Another Question From Dr. Park

[Steven Y Park, MD]

Here's another question for everyone:

Do you (or did you in the past) have cold hands or feet?
How many of you have to sleep with socks?

[truelove47]

I do Not  have cold feet and hands.  Dx'ed in 86, by ms neuro

[spitfire989]

Yup, definately cold hands and feet.---I do (unfortunately) have to wear socks at night~~~Dorky, I know--but hey.-------Also, during the day, I have to wear 2 pairs of socks to work, whatever, cuz my feet just feel like ice all the time.-----Hands get really cold especially when I'm typing or whatever.---Could never figure that out.---------I have noticed that I can not tolerate ANY cold anymore---and if I do get cold, or go outside when it's bitter cold then, it seems as my spasticity gets 10x's worse:(   -----For quite awhile.--------And on the bed, I have to have an electric blanket on, in addition to 3 blankets plus a thick down comfortor.----It's a wonder my significant other still sleeps in the bed! Cuz he likes just having a sheet!~~~~~~~~~But long of short---the cold really really bothers me.~~~Which is why I think I should move to Arizona!  :)

[Octarine]

Not diagnosed with MS; "under evaluation" for it, and my neurologist says it's probably not, but my MRI, bladder, bowel, and swallowing issues are troubling.  

Anyway, yes, my right hand (only) gets extremely cold and gets pale but not the classic Raynaud's colors.  When I told my neurologist, she asked, "what about your feet?" and I said I've been wearing socks to bed for years.  The only time my feet were comfortable at night was during pregnancies.

I'm very interested to see your other questions and, later, your reasons for asking.  Thanks for being here!

[Erin0313]

Sorry that I am late in posting. I am suffering optic neuritis and have not been on the computer much.

Am I the exception? My hands and feet hurt but they are more often warm to the feel and touch than they are cold. I have been diagnosed with Raynauds but even when my fingers get that nasty numbness and turn colors they feel fine or warm to the touch.

Sorry to put a monkey wrench in the everyone who has MS has cold hands and feet because you have to count myself and Quix as no.

Thanks for talking to us - take care

Erin

[Lulu54]

Any chance we could get you to switch specialties and become a neurologist?  I don't believe most of us here have ever had this much attention from a specialist ever, let alone such kind words.

Ok, so you want to stay an ENT.  Next question, how about house calls?  I know some patients in Ohio and Oregon that really appreciate your interest and  help and would love to use your professional services but the trip to NYC is a bit far.  :-)

My best to you and thanks again!
Laura

[Steven Y Park, MD]

It seems people with MS in general may have cold hands but they all have warm hearts :)

I'll post my answer for these three questions now (in a new post).

[swellkell]

Yes!  My husband thinks I'm weird but I sleep with socks on.  My hands aren't a problem.

[meg321]

Yes, i have cold feet and hands too, was diagnosed with  Raynauds in my feet.

meg

[ShadowsSister]

YES, YES YES. But I don't realize they are very cold until they touch another part of my body. Can't wear socks or regular shoes, they cause spasms and spasticity. If anyone touches my back ( rubbing motion) body spasms ac-cure.
Sorry, this is way too much information.
Have Nice Day{{{~!~}}}

[airyona]

Extremely cold hands and feet all the time. Cant stand sleeping with socks on so I use a heating pad at the end of the bed and keep my feet under it.

To all of u cold feet people, my husband bought me some house shoes from bed bath and beyond for xmas. They have removable spice bags that you microwave and it stays warm for about an hour. They are WONDERFUL!

[Mand125]

I am MS dx, I have never suffered from cold hands or feet.

My mother had Raynauds and my neice has it (don't know if this of any interest).

Mand

[Steven Y Park, MD]

I think there's an overwhelming consensus that most people on this forum have cold hands or feet.

Now on to my last question:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/763512

[shoshin]

My hands, feet, and calves are usually cold. It doesn't bother me so much anymore since I seem to have lost the sensation of being cold. I mostly only notice it when I touch something warm. (My husband, on the other hand, is not too keen on this particular MS symtom.)

I have worn socks to bed for years (except occasionally in the summer). The socks used to bother me sometimes, but now I usually can't tell if I have socks on or not without looking and am no longer bothered (actually once one of my shoes came untied and I walked out of it and tripped and fell and didn't know my shoe had come off until I looked).

I am often generally cold and over time I seem to keep having to put on more clothes and turn up the heat in the winter. My thyroid is also apparently normal, although my TSH had gone up a little bit the last time I had it tested.

sho

[jensequitur]

Looking up the effects of Raynauds reminded me of something that happened last year.  I was at work, and noticed the two smaller fingers of my right hand were white and very cold.  I went and ran them under some hot water, which helped a little, but it was a long time before they went back to normal.

[jensequitur]

My feet are always ice cold.  They're only warm after I've been asleep for 8 hours, and that's because I have a heated waterbed.  Sometimes I go to bed with socks on, and have to rip them off in the middle of the night!  

I also get a weird effect where the index fingers of both hands will get really cold, but the rest of the hand is a normal temperature.  I can make a fist and feel the chill of one finger against the warmth of the rest of my hand.  

My thyroid levels have been checked, and as far as I know they're normal - but my body temperature is always around 97.6.

[Quixotic1]

I, too, remove my socks if I awaken with them "suffocating."  Funny thing.  I wear socks around the house all day and sometimes fall asleep with them on.  About an hour later I awaken frantically trying to get them off.

Q

[Lulu54]

Nette brings up that other chilled body part - my nose is icy cold most of the time.  It feels as if I've been outside in sub-freezing temperatures.  Does that count as a body extremity?  

Chilly tonight,
Lu

[LATW]

I am dx'd with MS and have found I have a difficult time adjusting to temperature changes.
This year I bought wool gloves, shearling lined boots, and under armor to make it through these sub zero temps.
If I keep from getting cold to start with I don't have a problem.
If I get cold and try to warm up it is difficult.

LA

[Khiba]

My husband called me popsicle toes 30 years ago when we got married. Just diagnosed 2 weeks ago with MS. Hands were never cold till  last June when they went numb. Now they are cold all the time. Don't sleep with socks because I hate anything binding on my feet but put a warm flaxseed pack at the bottom of my bed to let me get to sleep with warmth near my feet. Hold a similar pack on my pelvic area and tuck my hands underneath it.

[nette573]

I am undiagnosised I have cold feet now the passed 2 years mostly.  My nose also gets cold. hehe.  

[poorkid]

I am diagnosed with MS but do not feel I have abnormally cold hands or feet.  I live in MN and rarely even wear gloves!  

[Heather3418]

I have MS, diagnosed over a decade now and my feet always feel cold. (not necessarily cold to the touch, but feeling uncomfortably cold.)  My hands are "normal."

Even in warm weather, I have to have something covering my feet.  I use to be the kind of girl that never wore shoes and walked to the mailbox in snow, walked across gravel with little discomfort and hated shoes and socks.

Today as a woman in my mid 50's, I do not walk anywhere, without some type of covering on my feet.  Occasionally going to bed with socks on (in the colder season)
My feet are now sensitive and couldn't even think of walking across gravel or dare try to walk in snow, even if only for a second.  It is very painful in fact.  I do have a lesion in my throacic spine, which may be causing this neuropathic pain and discomfort.

Sorry to be lengthy in my answer, Dr. Park....

Heather

[bearsmum]

Yes, suffer with cold feet and hands, pins and needles and numbness.  Pretty well wear socks 24/7 all year round.

bearsmum

[saveone]

I find it fascinating so many of us remover our socks because we feel like our feet are suffocating.  I don't think feet can do that but that is the way I feel.  I didn't mention it earlier because I thought it was just me.