Chilblains, boots and self pity :(

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Sorry, advance warning, I never wallow in self pity but I'm feeling very sorry for myself. Does anyone else suffer with chilblains? This is the second winter I'd had them, only get them in my toes. I had the full set on my right foot, they just started to calm down and I've got a new one on my right toes now. I know that once they warm up I be hobbling about (feel like a laminitic pony LOL!)

Just driven home from the yard, feet so painful, stiff and cold I could hardly concentrate I realise there are a lot of people a million times worse off than me, but it's just so frustrating, and I know I've got months of this! It seems to be once the cold has got into my boots, they just get colder and colder and there's no way to warm them up until I take my boots off. I currently wear Toggi Canyons, but though they are very comfortable, definitely don't keep my feet warm. Also where I work tends to be cold, as well as some mornings in the freezing warehouse, our office isn't exactly warm, so will need to find some warm boots I can wear to work as well.

Any suggestions for boots? Can be pretty flexible with price, at the moment I'm willing to try anything! Thanks to anyone getting to the end, I'm putting the kettle on so there's tea on offer

 

[Burnttoast]

Something like these might help? http://www.thepossumparlour.com/shopping/ThePossumParlour/products/Possum-Fur-Insoles/

 

[honetpot]

Muck Boots, made my cold feet so warm I got athletes foot.

 

[COOKIE123]

I get chillblains, I have fixed my toes with a pair of muck boots for the yard but still really struggle with my fingers (eve with a pair of sealskinz gloves) so also hoping for some suggestions.

 

[djedgley]

Have you tried Snowfire Chillblain Stick? Really does help.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

Mountain horse groom it boots with sheepskin insoles, sorts my cold feet out and I have had chilblains in the past, wellies are worst !

 

[meesha]

All last winter I wore Dunlop wellies designed for use in cold store, even with one pair normal socks never cold feet, not cheap and bit bulky, not for riding in or office haha But flipping brilliant....

 

[abitodd]

I find keeping my core temperature up helps.Base,middle and top layers are essential. You can then keep warm with vigorous grooming or mucking out or you can add a heated layer to your clothing. I use a heated waistcoat(for bikers) this sort of thing http://www.exo2.co.uk/equestrian-c-11.html.
I have 2 sets of boots this year. Decent insulated wellies for the mud and a pair of nice boots for riding and poncing about http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/brogini-caldo-winter-riding-boot-black . These are lush!
I struggle with gloves. They just don't go with buckles, fasteners, water,mud etc,but so far,by keeping my core temperature up and my feet warm,I find I only need gloves for riding and other poncing activities!

 

[FireFly29]

COOKIE, have you tried silk liner gloves? Silk has one of the best warmth to weight ratios so the gloves are super thin, you could actually wear 2 pairs and still not notice them under your normal gloves!
You can get them from outdoor camping/ski shops.

SaffronWelshCob, a lot of people seem to really rate Ariat insulated boots, might be worth considering?
Also thermal socks, maybe 2 pairs of thinner socks instead of one thick pair?
You can also get toe warmer insole type things from outdoor ski type shops.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Ariat boots, with a thin pair of cotton socks next to the skin, then a thermal pair over the top.
As others have said - Snowfire.

TFF, a (ex) fellow chilblain sufferer

 

[cheeryplatypus]

Are with Ariats coniston or similar. It's important that the boots aren't too tight as if your toes are rammed against them due to thick socks there won't be circulation space for air to keep u insulated. Also warm legs mean warm feet so wear a base layer of cycling shorts under your trousers. Obviously don't warm your feet up too fast.
Chilblains are miserable, hope you find a solution.

 

[BarmyC]

I swear by my ariat grassmeres. Feet are toasty warm with just one layer of thin socks at the moment and I really suffer with the cold. I'm outside at the yard from 8.30-6.30 everyday and don't get cold feet.

I have however found I have got 2 chilblains pop up on the outside of my thigh today and they are so itchy.. never realised what they are until today.

 

[penina]

Try Heat holders socks, I wouldn't have survived my cold uni house last year without them!

 

[samisheen]

I have now suffered terribly with my feet and hands since i was 10, constant chilblains all winter, doc has now said i have rynards in my hands, feet, nose and ear cartilage. I have tried every possible boot and nothing helps, even brought some british army arctic socks to wear in my neoprene lined boots, nope still get cold feet etc. so if anyone has anymore options please let me know

 

[meesha]

My Dunlop wellies are designed for temps to minus 50 ...toasty...

 

[Goldenstar]

Snowfire is ace .
Dubarrys are the best thing I have ever found I have a half size to big pair for winter .
I also have ariat bromonts short boots they are nice too.
Sheepskin insole if you have room
And fleece socks .
I have not had a chilblain since I got my dubarrys

 

[TrasaM]

Vitamin K is supposed to help. I had them last year for the first time in years. I used neem oil and they went away maybe it was coincidence, I don't know. Horrible itchy sore things. You will need to find a way of keeping your tootsies warm

 

[Battytwoll]

Owwwww, the pain, the pain! Chilblains are just so blinking miserable. I have scars on both my little toes from chilblains I got as a child. I haven't had chilblains for a few years now and I use the following: sheepskin insoles - I always put on uggs when I get home as the lining means it's a sheepskin fest all around; I wear le chameau vierzonord wellies for everything except riding - I only have to use one pair of socks with them although I am on the edge with regard to coldness when it's freezing out there. I have just bought a second hand "new" pair on ebay one size up so I can fit in sheepskin insoles! I have ariat grasmeres for riding which are fab and am now considering the ariat grasmere glaciers for when it's really cold. I also have ariat bromont insulated which are lovely but are close fitting and I wonder whether they would be suitable if you are suffering as the toe box area is much smaller than the grasmeres. I definitely think sheepskin has literally saved my skin!

 

[catembi]

Try gingko biloba. I used to get a full set of chilblains every single year on all my toes, and as you've said, they're awful. So painful & itchy! I stopped getting them on the gingko. It's amazing!

T x

 

[KVH]

Ariat Glaciers.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Wow great suggestions everyone Will look at all of those. I would love some Ariats, why oh why are they so expensive? If they were £150 instead of £250 I could just about justify it I have tried various sock combinations, and have some lovely heat holders, but I just can't fit very thick socks in my Toggi's and they then crush my toes which of course makes the problem so much worse. Should add that I could do with long boots as we have a lot of mud! Will have a look at the Muck Boots as well.

I've not tried any creams as I was always under the impression that not much works for chilblains and prevention is better than cure.

In the short term I'll try to get some sheepskin type insoles, and those possum ones look mental!

KVH - I tried some Glaciers on at the weekend and am utterly in love, shame I don't have the fortune LOL!

 

[fatpiggy]

You have my sympathy! I get chilblains EVERY year despite all my efforts to avoid them. Unfortunately I have Reynauds so I think that is at the bottom of the problem. I've always used Boots chilblain cream when I get a dose of them and gently rub them with on old softish toothbrush every evening. No amount of "special" socks or anything else ever did me any good at all. If you are on the yard, go and stand in the muck heap for a bit to warm your feet up gently, if you are riding, sitting trot without stirrups does a grand job of improving circulation to the toes rapidly.

 

[cambrica]

My nan always tells me to wee on them She might be right but I haven't tried it
Hate the bloody things, so painful!

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

My nan always tells me to wee on them She might be right but I haven't tried it
Hate the bloody things, so painful!

Also works for athletes foot try boots with more room in them and plenty of socks for padding

 

[crabbymare]

On the advice of a friend I bought some drywalker boots and they are so warm its unbelievable. even had warm feet at -21 so well worth the buying if you can find some here

 

[Fransurrey]

Vitamin K is supposed to help. I had them last year for the first time in years. I used neem oil and they went away maybe it was coincidence, I don't know. Horrible itchy sore things. You will need to find a way of keeping your tootsies warm

Neem oil contains natural steroids, so not coincidence.
I suffer with Raynaud's and have found that my feet are best in my grassmeres. I still get cold feet in theworst of the weather, but haven't had an actual attack (the completely numb toes followed by burning pain) whilst wearing them.

 

[lhotse]

I find that taking garlic capsules helps prevent chilblains as it helps with circulation.

 

[MrsMozart]

Muckboots.

I'm renown for having cold feet, though not chilblains, but my feet were always warm in the Muckboots. Think mine were the Tyne, the riding ones. Just watch the grip on slippery mud or ice as its not brill. I thought it worth the trade off though for never ever having cold feet!

 

[Auslander]

Porelle socks (buy bigger than you need though) Warm and waterproof - and make sure you put socks on while your feet are warm. Once they're cold, it's harder to get them back up to temperature!
When I was a poverty stricken event groom, and out for hours in all weathers - I used to use plastic bags between two pairs of socks - always had lovely warm feet!

 

[pippixox]

heat holder socks really work- i've been wearing normal wellies (slightly bigger size) with 1 pair of thin socks and heat holders over the top and even in recent minus temps in the morning my feet have been warm where as however many i layer of normal socks my feet are cold. cheaper option than gorgeous ariats!