Suggestions for always (or seemingly) having cold feet

tkang

I'm new to this forum, having only just responded to one thread. I suppose like many others who use wheelchairs 24/7 I always seem to have cold feet. I've usually just put up with, considered it part and parcel of using the wheelchair and having cerebral palsy. But for some reason, today, I have sort of had enough. I don't know many other wheelchair using/disabled people in a friendly kind of way, despite being a university student, so don't have so many people to ask about this. Apologies if this seems like a completely strange question, but I really would appreciate any advice anyone has. Thanks in advance!

Hopeless

I’m not a wheelchair user but do suffer with cold feet. I’ve found wearing woollen socks helps

mhuss19

hi

I am exactly the same! I always have cold feet to the point where I have just given up on finding ways to keep them warm. I have a condition called Morquio syndrome and due to this. I think the only thing that can warm up my feet is a hit water bottle. I personally don’t always use it as my upper body is always hot and I have eczema which it doesn’t if well with heat as it flares up a lot.

teuchterlass

Cotton socks underneath and wool socks on top.

Under your insoles I always have 3or4 layers of cooking foil, I believe it bounced cold back down and body heat back up, doesn't cost much either but all my shoes/boots have done this for years.

I will keep looking to see what tips I can pick up.

JF7891

Since childhood (90s), I always had electric foot warmers, they are perfect, last forever, are super comfy and breathable as well as having an insert cloth that is machine-washable. I super highly recommend them, I even bought them for my family and in-laws like grandmas etc. They are usually only around £20 on Amazon and running costs are very minimal, they consume around 200w per hour and have multiple temperature settings.

Though in comparison, a sturdy head pad (note: not heating blanket, as they break very quickly with longer use, i.e. you can't really sleep with them on and can't be overweight as they have tiny wires which break the circuit) consumes only 20w, and also have multiple temperature settings and can actually be run by a larger power bank (e.g. the 140w Anker Power bank for up to 8h) in case of power outages (where I live they are very frequent). Some heating pads even come with Velcro stretch straps to make them purposefully wearable even for oversized people (e.g. the ones from comfytemp for ca. £36 on Amazon).

Rosie_Scope

Painfully cold feet here too!

I've used disposable foot heater pads and found they're okay although not practical if you need to use them every day. I've used them if I've had to go out in the cold for a little while.

For inside, I've used those microwave heat bags that people use for aches and pains draped over my feet, as well as hot water bottles placed underneath if I'm lying down.

You can also get reusable hand warmers that you just click a button and they self-heat, then you boil them to reset them. If you popped them in the top of your socks, perhaps those might help warm you up?

Chunky socks help me, especially more natural fabrics like wool. And layering socks too like teuchterloss mentioned.

You also can buy heated insoles that you charge or run from a battery pack, but I don't know how effective they are. Could be worth a look though 😊

Hope you find a solution! I'll definitely be following along to see if anyone else has any more tips.

Elizabeth100

If your feet sweat (like mine!), then cotton socks will get and stay damp. I never thought I'd be this way, but I do like socks that have acrylic in with the wool etc. The electric foot warmers sound great! Take care.

StodgySquare

My feet can get really cold to.

I recommend slippers with little heated beanbags in them.

My ones have a zipper that the beanbags sit in and they're microwaveable, once heated you pop them back in your slippers. 👍

My slippers are also boot-shaped so all of your foot is covered. I remember them being priced rather high but honestly it's worth it; heating our houses is already ridiculously high so you need to treat yourself.

MCMikey

My feet (and hands) even in summer at +20 degrees C feel like they are colder than the ambient temperature (I know this is not possible, although I suppose skin temp through evaporative sweating might be). Decent wool blend socks help a bit (as mentioned earlier above) but putting cold feet into the best socks you will still have cold feet at least initially and for a good while (same as putting an ice cube into good socks, it's still an ice cube!).

I used to be able to go walking or cycling which after perhaps 10 minutes my feet used to slowly warm up, but I physically cannot do hardly any aerobic exercise now, so can perhaps appreciated a little bit the difficulty you face.

At night a zonal electric blanket would be useful (might be on my shopping list) as at night my feet are still like blocks of ice, but my upper half is fine (I currently just use an small eleci blanket for mainly my feet). One of my close relations was the same, so some of it is genetic and some circumstances we are in.

I believe there is medication that can help open up the blood vessels to help circulation to hands and feet, but another med to take and associated side effects.

Best wishes

Albus_Scope

I'm also part of the cold feet club, it's rare I can ever warm them up. But I have found having pets that link sleeping on the bed can really help. As well as decent thermal socks and good slippers.

egister

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/125601/suggestions-for-always-or-seemingly-having-cold-feet

A possible problem with cold feet is poor circulation. You need to ask your doctor about Doppler ultrasonography of leg vessels.

Kimmy87

I find the right socks for your feet can help.

I don't find fluffy or woolen socks hold what little natural heat I have. Mine do much better in cotton socks that are heavily embroidered.