Re: Circulation in hands and feet

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb,

I think this is a poorly understood area, but I think I can put my knowlege of

physiology to work and come up with a fairly general explanation. (I also have

always had trouble with my hands swelling when I go for a walk and then having

some fingers get cold and others hot and turn red.)

Each of our blood vessels are lined with very specialized cells. Endothelial on

the inside, then structural cells, fibrous cells (fibroblasts), smooth muscle

and a great deal of connective tissue. Our largest vessels even have their own

blood supply just to bring nutrients to the components of the vessel wall.

Wherever you find muscle cells of any type (smooth = involuntary; striated =

voluntary and cardiac - self explanitory) you will find nerves that supply the

muscle cells with information and directions on whether to contract or not. When

the smooth muscle of vessel walls are supplied with nerves that aren't doing

their job correctly the vessel may fail to tighten up when it is supposed to, or

vice versa.

If the heart starts increasing the rate because of excercise and gravity is

helping pull blood to the extremeties (swinging arms) this uncoordinated use of

vascular smooth muscle can result in too much blood in the lowest spots in the

body and the liquid part of the blood squeezing out into the surrounding tissues

which = swelling.

Environmental temperature can further compound that, either too warm or too

cold.

I usually walk with my hands held up above the level of my heart. It looks

silly, but I hate how my fingers turn into sausages if I just take a walk,

especially on a warm day.

Holli

>

> As I have been reading different articles on CMT, I am wondering about the

mechanics of how/why circulation is affected in peripheral neuropathy. I hear

people talking about cold hands and cold feet. My feet were noticeably numb

when I was first diagnosed, but in the past couple of weeks I have been doing

some stretching exercises, trying to move my toes more, and massaging my feet.

That seems to be helping with the numbness and coldness I was feeling in my

feet. Also, when I go for a brisk 25 minute walk, by hands start to tingle and

turn a bit red as they swing back and forth. Are these circulation problems or

nerve problems? Or do nerve problems cause circulation problems? I'm just

trying to make some sense of the relationship between the two.

>

> Blessings,

>

> Barb

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb, I don't have an answer for you, but my last neurology appointment (in

winter) his biggest concern was my cold feet and circulation. It's an area of

interest for me too. I've always dealt with cold hands and feet. The last few

years, cold is a big challenge for me overall- increasing fatigue, worse

symptoms, etc.

I'll be watching the answers- thanks for asking

Lenka

>

> As I have been reading different articles on CMT, I am wondering about the

mechanics of how/why circulation is affected in peripheral neuropathy. I hear

people talking about cold hands and cold feet. My feet were noticeably numb

when I was first diagnosed, but in the past couple of weeks I have been doing

some stretching exercises, trying to move my toes more, and massaging my feet.

That seems to be helping with the numbness and coldness I was feeling in my

feet. Also, when I go for a brisk 25 minute walk, by hands start to tingle and

turn a bit red as they swing back and forth. Are these circulation problems or

nerve problems? Or do nerve problems cause circulation problems? I'm just

trying to make some sense of the relationship between the two.

>

> Blessings,

>

> Barb

>

[Guest guest]

thanks! makes sense- I feel the nerves everywhere are affected to some extent

(for some CMT people like me- scoliosis, swallowing issues, etc.). I can

visualize it now, thanks!

> >

> > As I have been reading different articles on CMT, I am wondering about the

mechanics of how/why circulation is affected in peripheral neuropathy. I hear

people talking about cold hands and cold feet. My feet were noticeably numb

when I was first diagnosed, but in the past couple of weeks I have been doing

some stretching exercises, trying to move my toes more, and massaging my feet.

That seems to be helping with the numbness and coldness I was feeling in my

feet. Also, when I go for a brisk 25 minute walk, by hands start to tingle and

turn a bit red as they swing back and forth. Are these circulation problems or

nerve problems? Or do nerve problems cause circulation problems? I'm just

trying to make some sense of the relationship between the two.

> >

> > Blessings,

> >

> > Barb

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My PCP always checks the circulation in my feet and always says how good

it is, but my feet are ALWAYS cold. January or August, I have to have

something on my feet to keep them warm.

Mark

> >

> > As I have been reading different articles on CMT, I am wondering

about the mechanics of how/why circulation is affected in peripheral

neuropathy. I hear people talking about cold hands and cold feet. My

feet were noticeably numb when I was first diagnosed, but in the past

couple of weeks I have been doing some stretching exercises, trying to

move my toes more, and massaging my feet. That seems to be helping with

the numbness and coldness I was feeling in my feet. Also, when I go for

a brisk 25 minute walk, by hands start to tingle and turn a bit red as

they swing back and forth. Are these circulation problems or nerve

problems? Or do nerve problems cause circulation problems? I'm just

trying to make some sense of the relationship between the two.

> >

> > Blessings,

> >

> > Barb

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark,

I have almost the same thing! My capillary refill time is fine, but once my

feet get cold, I'm sunk. They're usually good in the summer unless the AC at

work is on really high and I'm wearing sandals.

I know that in the winter it has to do with a few things for me. The first is

sweat: if my socks get damp from sweat, then my feet turn into icicles. I

learned about that from a riding instructor who did not have CMT. She used to

change her socks several times daily. The second is that I have very short,

wide feet, and it is hard for me to find shoes/boots that fit. I think that if

there is not enough room in my boots, what with the heavier socks, then the

pressure on the feet is restricting the blood flow. Finally, they tend to get

cold when I sit a lot, but once I move around, they're better.

Oh, and I sometimes experience what I refer to as one of those CMT things - when

one foot is like an icicle and the other is fine!

[Guest guest]

,

My Podiatrist has always been after me to change socks and shoes more often.

Just not something you can do easily during a workday, and especially with all

the extra equipment that comes with us CMT'ers. Also, I never put it together,

but the sweat and changing is one of the things they teach you in Scouts and I

sure should have known this going through it with 2 sons! Thanks for the

reminder.

Mark

>

> Hi Mark,

>

> I have almost the same thing! My capillary refill time is fine, but once my

feet get cold, I'm sunk. They're usually good in the summer unless the AC at

work is on really high and I'm wearing sandals.

>

> I know that in the winter it has to do with a few things for me. The first is

sweat: if my socks get damp from sweat, then my feet turn into icicles. I

learned about that from a riding instructor who did not have CMT. She used to

change her socks several times daily. The second is that I have very short,

wide feet, and it is hard for me to find shoes/boots that fit. I think that if

there is not enough room in my boots, what with the heavier socks, then the

pressure on the feet is restricting the blood flow. Finally, they tend to get

cold when I sit a lot, but once I move around, they're better.

>

> Oh, and I sometimes experience what I refer to as one of those CMT things -

when one foot is like an icicle and the other is fine!

>

>

>