Happy New Year from everyone at Alliance Physical Therapy!  True to January, "Baby, it's C-O-L-D outside!"  When you step out to enjoy a bit of fresh air, we want to remind you to take precautions against frostbite.  Frostbite is tissue damage resulting from ice crystals forming within or between the cells of the body.  It is more common in higher altitudes, especially if the core temperature is low.  The affected area (usually an extremity or the ears, nose, or face) becomes cold, hard, white and numb.  When warmed, the skin becomes blotchy, red, swollen and painful.  Blisters will form in 4-6 hours, helping to distinguish frostbite from frostnip.  (Frostnipped skin often will peel like a sunburn, but it takes 24-72 hours to do so).  If blisters from frostbite are filled with clear fluid and are near the tips of the digits, they usually will heal without significant residual damage.  However, if the blisters are filled with blood or pus, significant tissue damage or gangrene is likely.  Much of tissue damage resulting from frostbite occurs during re-warming, so it is critical that re-warming takes place after the person is stable.  If a person has to walk after suffering frostbite injury to the feet, DO NOT re-warm the affected area until he or she gets to where they need to be.  Further tissue damage in this situation is inevitable due to the trauma of walking.  At this stage the key is to seek medical attention and to minimize further damage.

May 2010 be filled with moments that "warm your heart (& your fingers & toes!)

Yours in health,

Karen