Winter and Neuropathy

As I sit here looking out at a gloomy, cold, rainy, and whatever other depressing weather description you want to imagine, I decided that we must have a chat about winter and Peripheral Neuropathy. In two words, it sucks! No really... While I will be going largely off of my own experience here, others over the last couple years, have confirmed that our nerves are defiantly responsive to the weather. I swear in my case, it is the that it is how fast the atmospheric pressure changes. Basically this means that the faster weather changes, the worse my neuropathy flares. Now anyone can tell you in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas, that in the fall we have what is called a "blue norther" that rolls through the plains and basically means quick drop of the temperature and vastly changing weather patterns. (temperatures can drop 20-30 degrees in a matter of minutes). This is a neuropathic nightmare.......

So now that we have established the nightmare, lets talk about what to do to make it through said nightmare. I find the number one important thing is to keep your extremities warm. This can be a challenge for many neuropathy suffers as well we do not feel our extremities all that well to know if they are cold. However, I have found that if warmed, my feet and the subsequent pain and weakness of a flareup is more manageable. Personally my feet struggle to have anything on them for any notable amount of time (my shoes and socks stay on from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm if I am lucky. However, I have found that a good pair of quality slippers can stay on much longer! Unfortunately I am not talking about the $10 looks like quality discount store pass offs (these often to not give you the support a neuropathy suffer will need), but quality slippers. I have put a selection of the more popular ones for nephropathy suffers below, but as I have large feet, I have found L.B. Evans Hideways to be particularly great one on my feet.

While these are not lambs wool, they use a Sherpa lining which give it a fluffy texture, but is lighter weight and will dry out quicker. Also you can notice the solid sole which gives you the needed support in walking. There are many brands out there, I think you just need to find the right support, comfort, and level of warmness that help your feet limit the tingles. Remember if you purchase off these links, our friends at Amazon give us a small fee which goes to keeping the website running.

Okay, I have had to come back and insert my latest find here. Thermal Diabetic Socks!! Now I suffer from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), but that does not mean these socks are not a benefit to me as well! The loose stretch nature is great in the above mentioned pressure issues, and I just realized they now have thermal! I put a selection I have tried below and like them all for different reasons as described in their descriptions, so will leave it to you to figure out which may work for you.

Besides a good pair of slippers (and socks) comes a good blanket. Again, you want something that is lightweight (less pressure on the feet the better), but something that will keep you warm! I often keep my feet wrapped with a light weight blanket while curling up with a more substantial one on the rest of my body. Because I like the Sherpa material, my girlfriend got me an AmazonBasics throw that I tend to always have close by.

Depending on your pharma regimen you may also want to always make sure you have some pain management medications to address those flare-up conditions. While I was on Opioids for the first year of my diagnosis (also recouping from surgery and chemo) I do not take them in my daily regimen. However during the winter months I do end up take a few here and there to get over a winter flare-up. I am most defiantly not pushing Opioids, as well we all have heard of the problems with them, but if you know you can handle them okay without building an addiction, they are a good "flare-up" choice. One alternative I will always try first is alternating Acetaminophen (Tylenol) with Ibuprofen (Advil) every 2-3 hours. As they are different classes of drugs, just make sure to not take over the daily recommended amount.

Realize that often times a flareup can leave you somewhat miserable overall. If it did not hurt before a flare-up, it will after. This can actually be because you will hold your body differently when you are experiencing pain in your hands and feet. So give yourself permission to take that nap or a personal day if needed. Rest as we know is also very important for your neuropathy.

My final words of wisdom are two items to be placed wherever you may need them. The power of heat can really make an impact when your body and neuropathy are responding to the cold temperatures. A good heating pad which can cover whatever area you could ever desire. These are not your grandpas old hospital looking things that is stiff as a board and really does nothing. This pad is 20"-24" and is very flexible and soft. It is a life changer when needed!

Finally, I leave you with another grandpa special, but hey he knew what he was talking about sometimes! A old-time hot water bottle! This is probably just like the same but on some things, if it ain't broke don't fix it!! Although these these have nice knitted covers and you can choose form seven colors!! They are great to put into a cold bed, get your feet warmed up, or even to hug when you are having a flare up.