Winter is my least favorite season. The lack of sun or being able to enjoy the sun is difficult. The days at short and the amount of time to enjoy being outside is even shorter. The temperature is usually on the colder side. Even in Tennessee, the temperature ranges from the mid 20’s to the mid 40’s. For most people, temperatures in the 40’s probably don’t seem so bad. Unfortunately, my extremities become ultra sensitive in these conditions.

I have been diagnosed with Raynaud Syndrome which is described as, “a medical condition in which the spasm of small arteriescauses episodes of reduced blood flow to end arterioles.” While the condition typically only affects one’s fingers, it can also affect one’s toes. Unfortunately for me, it affects both. I have tried describing the condition to those who do not suffer from it, but it’s difficult to describe the sensation of only certain fingers or certain toes rapidly becoming numb and suddenly having difficulty controlling those extremities. You just want the numbness to go away, but once it does it is replaced with searing pain. Thankfully, the pain typically doesn’t last a prolonged period of time.

In addition to Raynaud Syndrome, my feet and toes remain in a constant state of hyper sensitivity. The sensation of the tips of my toes rubbing against my socks can actually trigger a pain response. To avoid that discomfort, I will remove my socks. However, that just leads to cold and numbness in my toes; rinse and repeat. The sensitivity is magnified into excruciating pain if, for example, I stump my toe or someone steps on my toes. In particular, my beagle has a bad habit of accidentally stepping on my toes when coming in or out of the house. Thirty pounds and sharp nails pushing into sensitive toes is torture.

I have been trying to find things to enjoy during this season, but it’s difficult to find enjoyment when you spend so much time in a hyper sensitive state or when you’re in pain.