Happy Feet and Warm Hands

Carolon Champ Hotmitt

With scleroderma, I suffer with Reynaud’s Syndrome. A challenge is to keep my hands and feet warm and in better condition. From now on, I will spend my winters in San Diego instead of suffering in the -20 degree weather in Utah. I have also lost some flexibility in my fingers from swollen knuckles and tight skin, and my hand therapist suggested reusable, microwavable Carolon Champ Hotmitts. Because the mitts are large enough, I use them to warm my hand and force my fingers to bend while inside the mitt by attempting to make a fist and sitting on them. I can now almost close both hands into fists. I wish I had found these little jewels sooner because they would have helped warm up my hands after shoveling snow etc. Although I often used disposable hand warmers when away from home, these mitts are warmed in the microwave, stay warm for several hour and are reusable. I also have a hot wax unit and a hot-water foot bath with a heater so I can soak my feet to soften calluses so they are easier to remove. To help relieve cracked heals, I put several strips of 1-inch Johnson & Johnson waterproof tape across them, and after several days they soften. Since I have started on prednisone, most of the rash and cracking is gone. The warmer, more humid weather in San Diego is also gentler on my skin. 

After a visit to a podiatrist who diagnosed a bone spur in my toe and fallen arches, I bought several pair shoes with arch support shoes that are somewhat stylish. I will consider having the bone spur removed at a later date since it might be slow to heal because of poor circulation in my toes and the pain is not too bad for now. I pad between the two toes that are sore with lambs wool or toe padding. I also treat myself to an occasional pedicure and manicure, and my feet and hands are much happier!