Who here has had frostbite?

Mongo

Mongo

Joined
Nov 5, 2001
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Greetings all, I foolishly allowed myself to get frostbite on both my big toes while clearing driveways from 01/22's snowfall. I thawed out my feet in the tub with warm water, and it F'n hurt like nobody's business during the process. Ever since, both toes ache... especially the one that had it the worst. I have since gotten a good pair of pac boots (Sorrells) so this won't happen again.
So, who here has had frostbite? Did you have any lingering pain? How freaking long is it going to last? :eek:
Limping and feeling bitchy,
Mongo
 
I've had minor frostbite on my face from exposure to wind and cold. Got inside and warmed it up, it must have been really minor, hasn't bothered me, but I've been a lot more careful ever since.

I've heard the thawing takes time and is no fun, but I don't know how long.
 
I spilled Coleman Fuel on one hand twenty years ago when making an emergency fire (four kids in severe hypothermia). That's instant frostbite at -17 F. The pain went away in a week. BUT that hand is apparently permanently prone to pain from cold. :(
 
As a teenager I trapped muskrat during the winter. Had my hands exposed to water & the weather quite regularly. The last section of my right 'ring' finger became frost bit, itched like crazy, turned white & hard & the skin peeled off. The peeling continued every winter for about 5 years even with being sure to wear gloves.
 
Twice.

Once on the fingers so bad the skin split. That was painful for about a week, as you can imagine.

Then in a '95 cold snap, I got it very badly on my left ear. The ear felt like it blew up...that's probably the simplest way to put it. Looked swollen and purple.

The pain lasted for a couple of days (less than a week because there's so much cartilege), but the bad news is every time it gets really cold, my left ear starts throbbing right away: now it has almost no tolerance for the cold.

In future, use room temperature water when thawing. Even slightly warm water can cause thermal shock to the tissues. After thawing, give your toes time to warm up to the ambient temperature, then you can soak them again in lukewarm or slightly warmer water.
 
Thomas Linton said:
...... The pain went away in a week. BUT that hand is apparently permanently prone to pain from cold. :(
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Ditto here. I frostbit my hands working in the oil fields in Wyoming. Winter time temps would get down to -30 and we'd be working w/ heated water. The water cools/freezes fast, but your gloves get wet and then freeze.
Anyway, my hands hurt when they get cold to this day.
 
Long term residuals include pain, numbness, cold sensitivity, tissue loss, nail abnormalities, hyperhidrosis, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis.
 
I got it on finger tips and tips of ears when in service in 90-92 and ever since fingers get cold super easy and that tip of ear throbs when not covered. :(
 
Mongo said:
I have since gotten a good pair of pac boots (Sorrells) so this won't happen again.
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May I make a suggestion? If you haven't already done so, get an extra pair of liners for your Sorels so you can always start the day with a completely dry set. Your feet WILL sweat in them.
 
I got it many years ago on my toes, and it still hurts on a cold morning. I think that my dog got it on his cojones, I'm waiting for a call back from the vet.
 
I've had minor frostbite. The pain and hypersensitivity has been for a couple years now; and from what I've been told by my physician, it is often for life.

--Mike
 
Yeah it would seem likes its for life. Now I carry some kind of glove and a BALACLAVA in most of my coats just in case. MURRAY :(
 
I used to teach skiing in Canada and frooze my feet many times. Once they get "bitten" you are more prone in the future.
 
I would suggest that you plan on investing in bootwarmers for the rest of your life. I also use them in my choppers (leather mittens with wool liners). The worst part is not my toes, but I almost lost my trigger finger :eek: Now my toes, some of my fingers, ears start to get white and painful when exposed to temps below 50F. I was bitten almost 50 years ago.
Dan
 
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