[Closed] Reynauds - talk to me

Warm core (Buffalo or army-surplus equivalent).

Merino thermal.

Long trousers.

Merino socks

Boots with space for the socks.

Gloves - Something like the Rab Infinium windproof glove (windstopper, microfleece).

Buff under the helmet.

Basically - Mini OAB has to dress like me

I don't know if I have Reynauds but have had cold feet and hands for as long as I can remember. Hands are sometimes really cold even when sat in a 22 degree house with a jumper on, need to wear socks in bed and so on.

I need to wear gloves when cycling until it gets well into double figures. When it is around zero I wear some Planet X lobster gloves which do a good job. In fact they are too warm and my hands are actually sweaty when I take them off after a ride but that is a lot better than cold hands.

Always suffered with my hands - thin liner glove - then a water/wind proof overmitten - not very glam but it works. Not so bad with feet but I now use waterproof socks and a shimano boot - and that really works well keeping my feet dry and warm.

I feel his pain.
Cheek his feet for chillblaines as I’m blessed with those due to my Raynauds as well. I have a very unsexy collection of little silicon toe socks to ease the pain when they appear. The ones on the balls of my feet don’t get special treatment albeit heated insoles make them manageable.
This years revelation has been running tops as a base layer with thumb loops. Gloves over the top of the cuffs. For me it was a big improvement for the hands.
On the bike cutting out the wind helps. I use a Gore Windstopper vest as well as a shell jacket. Layer between depending on temp.
Try to stop him submerging his hand/feet in hot water to warm them up. Armpits are a good heat source for cold hands :o)

I get it really bad. Both hands and feet lose blood flow and hurt alot to warm up but only my feet tend to get the awful blisters and chill blains.

The main thing is you can't wait until they get cold then put something warm on. Once they've gone there's no getting them back so it's all about preparation. Layers and layers. And more layers. And wear them all at the start, even if it means your taking some off in 3 minutes. The start bold and cold strategy just doesn't work for your hands and feet if you've got raynauds

However, tbh a lot of it is just accepting that there's 2-3 months a year where it's just sore but it will get better when it warms up. (Maybe even less depending where about int he UK you are)

Every year it seems to surprise me and I spend a good couple of weeks hobbling around until I can get my prep back in order

I don’t know if I have Reynauds but have had cold feet and hands for as long as I can remember. Hands are sometimes really cold even when sat in a 22 degree house with a jumper on, need to wear socks in bed and so on.

pretty much me. i also wondered whether i had reynauds after reading about it (didnt know it was a thing until relatively recent years), but after googling and looking at the pics of white fingers, i dismissed it and settled for just sh1t circulation.

Oh and one more thought, which I've found out this year and really helped. For my hands it's really all about the wrists. Keep them warm and they last much longer before they freeze. I saw it written somehwhere and was doubtful but tried it out and it makes a big difference.

@timblur. Can you tell me more about your sexy silicon toe socks. I've not heard that before?

I get it bad in my hands, the only thing you can do is stop getting cold. Although not Raynaud's specific, the body restricts blood to the extremities when the core cools down. So although he may feel warm enough, he may not be. The best prevention of cooling down is minimising the amount of exposed skin, I'd definitely recommend tights to stop the heat loss. I also think neoprene socks may work better than sealskins and I reckon flat pedals would be better, the metal plate in the sole of an SPD shoe probably conducts the heat straight out.
When running I often have cold hands until I'm properly warmed up. Mostly I'm hot in my body and have cold hands. I used to unzip my top to vent heat but I've stopped doing that and my hands seem to warm up faster, maybe BS though.
I have found though that when i use the thumb loops on my top to cover my hands / wrist and then gloves on top, my hands are much warmer as I think cold wrists contribute to cold hands, so cut down the amount of exposed skin, even if the extra heat means wearing lighter clothing elsewhere.

Cheek his feet for chillblaines

He's covered in them

Poor dude. I'm currently sitting here with chillblains on both feet and all over my hands.
Planet x Lobsters are the only thing that seems to work when it gets even remotely close to zero. Galibier Deep Winters just don't cut it for me. I'd echo what's said above about starting warm - once you get cold extremities, that's it. The warming up afterwards, it's horrible, I was a curled up mess in the shower after last week's sleety ride, had to stop after 10 miles and come home.
Get big gloves with room for liners. My wife bought me one of those USB power pack/hand warmer things, which I carry everywhere, and sometimes put in a glove and wrap my hands into a fist.
For feet I run plastic flats, and they seem to have really helped this year. Knee high Sealskin thickies just about work.

Timber: oh, interesting about the thumbed base layer, mind if I ask if you've got a link?

I found hothands foot warmers can ward off my frozen toe for a couple of hours even on the coldest bike ride (always the right big toe)

I suffer from it anytime of the year, a cool June evening can bring it on and in winter if hands get really cold but most of mine is caused by eg spectating at an event or just not moving about at work as I work outdoors
I think my cause is circulation and possibly nerve damage to two fingers years ago, I get the white finger blue nails on all fingers occasionally but sometimes just 3 where the nerve damage started
Could be connected to ulnar nerve using road bike drop bars

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402494709910

Sexy toe socks. Great for “keeping you going” when you get chill blaines on your toes. They stop the rubbing and irritation. Best not to wear them in bed unless you keep your socks on though. They catch on the duvet.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/run-warm-men-s-long-sleeved-running-t-shirt/_/R-p-145903?mc=8502755&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Surfaces%20For%20Google&utm_content=8502755-2495555&iv_=__iv_p_1_g_106843029532_c_436894719282_w_pla-1156448543886_n_g_d_c_v__l__t__r_x_pla_y_15177021_f_online_o_8502755-2495555_z_GB_i_en_j_1156448543886_s__e__h_1006798_ii__vi__&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmfmABhCHARIsACwPRAB0hj4hzv0UzqxpHk06y2Ute46jfW8BullZ-rlbDMQPV73mmLlZKp8aApCFEALw_wcB

These tops as well for the thumb loops.

The warming up afterwards, it’s horrible, I was a curled up mess in the shower after last week’s sleety ride,

Exactly. Last week I got colder than I had been for a LONG time.
I felt like I might not get home, but when I did it was like I just didn't know what to do with myself.
There was NO WAY I was getting straight in the shower. Made that mistake before.
As it was though, I just climbed on the sofa with a blanket and was basically rocking, and rubbing my legs, and scratching.

It's just awful. It feels like you want to tear your skin off!
I tend to get this intense itching as I warm back up all down my legs, feet, groin and stomach. Really, really unpleasant.

Feel for your boy. Terrible.

Oh the itching on the shins. Forgot about that. God it feels good at the time albeit not great when you draw blood.

https://www.snowandrock.com/p/thermic-heat-kit-set-c-pack-1700b-I7144055.html?colour=124

I’ve got a set of these in my work boots. I’d replace them in a heartbeat as they were a proper game changers for me as I work outdoors all year.

Heard an interview with Wim Hof 'The Ice Man' recently and he advised putting hands/feet in icy water to treat Reynaud's and poor circulation. I have poor circulation in my lower legs and was thinking of giving it a go.

My wife suffers from it.

I agree with many of the comments about prevention is everything and keeping  writs and ankles warm does make a big difference. Gauntlets rather than gloves that have decent overlap with the sleeves of the jacket. Buffs on wrists. Long seal skins so there is plenty of overlap with legwear.

There does come a point though that we just accept under certain weather conditions, cold and damp just above freezing, its not a day to ride. Cold and dry is fine so we can ski or be out of frosty days no problem

Sponge grips and front suspension for hands. Anything that reduces compression and vibration of effected areas. Bigger, loose fit clothing.

Thanks all, some useful tips there.

Time for some new kit so he can try them out.

I've Reynauds in two fingers of my right hand(im a leftie)
It's not cold all the time, it comes and goes and gloves, no matter how warm make the slightest bit of difference. I think its more a circulatory issue brought on by stress or anxiety.

In an attempt to stave it off, i find gnawing at them or flicking them helpful. Seems to promote more blood flowing in that area.

Are you sure this isnt more to do with decreasing blood flow as you age than the syndrome itself.

Mrs OTS suffers from it.
She wears lobster gloves or mittens and when it’s cold, she always has a pair of Little Hotties hand warmers with her - started before she leaves the house so they are already warm when she needs them.

I have used those little hotties handwarmers for years. They are the only thing that keeps my hands warm (2 white fingers per hand). Also use mountaineering gloves which allow me to pull fingers into a ball around the sachet on easy ground. Freezing hands are not good for cycling!

Those little hotties are brilliant ! Pull fingers back from glove fingers and grasp the hottie bag and they keep warm for hours. Start them off well before going out and then keep the air moving 'thru them as this keeps the reaction emitting heat. It's the only thing that seems to work, walking, cycling & motorcycling inside gloves or a pocket. Thanks.

+1 for the pocket hotties. I use them daily to promote some heat in my slowly dying right foot(due to vascular issues) Without it it's like ice cold, with them it I believe keeps the blood flowing by ensuring its a bit warmer. I really notice a difference between having one stuck to the bottom on that foot as opposed to it not being there.

I've had it for 40 + years but only in my hands. My feet get very cold and even go numb (only when cycling) but without the agony.

I have it. Mostly hands, though got it today in a foot. Layering up to stay warm is key, as is keeping wrists warm as has been mentioned. I also find a critical factor is not layering up so much you sweat loads (I ride hot), because as soon as you stop on a cold day those warm wet clothes chill right down - this is usually the worst time for me, I often survive rides fine and then the Reynauds kicks in when I get home and stop pedalling. Having some warm dry clothes or a big thick jacket you can throw on as soon as you get back is a good idea, as is carrying a packable synthetic duvet for mid ride stops. Overall though I would say that a bit of experimentation to see what does and doesn’t work for you will be required. For some bizarre reason mine did get better after a bout of chemotherapy, but I wouldn’t recommend that as a treatment ...!

If its in his feet, get the gp to refer him for an ultrasound to check circulation also check for diabetes, as that can show up as poor circualion , cold feet etc.

Plastic bags over socks then another thin pair of socks on feet or make some foil bootees to go over feet help me.

I work outside and ride bikes and suffer reynauds, vinyl disposable gloves worn under gloves help a lot, when hands get cold hold them under cold water, never warm or hot as that drives the blood away, and use a bar of soap to exercise fingers, again works for me.

Medication made a big difference for me. Nifedipine formerly (worked very well), now Amlodipine (not quite as good). Without meds I basically couldn't use my hands outdoors in winter without massive thick gloves on, which is very restrictive.

I still got the odd attack, but it's much more infrequent now.

This arrived for the wife this morning! At least she's prepared

Chatting to a GP Friend and he said washing hands in alcohol gel warms them up as does the movement of the hands to stimulate blood flow, tried it and it works, and alcohol gel is only a quid from most supermarkets.

I have been suffering a lot recently and have just got a couple of USB rechargeable hand warmers.
I am pleased with them so far, need charging fairly regularly though.

Also have my gilet/body warmer on permanently too, which helps.

My hands go a weird shade of purple in the cold. GF insists it's reynauds, but I've never had it checked. Since my circulation got worse, none of my winter gloves keep them warm, so I've followed yohandsome's tip
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/turn-any-gloves-into-heated-ones-for-5-if-you-have-a-usb-powerbank

Heard an interview with Wim Hof ‘The Ice Man’ recently and he advised putting hands/feet in icy water to treat Reynaud’s and poor circulation.

Anecdotal but... friend of ours suffered most of her life with Reynaud’s.
Very active person (fitness instructor, cyclist, paddle boarder etc).

Last year she started doing weekly cold water swims, in the Tyne, in November. Reynaud’s gone!

Counter-intuitive but maybe worth a go.

Fellow Raynauds'er here. Typing from my house at 19 degrees in jeans, hiking socks and a big hoodie and can't type properly because my hands are cold and stiff.

Covering the bits of skin where the blood flows close to the skin helps prevent wind taking away previous heat from my body.(e.g. forearms)

Heat up slowly once cold. That normally means after a cold ride, a good 30 mins in a warm house before I can get into the shower without getting chillblains.

Just got some good heated gloves- not cheap but the only thing thats ever stopped my hands going numb whilst out walking/biking in the winter.

Winter boots that are a size up to allow for extra thick socks.

I always wonder about beetroot- it's a vasodilater, I used to have a beet shot before races and always felt great. Never got round to monitoring if it helps the reynauds though.

And finally, you get used to it. Yes it's annoying, but it won't always be as uncomfortable for him as it sounds like he's finding it now.

And finally, you get used to it.

But your girlfriend never does. Warn before touching

But your girlfriend never does. Warn before touching

Truth.

Relevant to Wim Hoff discussion. The above-mentioned local lady just posted this on her Facebook:

Note: It was -5C here.

That swimming at this time of year looks daft and I'd have thought a wee bit risky to say the least
I find the sea around Scotland in August still to ****in cold

Interesting about beetroot. My Reynauds has been significantly worse this year, and I suspect that's it's due to me trying Candesartan for migraines.
Unfortunately it appears from my very limited medical knowledge that the way this works is to constrict the blood vessels in the brain that cause migraines. I suspect it's having a similar effect on my hands and feet.

I have zero medical training, though, so this may be total arse.

Can only echo a lot of what's been said...

Don't get cold - make sure you start warm.
Keep your core warm, so blood doesn't get pulled back there to warm your vitals up.
Layers and air gaps are your friend - in winter I wear oversized gloves and boots so I can fit liners under them without creating constriction.
When my hands start to go, I can sometimes fend it off by shaking them violently downwards a few times (think trying to throw your hands off down on the floor).

I have it so bad that I can't even get round the supermarket without my fingers turning white.

For the last few weeks the red blotchy lumps on my fingers have been mega painful.

I haven't ridden outside in months.

That swimming at this time of year looks daft and I’d have thought a wee bit risky to say the least

I think it is more of a plunge than a prolonged swim and they do it with a partner there in case of cold shock.

Scandinavians, Russians and Austrians are all big fans of cold plunges in much colder environments.

eg https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeRQyG9M/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeRQ6EL1/

Ok I've changed my mind very invigorating it looks

I think the scenery makes all the difference!