liber Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I guess the title says it all. DS 17 was diagnosed just recently with primary raynaud's and I was just wondering if anyone has used natural treatments to increase blood flow to the extremities. The specialist has recommended an ace inhibitor which DS has declined because he boxes and this would prevent him fighting competitively as it would be considered a performance enhancing drug. He also plays the violin and this is where I was wondering if there are natural treatments that can help. Very cold and sometimes numb fingertips has made it very difficult for him to play well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I would try fish oil supplements. I've heard that exercise helps, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liber Posted September 30, 2017 Author Share Posted September 30, 2017 He exercises a lot already. Boxing is 5 times a week plus what he does at home. After boxing his hands are warm but not for very long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Our relative needs to keep warmer than others. It helps not to get chilly but that means jackets and gloves (sometimes inside without fingers), warmer socks etc before others need them as well as movement to keep circulation going. I'm not sure if it's overall exercise or just not waiting too long for some movement. Do his hands turn yellow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liber Posted September 30, 2017 Author Share Posted September 30, 2017 The specialist has told him that he needs to keep his core temperature up so the house is a little warmer now. He has been wearing two pairs of socks for the last few years now. Now we know why. In the winter the car will have to be warmed up before we go anywhere and he will have to have gloves on going to the house and car. In previous winters he wouldnt do that. I was just wondering if people had personal experience with using some of the natural remedies that are suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I'm curious if he normally feels cold or warm? My son always is warm, so it's hard to get him to layer up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 He should get used to wearing gloves, especially before performing. It's quite common for super-serious, career-track musicians to wear gloves before a performance. There are also electric gloves and socks that are chargeable just like a phone. My dd has some and loves them Find someone who formulates essential oils mixes. An acquaintance of mine has a mix that has helped her daughter a great deal. I am not sure what's in it, but I bet a natural oils person would have some good ideas. My own dd has a jar and she does like it. It's worth a try. Dd also has a scrip for nitroglycerin to nail a big reaction when it's in progress. However, she finds that immersion in a tub of warm water is just as effective. She keeps a small plastic tub in her dorm room for that purpose, or she's been known to fill a sink with water and plunge her hands in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liber Posted September 30, 2017 Author Share Posted September 30, 2017 I'm curious if he normally feels cold or warm? My son always is warm, so it's hard to get him to layer up. The rest of him is hot, It is just his hands and feet. If it is too hot in the house, it makes him nauseous, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Hot packs on the wrist to heat the blood as it goes into the hands. Heated gloves (look at heated glove liners) can help. As can heated outer heated clothing. Gloves are his new best friend. DO NOT WEAR COTTON!!! Wick-a-way base layers are vital. Everything from underwear to socks. Drining hot beverages can sometimes help. Hot water over the wrists to stop bad attacks. I would ask the governing body of boxing, not the coaches, if there is a medical exemption for the medication. I have found coaches and even officials do not know all the indepth details and say no rather than actually look. Lack of bloodsupply to the fingers can cause deformities and limit range of motion making skills such as writing and typing incredibly difficult. My son is 13 and has severe secondary raynauds. He was dx at 7 after his pediatrician blew me off (I even had pictures!) for years and he ended up in the ER because an attack extended up to his elbows and did not go away. He has had limited success with mediation and at one point when he was 9 the rheumatologist was frustrated because the one medication they use for the more difficult cases they could not give to him because he is a boy. If he had been a girl he would have been on it without hestation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I buy heated gloves and insoles at https://cozywinters.com/ Heated sock technology is only starting to get away from socks with D cell batteies attached. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Has he tried biofeedback? It is non medication and has been shown to help many people with raynaud's. It is offered at our children's hospital. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Hot wax treatments help my dad. Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I often have to run my hands under hot water. I also have very thin fingerless gloves that I got from a site specializing in gloves for people with arthritis. They are compression gloves. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busybuzzybee Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I know someone who has had luck with cayenne pepper. I think it has something to do with boosting circulation. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonhawk Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 (edited) Medications did not work with me, I'd get killer headaches with 2 or 3 different meds before stopping. I've tried natural supplements to some but not great results. Interested and hope to find something on this thread! Mostly now I manage via "created environment": Stay in warmer areas. If you know you're going outside into cold weather, put the gloves/extra socks on before you leave, not outside or afterwards; anything you can do to avoid fast and violent temperature fluctuations (grocery stores are a silent threat, lol). My DH found me some heat packs for hands, I use those in the winter inside my pockets if outside for a bit. Fingerless gloves don't really work for me, but I found gloves that have special material on the tips so that they work with touch screens and have a slightly better grip. I know other have had great results with compression gloves and gloves with copper dots; for me they felt great when worn, but once I took them off I would feel much worse. For me, avoiding lots of strain on hands and feet is pretty essential; I went bowling a few years ago at a company function, and about 4 frames in suddenly realized what I was doing. I couldn't drive or write for 2 days afterwards. For me, boxing would be out of the question, and I had to stop serious piano study. I hope he can continue to box/play violin and that his triggers do not develop similar to mine. Warm water baths for hands and feet can lessen my symptoms if I catch it early on, but I have to do it for a longer while and get my DH to help me keep the water at a warm temperature for best results. Fish oil seems to help, but idk how directly since I take it just for general health. Edited October 1, 2017 by Moonhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2samlibby Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 I've been reading a book about magnesium. It's called the magnesium miracle. It talks about how 700 - 800 functions of our body need this mineral and most of us are deficient in magnesium. A lot of auto immune issues are caused by magnesium deficiency. I would try magnesium supplementation. Citrate is not recommended, but glycinate is one that is. It also talks about how the recommended dose is around 400, but most of us are so deficient that we need more than to see a difference in our health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Niacin helps me. Massaging Oil (sesame or olive or coconut) on skin in cold weather helps keep in warmth I've found--not just fingers and toes, but all skin of arms, legs, hands, feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 Medications did not work with me, I'd get killer headaches with 2 or 3 different meds before stopping. I've tried natural supplements to some but not great results. Interested and hope to find something on this thread! Mostly now I manage via "created environment": Stay in warmer areas. If you know you're going outside into cold weather, put the gloves/extra socks on before you leave, not outside or afterwards; anything you can do to avoid fast and violent temperature fluctuations (grocery stores are a silent threat, lol). My DH found me some heat packs for hands, I use those in the winter inside my pockets if outside for a bit. Fingerless gloves don't really work for me, but I found gloves that have special material on the tips so that they work with touch screens and have a slightly better grip. I know other have had great results with compression gloves and gloves with copper dots; for me they felt great when worn, but once I took them off I would feel much worse. For me, avoiding lots of strain on hands and feet is pretty essential; I went bowling a few years ago at a company function, and about 4 sets in suddenly realized what I was doing. I couldn't drive or write for 2 days afterwards. For me, boxing would be out of the question, and I had to stop serious piano study. I hope he can continue to box/play violin and that his triggers do not develop similar to mine. Warm water baths for hands and feet can lessen my symptoms if I catch it early on, but I have to do it for a longer while and get my DH to help me keep the water at a warm temperature for best results. Fish oil seems to help, but idk how directly since I take it just for general health. Thank you for pointing out strain on hamds and how if impacts your raynauds. The worst time my son had with his raynauds was when he was boxing and rock climbing. His health was the best it had ever been but they could not figure out why his raynauds was so bad. I am not saying that is what it was for him, but you have giving me something to think about when documenting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 I don't take medication, but have the most success with keeping my hands, feet and ears warm - gloves everywhere. I do use castor oil and rub it into my hands at night, honestly I can't tell if it helps or not, but read that it could help with blood flow. I'm careful about blunt force to /with my hands, it is very painful for a long time afterward, I would think boxing would be really bad for the hands. I went bowling for the first time in a decade recently and had pain in my hand for days afterward, I will not cross that off my list... :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 My dd has this. What helps her are things like keeping warm overall -- she often wears a wool camisole under her shirts. Also, she has an electric radiator heater in her room. Drinking a warm beverage means she can wrap her hands around it and that helps keep her hands warm. She avoids holding cold drinks, or cans of cold soda, etc. She stays active, and eats well. She is a musician too, and plays the guitar professionally. If it's any solace, her condition has actually gotten a little better rather than worse with time. She's in her 20's now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Governess Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 My problem is more with my toes than my hands. I started wearing uggs around the house in winter and that made a big difference. Also, wearing a wool beanie helps a lot, surprisingly. There is something about warming your head that helps warm the extremities. There are nights when I can lay in a warm bed and my cold feet will simply refuse to warm up. When this happens, I will sandwich my head in between two feather pillows (with a little breathing space) and my feet will be warm in minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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