In reply to Removed UserDocLemurian:
> Having survived a three degree frostbite on 3 of my fingers (and luckily recovered), some addition:
> - The most important thing is to keep the frostbitten area disinfected! The medical treatment is about the enhancement of human regeneration (i.e. getting medicines that increase the blood flow, etc). If it does not get infected and your body is otherwise healthy, you have a good chance of keeping the frostbitten parts of the body because of natural regeneration. Once infected, it gets a red colour, and needs to be amputated.
> - If the frostbitten parts are deep purple or outright black after thawing they still can be saved! It is extremely scary, but just keep faith in yourself and the doctors.
> - The swelling can get really ridiculous, apparently. A finger can swell up to twice its diameter! No joke, you really need to get the jewelry off!
> - The thawing process is indeed extremely painful. But unfortunately not just the immediate thawing process has these pain surges, but they happen for at least 10 hours after you started the thawing.
I got third and fourth degree frostbite in all my toes and nine fingers - for some strange reason I only got second degree in the thumb on my right hand?
They all went black and swollen, and several raw red. The pain was excruciating.
After about three days of treatment, I eventually had to have two toes amputated, and still wasn't sure for a few days after, if more might have to follow.
Fortunately they didn't, but they were in a hell of a mess for weeks, and very painful despite medication.
The discomfort and recovery carried on for several months after, and even now, thirty years on, because of the tissue damage, I have to be really carefull in cold temperatures, and every now and then, still get 'phantom toe'.