Mr._Natural Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 I spent three super fun days freezing and riding around a backcountry hut over new years. long story short, about half of one of my big toes, and slightly less of the other, are still numb and slightly waxy, but not discolored at all. I really want to go to Lilloet this weekend. WWYD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lummox Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 you got nipped. a little nerve damage. go to lilloeet. keep super hydrated and well fed. avoid alcohol. stay warm. change your socks at least daily. wear your boots a little looser. dont listen to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonehead Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Uh, just do what comes naturally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 platic boots, keep your toes from refreezing again for the short term Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegetablebelay Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 I just returned from Lillooet and came back with a numb and slightly discolored ring finger on my right hand. I'm not going anywhere cold for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr._Natural Posted January 8, 2004 Author Share Posted January 8, 2004 cool, i was told that refreezing the tissue at this point would be really bad but temps are not going to be that low so i guess its on. YOU HEAR THAT TENNESSEE?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 It probably would be bad but you only live once. If it was true frostbite I think your decision would already be made for you. If it starts to discolor in the future I would not risk it myself. Think how lame it would be to lose parts of your fingers. I was pretty scared when this happened to me since the numbness lasted for weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoboy Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 When I last did a Wilderness First Aid course, they emphasized this point really strongly re frostbite treatment: Â Do not allow your doctor to do anything until he/she can prove to you that they have contacted the Vancouver General Hospital burn unit for the latest frostbite protocol. Â This was definetely more in reference to blackened toes and the like, and this was a few years ago, and maybe VGH is no longer the be-all end-all in frostbite treatment, but it might be helpful, if you are talking to a doc about it, or if anyone does get serious frostbite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 When I last did a Wilderness First Aid course, they emphasized this point really strongly re frostbite treatment:Â Do not allow your doctor to do anything until he/she can prove to you that they have contacted the Vancouver General Hospital burn unit for the latest frostbite protocol. Â This was definetely more in reference to blackened toes and the like, and this was a few years ago, and maybe VGH is no longer the be-all end-all in frostbite treatment, but it might be helpful, if you are talking to a doc about it, or if anyone does get serious frostbite. Â Snoboy, I took the WFA course in 2000 and 2002 (intend to recertify in 2004), and they never mentioned anything about VGH being the be-all, end-all in frostbite treatment. How far back was that when you heard that? Â Mr. Natural, I, like many others here, have had the shit scared out of me by numb fingers and toes for weeks on end. All in all, I'd go with lummox's and Alex's advice. It should be warm enough up there, and with plastic boots, you should be fine. Flex your toes continuously to be sure you can still feel them. Â Sobo is not a medical professional. The opinions herein expressed are not meant to replace the advice of a qualified medical service provider. Use this information at your own risk. Closed course. Professional driver. Do not attempt these maneuvers at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoboy Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Snoboy, I took the WFA course in 2000 and 2002 (intend to recertify in 2004), and they never mentioned anything about VGH being the be-all, end-all in frostbite treatment. How far back was that when you heard that? Â 3 or 4 years ago?? Maybe a different provider. I did mine with WFAI (now known as Wilderness Alert)in Vancouver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layton Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 toe warmer packets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobo Posted January 8, 2004 Share Posted January 8, 2004 Snoboy, I took the WFA course in 2000 and 2002 (intend to recertify in 2004), and they never mentioned anything about VGH being the be-all, end-all in frostbite treatment. How far back was that when you heard that? Â 3 or 4 years ago?? Maybe a different provider. I did mine with WFAI (now known as Wilderness Alert)in Vancouver. Â Ah! Different provider, then. I did (do) mine with the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_detrick Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 Funny this should come up, after saturday my toes hurt like hell on the way home, I just thought they were warming up and I was getting the burn, but after I got home and they still hurt I thought it must have been from kicking the ice with numb feet(big toes)the pain went away and my toes where sore. So after we leave to go sunday I was kind of worryed that it was going to be painful to climb, got there and my feet got cold fast and had no pain climbing. BUT on the way home when they started thawing out owwwwzzz. Both big toes are discolored and have some numbness.The nails are dark blue with red around the outside, but it looks more like I hit them with a hammer. They are tender but no pain. I hope they don't hurt too much sunday when I go out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 I climbed Stuart Glacier Coulior in May of 2002 wearing uninsulated leather hiking boots. My feet got REALLY cold and I lost feeling (or had tingly/weird feeling) in pretty much all of my toes. This lasted for several days which bothered me because I was leaving for Denali at the end of May. I decided to go to AK anyway and just tried to keep my feet warm and pay lots of attention to them (wiggle wiggle wiggle). A week or so after the end of the Denali trip, I got feeling back. Â Toe warmer packs are a great idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurthicks Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 i'm taking a WFR course right now and today we talked about frostnip/bite. i had a similar experience from Hyalite earlier this season...once the fingers warmed up, the outer layer was hard and white (like a calous) it then peeled in about a week later and the underlying tissue was super sensitive. this is defined as first degree frostbite. it works like burns actually, with 2nd degree getting blisters and such once it thaws. third degree are when it turns black, mummifies and falls off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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