Cold injury boot question

[webnick2007]

Hi, This is kind of gross but I've been having toe problems and now it's limiting how much I can climb.

 

For the past six years, I've lost my big toenails aft6er the start of every waterfall ice season. I thought it was just related to banging and pretty common.

 

Then, I started getting blisters on the tips of the toes and lost sensitivity. After a cold bivi last spring, my socks were frozen coming out of the boot.

 

Now I've got good fitting boots but a _little front pointing shears off the skin on the toes. It looks like peeling an onion where a blood line rings the deeper exposure in the center.

 

Has anyone else had experience with frostbite? A podiatrist set me up with 'ballerina's' toe pads (put more impact on other toes) but these help marginally.

 

Getting cold feet,

 

NM

 

 

Other ideas -

Doubling a latex glove with vaseline.

 

 

Edited February 7, 2008 by webnick2007

[Paul_detrick]

Yes I have. Happen a couple years in a row, I thought I had frostbite. Lost both bigtoe nails. Bought a new pair of boots and it went away. Old boots were Nepal Tops, loved those boots, not real warm, but great feel. I would try differnt boots, maybe a halfsize bigger than you have now. And some that don't run narrow. Good luck I know that sucks. Paul

[Dane]

That does not sound pleasant.

 

I have some frostbite injury that still bothers me when it gets cold. But the after effects are nothing like you describe.

 

Everyone's feet are different obviously. Here is my experience.

Never had toe injuries or lost a nail from water fall climbing and done it a lot including being out almost daily guiding during the winter seasons. Don't know anyone in our group who has...so your injuries aren't common.

 

Continued reinjury is going to make it much, much worse. You need to stop climbing, get this under control and let it heal. Frostbite...or frostnip or any prolonged cold injury like immersion foot can/will bother you for years to come.

 

Trust me if you slept in your boots on a bivy and your soxs were frozen in the morning coming out of the boot you have some serious cold injury.

 

Let your feet heal up.. Then I'd be the second to say buy bigger boots that fit. I would think your real problem is being unable to correctly fit your new boots with injuried feet. And finally a warmer boot to prevent reinjury. But worth a mention I have been out now in some -30C days on waterfall ice in the newer Nepal Top Evo and haven't had a problem with cold feet. Also the first single boot I have used in years and I'd much prefer to still be in a dbl just tio avoid another cold injury.

[webnick2007]

Another though is runners get black-nails from not watching their electrolyte balance.

 

Well that blows. I'm sure the gear shop will love a mis-fitted boots argument! Thanks for the tips....

 

[Dane]

Runners? I have done a few marathons and a pot full of Tris and the milage that goes into all that. Lost some toe nails along the way.

 

The reason I lost nails every time was running in too BIG of shoes. Feet slid around and hammered the front of the shoe.

 

To put that in perspective I climbed trad rock (.11+) for years in a size 9.5 climbing shoe. My street shoe size...11.5 of course. Call them really, really tight. And never lost a nail.

 

But sounds like you have boots that are too small. If a shop tried to fit you while your feet were still injured no surprize they missed your size. Good luck!