Frostbite, anyone else with terrible feet have a good answer?

[trikerider]

Why does he have one leg? I'm not sure I get it.
I have seen doctors, they don't know. Never get any answers. They say my heart is fine too. Maybe I'll just try the battery heated socks.

I don't know how old you are, my dad had high cholesterol that blocked his arteries. He threw a clot in his femoral artery at age 81. This is what caused his problem. He always had cold feet and hands. I'm no expert but I would go see a vascular specialist.

 

[derkahn]

I second the go see a dr sentiment
the ultimate combo would be the mickey mouse boots and get

Vapor Barrier socks

here is a slightly long article on why people use them

http://www.thebackpacker.com/articles/tipsandhow/art21.php

pretty much every mountaineer "think everest,denali etc" use them.

good luck

 

[0007]

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raynaud's_phenomenon

Read this
Everyone used to say it was bad circulation But........

 

[0007]

OH Ya
By the way, look's like Viagra is a treatment!!
Be some splainin to do if you are cought poppin one before you get on your sled LOL

 

[mtnjunkie]

OH Ya
By the way, look's like Viagra is a treatment!!
Be some splainin to do if you are cought poppin one before you get on your sled LOL

Now that would look odd. Oh ya, I'm 25.

 

[0007]

Note to self:
Skidoogirl is a Girl...........

K, nevermind the Viagra thing

 

[catmt]

Try These

My feet are always cold when we ride, I have tried different boots and socks. What I finally found somethingv that keeps my feet warm they are called Hot Shots. They are wired into your machine and then have inserts that go into my boots, they have an optional temp control that I keep on low 98% of the time. Since I have been using them never have cold feet and since it is wired directly to the battery, I can still keep my warmers on when we are stopped for lunch or whatever. Didn't take hubby long to install. Here is the link: http://www.foot-heaters.com/
This is from their web site

Electric Boot Warmers
HOT SHOTS thin insole heaters fit inside your boot and plug into your snowmobile's electrical system. Specially designed low temperature "stretch" power cord allows freedom of movement while you are riding.

HOT SHOTS operate on all 12 volt systems capable of operating a headlight. HOT SHOTS are easily installed with hand tools, and fit most all adult size boots. They have low electrical drain of less than one amp each, which means a bright headlight on older snowmobiles that have limited output. HOT SHOT insole heaters stay in your boots and are quickly unplugged when you finish riding.

They are also used on motorcycles, ATV’s, construction equipment, and even by ice fishermen and hunters...anything 12 volt, AC or DC!


NEW DESIGN !
Now, in addition to making the foot heaters more durable, the new design also allows for the heated insoles to be trimmed down to fit several different boot sizes.

The heaters are used intermittently because they are designed to heat up quickly. They work so well that within 8 to 10 minutes, you will turn them off with toasty warm feet. This allows some older snowmobiles with limited electrical output to alternate between heated handlebar grips and HOT SHOTS. And because the heat is generated inside the boot, it is retained for long periods of time.

 

[eddy]

Cold Feet

Three things:

1) Microfiber/Polar Fleece socks and everything else you wear, including a baklava and neck warmer. Keep the heat in and make sure you don't loose heat out your head, core and thighs. Wear no cotton (and even wool is suspect) as it holds moisture to the skin.

2) Boot sole warmers (electric: either battery or machine 12V powered)

3) check for and treat diabetes.

If you can get your heart pumping and the blood capillaries dilated and full of warm blood: It is all good!

Use of tobacco products (any) or drinking alcohol before or during the ride make the problem worse.

"Man's greatest achievement in the twentieth century is polar fleece" Quote!

 

[HawkShot99]

http://www.hotronic.com/

I sell these for ski boots. The battery clips on the back of the boot and pull pant over so no gettin the wires caught. Keeps your feet warm for up to 12 hrs depending on the level you set them at. 20 min. install.

 

[akwolfman]

Bunny boots are one of the best.
Northern Outfitter boots are the same.
The best is mukluks made from caribou/rabbit and lined with grass.

If you want to improve your circulation start taking steam baths.
It will help open everything up.
A very good family friend who is also a doc started taking steams after his heart surgery to help his circulation.
Worked very good for him.

 

[shortstop20]

Why does he have one leg? I'm not sure I get it.
I have seen doctors, they don't know. Never get any answers. They say my heart is fine too. Maybe I'll just try the battery heated socks.

Keep going until you get some answers. Nowadays doctors just wanna get people in and out as fast as possible and make money, been there done that!

I feel your pain.
I have the same trouble with my feet. How about your fingers? I will get cold toes and feet just sitting in the house - sucks.

My feet are the same way. Even if I'm outside on a nice 60 degree day my feet will be kinda cold. I have an iron deficiency so I've been taking these pills called "Slow FE Iron". They are working pretty well so far(just started taking them 4 days ago). I also noticed my hands aren't as shaky, I have more strength, and I'm not as tired as I used to be.

Every couple of months I will put my feet in some hot water for a 1/2 hour or so. Supposidly it opens up the cappilary veins(very tiny veins) in your feet and improves circulation. Honestly I don't notice much difference but it can't hurt.

 

[papa bear]

Serious subject. Good topic.

The type of doctor you need to speak to is a Podiatrist. She/he will confirm LRD's idea of antipersperent.

Wife has poor circulation in her feet..nearly gave up on sledding. She used the Hot-Shots for several years with mixed results. The wire going into the pad tends to short out (you're standing on it). It heats the bottom side of the foot/toes. http://www.foot-heaters.com/

For reference, Reynauds (my mother has this...can open the freezer door, barely reach in and her hands go white) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/raynauds-disease/DS00433

This place has some product:http://www.gerbing.com/

And this place too: http://ecom1.sno-ski.net/bootheaters.html

This winter I set the wife up with heated socks. She likes them because they heat the whole foot and ankle, rather than just under the foot. She says they are a bit hot in the truck, but out on the trail they are perfect. She does not unplug while on the trail.http://cozywinters.com/shop/wg-hsb.html


Now to discus the wire running up the snowpants. There is usually a small flap of material next to the zipper running up the legs - both inside and outside. I had her stand up with snowpants and boots on. I cut a small slit in the inside flap of material in on snowpant near the top of the boot, and one at the top. Fish the wire through. Bring the two wires together in front of you at the waist, order the Y plug, run one wire from your waist to the sled.

 

[skooter]

Not sure about frostbite, but my toes are always purple/blue/black color ...it's gross. It felt like the blood goes down, but doesn't come back up...sitting or standing unless my feet are up my toes turn purple. They then would get numb and hurt.

I was borderline hypothyroid (simple blood test to determine), but am taking thyroid med and 3 baby aspirin. Makes it very managable. No problems with snowmobiling. If I miss a dose of my thyroid within 3 hours my feet will start to hurt. I also have raynaud's and tiny vessels.

Wish you the best, it's always frustrating dealing with our 1st class health care system.

 

[mtnjunkie]

Thanks for all the replies! I don't think I have Raynauds, doesn't seem like it.... Not diabetic, not anemic, no thyroid problems (had that tested almost every year cause I didn't believe them). My dad and brother have the same issues. After that first frostbite it's been much worse. I would like to try heated socks or insoles for now, but the wires might cause a problem on those with wires. I'm always jumping back and forth and rolling it at times and such, I think they would always be coming apart (I hate trails and avoid them as much as possible).

Some day I will get it checked out, but right now I'm still paying for my last surgery so can't do it now. I hoped I wasn't the only one having these problems, seems like a dumb thing to be dealing with but it's really a pain.

 

[eddy]

Insoles

Venture Heated has battery power insoles. Work great!

 

[SnowXTC]

Skidoogirl,
I know how tight money can be, but you could have many more surgeries to pay for instead of a few doctors appts. Please take the info mentioned on here with you when you go. This is nothing to ignore. If your dad and brother have the same issues, then it sounds hereditary. You should all get checked out.

My feet used to always get cold. I now use Fleece socks and then Smart Wool socks. I love my HMK boots, they have worked great for me. The antiperspirant idea sounds good as well. I do sweat occasionally. I have an aftermarket tunnel and the coolant runs on the outside of the tunnel so it also helps to keep my feet warm.

I wish you luck and I hope the best for you. Just get a solution now or you may not have toes by the time you are 30.

 

[will]

Cold feet

I have the same problem and worry on days where it's really cold, we were out this January in - 25C one day with a 45K ride to get to the alpine, so by time I got my core warm I had to pull my boots off and use my bare hands to warm up my toes. I now have a blue spot on my left big toe.

I don't put my riding boots or riding socks on until I get to the staging area especially on cold days as I want them dry before I start.
I wear Klim Radium boots with enough room to wiggle my toes.
I've tried all kinds of socks but have the best luck with wool and only wear them one day and then wash them.

I'd have to agree with previous posts, that if my core is super warm I won't get cold hands or feet.

I'm 48 and have had this problem all my life and spent alot of it working outside in the cold and still don't have any super solutions other than stay dry and keep moving.

Good luck, Will

 

[76FOMOCO]

"On the health side - diabetes causes poor circulation. I assume this has been ruled out in your case but thought I'd mention it in case someone else hasn't."

x2^

 

[LRD]

Here is something else I forgot about that I bookmarked to try.

Holofiber socks
http://www.muckbootsoutlet.com/page/accessories?gclid=CJug5IGl0pcCFQ7aDAodfz8oBw

Don't know for sure if these will help but if they are supposed to help diabetic foot problems am thinking they will help cold feet.

Good Luck

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

I second the calls for the OP to see a Dr. ASAP. Having serious circulation problems at 25 is not normal. If you smoke, quit now. Cold turkey.

Don't drink alcohol within 8 hours of riding either.

I do the anti-perspirant trick. It works great. I don't have circulation issues but my feet sweat a lot. I use the spray type. Works great.

Make sure your socks and boots are not too tight.

Not to quibble, but did your feet/toes blister up after they warmed up? True deep tissue frostbite is excruciatingly painful as it thaws. Torture, pure torture. People who've never seen no-kidding frostbite up close often confuse painfully cold and stiff (nearly frozen) hands and feet with frostbite.