Here it comes, and Im not ready
 

For winter to come along at all!

I cant handle the cold. Im really dreading it because it seems like I dont thaw out until the following summer. :(

I'll try my best to send you some warm Phoenix air!

Allen,

You, me, AZ-Di and most other folk here I suspect! :winky:

I had a little chat with my deepest self last week, mainly about the cold....I'll share it with you. Sorry :D

I am actually afraid of the cold winter months coming, in a way I wasn't even last year. But now I know what it really means - 6 months of enhanced pain, never feeling really warm, less mobility, all the fun of the fair....:rolleyes:

But do you know what, I have also decided that I am NOT going to spend those 6 months holed up in a quilt, feeling miserable. I'm going to make a very rude hand gesture at the winter, and tell it where to get off, and enjoy myself as much as I can despite the CRPS. I've done the misery thing (no doubt I will again lol) and it isn't fun. And I've learnt stuff since last winter, about how my CRPS behaves (or doesn't) and some of the things I can do to minimise the worst of it. I'm going to try to get warm and stay warm - which means wearing warm clothes all the time (fashion can go swing, I WILL wear fleece-lined trousers in the house!), my cosiest socks from early morning so my feet don't get really cold (which seems to set off the burning later), and when my feet start to feel hot, I'm not going to take the socks off - if I keep them on, but elevate and wiggle my feet, it subsides a lot quicker than if I let my feet be open to the air. I have to keep moving as much as possible, especially in the morning, and kick-start my circulation for the day, help to get that oxygen to my extremities!!

Well, that's the plan anyway. I've no doubt all my brave words will count for very little on some days, but I can't hibernate, and I won't feel any better if I try. I feel a teensy bit better for the chat lol.

So basically, good luck matey - find things that help your CRPS parts feel warm, and do as much as you can. You sound like a determined kind of guy, with some exciting stuff coming up. You'll be ok, and we're all here for any times you aren't :winky:

I wish you a warm winter Allen, as stress and pain-free as possible :)

Bram.

Allen and Bram, I hope you are able to keep warm through the winter and keep your pain levels as low as possible. This will be my first full winter with CRPS, so I'm not sure what to expect but I will say the start of winter has been less than pleasant.

Az, do you think you could send some of that gloriously warm Phoenix air all the way to London? I'm willing to offer a trade - I can offer plenty of rain in exchange. :)

Kim

Lets lisr what we are going to do about old father winter. Im going to buy the ugliest most comfy boot that are warm and wear them and buy feety pajamas and not let this rule me this winter. I might have to my father in law to take my out in the snow but he Will have fun if it snows. Keep smiling and don't let it get to you. The cold sucks either way but we feel it more so.

I am so with all of you on this one!!!

Just two weeks ago our temps were 80-90 and now our lows are 35-40 and highs at 55-60. It just baffles my mind at how much more intense the lightning bolt electrical pain, swelling and sensitivity to the touch gets when the temperatures drop or cool air hits my legs. Ugh..

My husband and I live at the base of a ski hill and have spent more of our lives either skiing, snow shoeing or mountaineering so this is a particular sad time for me. I should be counting the days.. for when I can make first tracks, instead I am worried about how I will cope when it does. I've been studying all the latest technical gear in hopes of finding something that will keep my limb warm and shield my leg from the slightest breeze so that maybe, just maybe I could enjoy some outdoor winter fun. Has anyone tried the handy little heat packs people use in their mittens or boots?

My heart goes out to all who suffer with the cold temps. If I find something that works, I promise to share!!

Have you tried a neoprene leg sleeve? Ive seen some that are just the leg not the whole body. Kind of like a wet dry suit for diving.

Thanks Allanira. Yes, I have tried them and honestly they are the best so far for moderate temps like anything above 50, anything lower they aren't as effective. They also offer enough compression to keep swelling down some but, as with most compression type items they are painful to put on and take off :(

Thanks again for the tip, I appreciate it.
Tessa

I just found fleece lined wrist warmers online. I think I'm going to buy these to keep my wrist warm indoors. Hopefully, the fleece lining will feel okay.

I guess winter doesnt really suck......but RSD really really does when it is wintertime LOL!!

Bram I will get out and go this winter like I have for the last 3, and will go kicking and screaming the whole way. :p
Winter is the best time to go out to the Bigfoot research area. They close the gate to people, so the bigfoot are more at ease, and we get chances to interact with them more during this time of year.

It just takes me a lot longer then my usual 2 hours to get rolling on cold mornings. And I will be in a constant feeling of having my right leg in the deep freeze.

I will be looking forward to those rays coming from AZ fer sure!!!:sunchair:

Oh yeah it does take a lot longer to get moving in the morning with the temp falling lol. I usually get up around 4 or 5 in the morning and have my coffee and a little internet cruise before my husband and son get up. But with the temp starting to fall I spend longer under the covers after waking up lol. I also have a heat pad and heated blanket in the living room that I can wrap around my knees and it makes it feel a little better.:D

winter comming
 

Taking a shower is the worst for me. I have started to use my 1500 W heater in the bathroom to warm up the air. Any cool air and I am freezing. Right now my out side temp is in the mid 80's. I cannot go into a super market because of the coolers giving off cold air. I leave the A/C off all summer where it was in the 90's this past week. It has been 6.5 years living with CRPS II or as I like to call it HELL. Good luck to everyone with this coming winters cold temps.

Couldn't agree more - I absolutely detest and loathe the way the supermarkets have so many chillers on without doors to contain the cold. It's about time they knew how much the cold hurts us.... Maybe we should start a campaign to get them to put the darn doors on!!! It wood save them stacks of cash too - chillers waste truck loads of energy :cool:

Showers in cold rooms are horrible. I'd rather not bother some mornings lol!

Take care and have a good evening,

Bram.

I have a little heater I put in my bathroom but I also have the litter boxes in there for the cats lol. Keeps little goobers from playing in the "sand" lol. So I cant leave it on except when I warm it up to go get a shower/bath. My cats love it when its on though lol. Now if only I could train my goober husband to keep the house warmer for me. Yeah the a/c units and open coolers at supermarkets suck. They freeze me so I run over there first and just get it done fast. No comparison shopping there. Then I head to the places that are warmer like pets cause its by the garden center and I can get warm or stand in front of the heating unit tomget warm lol. The associates give me weird looks cause the heating units are for them lol.:eek:

Two words for winter
 

FLEECE SOCKS

They make a huge difference for me. I also use mittens when I can rather than gloves. I think they are warmer and there are less things touching me. I hate that feeling of stuff between my fingers.

You can get a 3 pack of fleece socks at Sierra Trading Post for about $3 a pair. It's a real steal. You just have to search in the men's socks category and make the adjustment in size if you have lady feet. The colors and patterns are prettier in the women's socks area, but they are so much pricier, like $12-$16, which is a horrible price to have to pay. I've searched and had them made by people on etsy and a all over the internet. Sierra Trading post has the best prices in general but when they have that mens 3 pack in stock it's Fleece Sock Party Time!

Ive have also wrapped my arm in a long electric heating pad and plugged in to an outlet near a big chair when nothing else works. Of course that worked when the RSD was just in my arm and shoulder. I wonder if they make electric heating Snuggies?

This is my first winter and I will be leaving Jacksonville Fl for Chicago lol going to see the grands not sure what to expect.