Cold Feet: Where to Start.

Hi my friend! I'm making some progress on the foot with an accupuncturist. It's slow going but a little less painful. I'm writing for another reason though...my Mom has been suffering with some weird symptoms in her feet and, although she's seen every doctor imaginable, she hasn't gotten any relief. I thought I would ask my favorite podiatrist! Her symptoms are that her feet feel frozen 99% of the time. The ONLY time they are warm is when she is barefoot and drinking wine which, although that sounds like fun, can't be all the time. She believes it is circulatory but has seen a specialist and they can't find anything wrong. She is at her wits end and doesn't know where else to turn. Any thoughts? I would appreciate any advice. I hope you are well and that your holidays are outstanding.   Best, Karen Dear Karen, Thank you for the email. I know on my blog there are some references to help this problem. Most of the time it is some vaso-spastic condition that can not be identified. So the detective in you and her must come out. I am assuming a vascular specialist has ruled out PAD, peripheral arterial disease (the reason for so many amputations and deaths). If she was in my office right now, I would check her pulses which again I am assuming are fine. I would look for other signs of poor circulation--loss of foot hair, shiny skin, excessive swelling, inadequate return of blood flow to the toes (SPVPFT-yes, there are abbreviations for everything). I would ask her what makes the coldness worse: cold temps, socks, shoes, elevation, dependency of the legs, etc. I would then list what has made her better: Wine--alcohol is always a vasodilator (increases the blood flow). Barefoot--normally means that there is no compression on the arteries from socks or shoes. Can you think of anything else?  I would have her experiment with elevation vs dependency, short socks vs long socks, warm water soaks, niacin tablets, 8 oz glass of quinine water, Toastie Toes from REI or Amazon, Infracare Socks, Contrast bathing. As the results turn up, you find the answers to the riddle. Great Sherlock are we!!  If she lives near me, I expect an invite for a glass of wine for the advice. Only partially teasing!!

Socks for Cold Feet: Infracare To the Rescue

http://www.infracare.ca/podiatryusa.html

Please check out this product for cold feet. Anyone with personal comments please be sure to comment. Add this to my previous recommendation of ToastieToes sold at REI and Amazon. Hope this helps you.

Cold Feet: Have you tried Toasti-Toes?

As the weather gets colder, toes can take a beating. Many people also suffer from conditions that make their toes painful in cold weather, or always cold and uncomfortable. HeatMax has their Toasti-Toes Foot Warmer pads that produce enough heat each for up to 7 hours. They definitely are worth a try this winter. They comfortably attach to the inside of your socks so they are against your skin. The best deal is the one to your left. I hope this will help.




I want to thank my patient Arielle for her high recommendation of this product.

Toasti-Toes which have been removed from Arielle's socks for this photo opt.

PS. Have any of my Boston Area followers seen my son Chris and his gal Liz. This photo is from Sunday's blizzard 12-26-10.