that might answer some of your questions.

http://www.therapygloves.com/faq.html#7

I have been able to cope with raynauds quite well by dressing warmer.  Pay attention to your feet and torso even if your raynauds problem is confined to your fingers.  If your torso is cold your body will "regulate" blood flow and divert it from your extremeties to the head and core.  This is a normal mechanism in healthy and raynauds patients.  Have been able to ski and snowshoe in -10F temps by a combination of dressing warmer, using layers (merino wool glove liners), and mittens.  Only once did I have to resort to the chemical heat packs.

My raynauds was quite bad in my fingers for more than a year or two but seems to have improved a lot this year.  It might be that my body is trying to return to normal again...I can only hope.

Good luck with the gloves.

Bill

Posted 12/30/2008 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
Elcamino, I have no experience with these gloves, but they look great! Thanks so much for sharing as I am also a Raynaud's sufferer - & it has been unusually worse with the cold weather. I'm seriously considering this investment. I'll let you know how they work out. Jenny
Posted 12/30/2008 1:36 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the link bsime.  And for your encouragement Jenny.  I wasn't quite ready to invest in the therapy gloves just yet.  I stumbled across a raynaud's forum and wristies (www.wristies.com) were recommended, and a lot less expensive.  I decided to start with those, especially since I have to use the computer all day long for my job.  It's recommended that raynauders wear mittens over top the wristies when the temps really drop.  I figure $14 is a better deal on something I'm not sure about.  I also play piano, though, and musicians often use wristies (or the equivalent) to warm up their hands before playing.  I'll let you know how the wristies work out. 

El

Posted 12/31/2008 1:45 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I've been having horrible problems with Raynaud's also and I live in Arizona where it really isn't that cold.  The other night I came home from the movies and my hands were so purple they looked black.  I had to take a warm bath for about a half hour before they thawed out.  They were then very stiff and sore.  I called my Doctor the next day and she has prescribed Norvasc for me to take 1 to 2 times a day.  I haven't picked it up yet from the pharmacy.  I will probably get it tonight or tomorrow.

In the meantime a coworker got me some mittens that have warmers in them and they help a lot.  I also got a scarf from Bed, Bath and Beyond that has a warmer in the neck and then pockets at the end of the scarf that have warmers in them.  You throw them in the microwave and then they last for about an hour.

I think I am now addicted to blankets because I always feel so cold.  I have throws all over my house and whenever I go shopping I gravitate to the blankets and want to buy more.  I actually have fleece blankets still in packages in my closet just because I bought them when I was cold. LOL!!

Take care everyone.

Mary Ann

Posted 12/31/2008 12:09 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for your reply Mary Ann.  I'm hoping that it won't get to the point that I will need to take medication for it--but it's getting increasingly more difficult to keep warm.  Today I've dressed in several layers, so hopefully it will be much better.  but my hands are still exposed so I expect the attacks will still occur.  I've already had a couple on the way into work this morning.

El

Posted 11/4/2010 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for all of these links to gloves! I have to wear them every day when it's cold so I'm stocking up.

does anyone else get sores from Raynaud's?

I have them on all of my fingers. My derm/rheum call it "pernio." Last winter I got them for the first time when winter came around... they are white with red around the edges at first and then open blister-like sores at their worst (super painful). My fingers are always weird colors (typical Raynaud's). I wear bandaids on my fingers when the sores are open. And gloves (which are IN FASHION for this winter season, which makes it easier to find cute ones).

Call me "Glove Girl," haha :]
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