How to manage them
So you can save yourself from the pain and suffering
So what?
Our last post touched on what Raynaud’s and chilblains are. The next two posts will discuss how I’ve been managing the symptoms. ICYMI, managing Raynaud’s and chilblains will:
- Relieve you from pain;
- Save you from tingling and numbness;
- Reduce swelling; and
- Heal cuts and wounds.
Arginine
As an amino acid, Arginine (L-arginine) helps your body build protein and muscle. Whilst your body typically produces sufficient amount of L-arginine to sustain life, it can also be found in protein-rich foods such as fish, soy, poultry and red meat. Due to one of the effects of consuming L-arginine being dilation of blood vessels, people take L-arginine orally or apply ointments containing L-arginine to improve blood flow. As Raynaud’s and chilblains reduce blood flow in the affected areas, L-arginine can help with improving blood flow in those areas by opening up the blood vessels. Having improved blood flow in those areas may help with you being able to keep them warm.
Vaseline
As all sufferers of Raynaud’s and chilblains know, you develop cracks and cuts from the swelling of the affected areas exacerbated by dry skin. Applying Vaseline (i.e. petroleum jelly) can help with speeding up the healing process, moisturising your dry skin and relieving pain caused by the wounds. As a mixture of various waxes and mineral oils, petroleum jelly seals your skin with a water-resistant barrier which helps your skin retain moisture and heal faster. Not only it will help relieve the pain from cracks and cuts induced by Raynaud’s and chilblains, petroleum jelly has many other uses as well that you’re all familiar with.
My experience
I first came across L-arginine when I got into fitness and bodybuilding. I remember getting tingling sensation in my fingers and toes from taking supplements containing L-arginine. After not having taken L-arginine in about five years, I came across it again when I was looking into how to improve blood flow. I’ve been taking 5 grams of L-arginine once a day and it seems to alleviate pain after my morning walks and restore my blood flow faster compared to days I forget to take it.
Vaseline is something that we always have around the house. Whether treating diaper rash when our kids were infants, moisturising chapped lips of our 6-year-old boy who spends way too much time outside in the Canberra winter, preventing dry noses from blowing our noses too much during hay fever season, we make sure to always have it around.
What now?
- Speak to your GP about how you can improve your blood circulation. My GP recommended taking blood thinners which was somewhat effective but had side effects that I’d rather not deal with.
- Make sure to have a supply of Vaseline as you will never know when you will need them.