Thank you everyone for the suggestions!! It gets pretty cold here in NJ during the winter and I need to get prepared now if my feet are already cold in November!

I have used an electric blanket and have not had any problems with it. I also use the hand and toe warmers. They are not electric and last for 8-10 hours. I buy them in bulk because they can get expensive. You would need to wear 2 pairs of socks so they don't touch your skin. These packets also come in a variety of sizes.

I don't own a whirlpool bath because I find them too painful, but I do have what they call an air or bubble bath which has air holes along the sides. A compressor blows air through these holes creating many bubbles. It is gentle and helps relieve pain and the icy limb problem. The effect lasts a few hours for me. I find it interesting that the vibration from a car will ramp up my pain, but those crazy bubbles and vibrating compressor do the opposite.

When I was first diagnosed, my therapist introduced me to TENS. After I found the settings that worked best for me, I discovered that after an hour of using it, not only did it help with the pain, but my hand would warm up, the swelling would go down, and the ugly discoloration would be reduced. If you are interested, they are available with a prescription from a doctor usually in conjunction with physical therapy OR you can buy one online. My first unit was prescribed and I had the benefit of a therapist who knew how to use it and my health insurance covered it. I purchased a second one online and it is holding up well. If you do want to try a TENS unit, make sure the one you get is adjustable. Most of the settings actually cause me more pain. To me burst mode feels like thousands of bees stinging me in one spot. I have found the Normal mode with a Rate of 2 Hz and a Width of 130 microseconds is the most comfortable and effective for me.

I also find that once I do manage to warm my limb(s), fleecy blankets and clothing help keep the warmth in longer. I hope that you will benefit from some of these posts. Wishing you warm days and nights.

Shay

Hi Shay....Thank you ! I am starting physical therapy tomorrow so maybe I will ask about a TENS Unit. I am going to order a whirlpool bath for my feet. I know you mentioned that car vibrations ramp up your pain. I was 36 when I first experienced CRPS in my knees after surgery. I can remember going to the beach and when the waves crashed I would get weird sensations in my knees. and riding in a car was a nightmare. With this latest visit from CRPS, I am not sensitive to noice or vibration etc...shoes are an issue though!!!

I had all those issues when my pain wasn't under control yet. Once you get some "grasp" on that nerve pain, a lot of those issues just melt away. Trust me on that. It is worthwile to check with your doctor on what medications you need to take and what dosages.

I can't begin to describe what it was like without Neurontin (gabapentin), but that medication basically saved me, and continues to save me day in day out!!! It is a true miracle!!!

Sometimes, I mean it's all put away in pill boxes for the start of the week, but on the very few occasions I miss a dosage of Neurotin... wwwoooooh boy! It's like turning the clock back more than 20 years, when I first struggled with this. On those few occasions I get transported back to THEN and... gosh gosh gosh, how I don't want to be there anymore.

Painwise at least... (sensitivity, sensitivity to touch, vibrations, the ice / frostbite in both of the legs fully etc... basically: nerve pain).

I feel your pain! I mean it! But something has to be done about it!

Marleen thank you...I am having a really bad time right now...my feet are on fire again.,it is horrible at the moment .,I see my doctor on Monday so hopefully he can help. I know I can't do this for this for the rest of my life. Your words meant a lot to me..thanks again

Good interaction with your doctor is key. You need to talk about what kind of pain and symptoms you're feeling and hopefully your doctor will listen to you and do something about it that is *effective* for you. And if it's a medication that you can't deal with, then go back, so he can look for another solution (hopefully).

Keep us posted!