cold hands

[Groundhog246]

I don't think chilling your extremities (hands, feet) will make them more sensitive to cold. I worked on a house framing crew for 4 years, winters too, and had some very cold fingers and toes and if anything they became less sensitive.
I'd suggest you explore a couple of possibilites. Are your wrist seals too tight? Excessive pressure will reduce bloodflow to your hands and it's the blood flow that keeps them warm. And some medical conditions (diabetes for one) can cause reduced blood pressure and/or flow to extremities.

 

[knives]

Thanks ....I will check it out ...

 

[rcohn]

I have not found the little chemical packets to be much help as the O2 in the glove is pretty limited .

I've had the same experience, the chemical packs that need O2 don't work in gloves or boots when diving. When the water is very cold, below 40 degrees, I use the other type of chemical heating packs (needs no O2) inside my dry gloves, This keeps my hands warm for a 40 minute3 dive.

Ralph

 

[knives]

I've had the same experience, the chemical packs that need O2 don't work in gloves or boots when diving. When the water is very cold, below 40 degrees, I use the other type of chemical heating packs (needs no O2) inside my dry gloves, This keeps my hands warm for a 40 minute3 dive.

Ralph

Hi Ralph,
What kind of heating packs do you use? Where might I find some? I would be in heaven if I could dive and and not have frozen fingers!
Thanks......

 

[rcohn]

Hi Ralph,
What kind of heating packs do you use? Where might I find some? I would be in heaven if I could dive and and not have frozen fingers!
Thanks......

I use these packs.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=1028&memberId=12500226

Not a perfect solution. They are rather large and they harden as they work. I find them too hot to keep against the back of my hands so I keep them against my palms. Therefore, I only use them in the coldest water.

Ralph

 

[Archangel]

You are suffering from frostbite. What you did is froze the top layer of your tissue. It can be exacerbated by cold temperatures at high altitude; combined tissue freezing with decreased oxygen to your cells, and general body dehydration.

What is actually happening in your hands are the formation of ice crystals (bad), then the cells die. Obviously your condition in the way that you described it is superficial, tho' if you remember those pictures of Everest climbers with black fingers and noses, that is the severe form.

What you are feeling is hypersensitivity due to the C fibers (pain signal nerves) being damaged, dont worry they will heal and stop firing. Further, you can feel tingling as well as numbness.

Please, please be careful, and refreezing will damage your hands further leading to amputation of the most severe form.

Hope this helps,

Much warmth, and happy diving,

Tevis

 

[Rick Inman]

I get cold hands, too, below 38 degrees with my dry gloves. There's nothing worse then that 5 to 10 minutes of pain after the dive as they defrost. This year has been the best year for me yet, with only one episode in many dives (flooded glove). Here is what has finally worked for me:

1) Warm core. Make absolutely sure your core is toasty warm. The core warms the blood which goes through the limbs. I spent another $200.00 on undies to go under my undies (layering) and it has worked.

2) Circulation. Make sure that there is no blood flow restriction in the limbs, like too tight wrist seals or thick seams pinching off blood flow.

3) Thicker/better liners. The ones that come with the gloves are fine above 45 degrees, but in the real cold water you need thicker liners. I bought good quality micro-fleece ski glove liners at REI. I had to get a bigger blue glove size to use them, and it sure diminished the dexterity , but it's worth it.

4) Room in the gloves. Not too much, but enough to hold enough gas to insulate your hands. If the gloves are too tight, there's no room for the gas, and the water sucks the heat right out of the hands.

5) A good flow of gas to the gloves. Whether you use a piece of tubing or some material from your wrists, when you lift a hand up while diving, your glove should fill with nice warm gas.

6) Argon. If it's just a placebo and doesn't really work, don't tell my hands that. They believe it and can absolutely feel the difference.

7) Warm hands before the dive. This is a biggie! Cold temps while suiting up can chill the hands before you even get wet, and then you've already lost half the battle. Warm gloves (not the liners) while suiting up is a must. I also take a tub of hot water and soak my gloved hands in the hot water and heat my hands and gloves up as the last prep to the dive. My buddies call it the "hand Jacuzzi".

Seems like a lot of stuff, but once you're dialed in it's really not much effort at all. And this year has been my warmest hands yet. Today's two dives were in 36 degrees and my hands were warm all day!

Good diving!

 

[Groundhog246]

You are suffering from frostbite........What is actually happening in your hands are the formation of ice crystals (bad), then the cells die.

While your hands might get really cold while diving, ICE CRYSTALS? How can ice form in your hands from exposure to water that is still a degree or two above freezing? Pre-dive or post dive with exposure to sub zero temps, sure. But not during the dive. FWIW, I worked outside in construction and I've had minor frostbite.

 

[freediver]

Do some research into Raynaud's Syndrome and make sure you can rule that out.

 

[DocVikingo]

Thanks, freediver. Was thinking the same thing myself.

If the items on Rick Inman's list are tried without benefit, it might be worth a look at this brief thread on Raynaud's from a few years ago:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=839

Regards,

DocVikingo