My Mother had RA pretty badly in her hands and I couldn’t even fathum the amount of pain she experienced and yet, like your niece, she perservered with her daily responsibilities, which was/is amazing to me. Other than with my Mother, I don’t have a lot of experience with your niece’s situation, but the first thing that came to mind for her cold feet and ankles was down booties. They’re soft shell (for lack of a better term) and down offers such a cozy warmth, you almost forget they’re on. Northface has them, I’ve linked it below. There’s probably some prettier ones out there, but I like these because most don’t have soles and these Northface’s do.

https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/womens-thermoball-traction-booties-nf0a331h?from=subCat&variationId=5QC&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=Shopping&utm_term=NF0A331H5QC0501&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1MWr_dSY3wIVAdvACh3-1QhxEAQYASABEgIQHPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have RA & my feet are always cold, also I badly swollen feet. My doctor said it was poor circulation in my legs. I have tried the support hose but the top cuts into my leg. Can't win for loosing.

I have RA and just love my boot slippers. feet and ankles are nice and warm. I also have a pair of down bootie slipper and boy are they warm!

http://www.thecompanystore.com/down-slippers/T688.html

Lukkiirish, Thanks for the down slipper link. I like the soles because it'll keep her from slipping.

sharonann, Sorry you've also got RA. I really didn't know it affects the ligaments not just the joints as with osteoarthritis. The autoimmune stuff is really a pain, literally and figuratively. My mother had to wear the Jobst support hose for varicose veins and they were so tight it took two people to get them all the way up!

pkramer60, thank you. You can't go wrong with down.

Very good price on those down booties. I have several type. I have RA and several immune disorders. I have a pair of slip on shearling lined suede that have a good rubber sole that I wear a lot because I can go outside in them. I also have some that have a knitted stocking top on them and like a moccasins bottom. They are great for keeping legs and ankles warm. They fit very loose so they don't make my legs swell. Any of them are good for someone fitting your description.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/118759?page=womens-beans-slipper-sock-cable-knit

I had these and loved them but they were lost in the flood.

https://www.famousfootwear.com/en-US/Product/12582-1022097/BEARPAW/Hickory/Womens+Loki+Slipper.aspx

My current ones that I am wearing now are very similar to these.

Qwaruba Women's Fireside Sheepskin Slipper (Women's 6) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0752RWMYZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EafeCb905MWPC

Raven, thank you. Remember your flood well.

I have that Bear Paw Loki and one of the Uggs like it on different laptop screens & was trying to decide which ones to try along with a bootie pair for her. Now I have more choices up there.

Just sent the Loki and a shearling lined moccassin style to another niece in northern PA with Reynaud's so her feet hopefully stay warmer.

I think I'm going to get a pair of one of all these suggestions. My feet are cold even with thick socks on.

Raven, thanks for the Famous Footwear link. I never think to look there and certain color slippers are on sale.

I don't have RA, but I have Raynaud's. Right now my right hand is a mess of extremely painful sores. My left is somewhat better, but my feet are fine--and that is due to these:

Disposable foot warmers

I go through a pair of these once a day (sometimes more in bitter cold), and I'd hate to think of being without them. They are worn over socks.

At night I heat the foot portion of my mattress with this:

Foot-Warming Mattress Pad

As for slippers, I've tried many, and my hands-down favorite is Hush Puppies Bitterroot Slipper Booties. I liked them so much I ordered another pair immediately. This was a couple of years ago. I'm glad I have the two pairs, because they appear to have been discontinued. I couldn't find a pair for sale for you, but here's a picture.

Click here.

The North Face slippers Lukkiirish linked look interesting!

Something to ask her about is the amount of pain when she bends or straightens her ankles and feet. If she would have to straighten ankle to put something on although good for stretching would not be good for pain. No RA here but a severely twisted ankle kept me in slip-ons for over a year. Pointing the feet to put on any type of shoe/boot that required straightening or bending the ankle was terrible.

I’m glad that the suggestion helped. I liked them for the soles as well, especially if she’s chasing four year olds. Another consideration is If her feet and ankles are swelling, a more structured slipper or even a thick shearing might be painful.

Alisande, I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with so much hurt. (((Hugs)))

I have psoriatic arthritis. Not sure how the pain compares to RA, but seems there are similarities. My slipper choice is Acorn mocs.

https://www.acorn.com/p/acorn-moc-slippers-women-10080?color=GZZ

maifleur01 "Something to ask her about is the amount of pain when she bends or straightens her ankles and feet."

Great point. For a couple hours after she wakes up she's walking on her heels because joints are stiff and it hurts to flex her ankles. I hadn't thought of flex restriction and was focused on keeping ankle joints warm. We'll start with slides and see how she does. Thank you for pointing this out!

CindyMac "I have psoriatic arthritis."

The rheumatologist found high RA factor & antibodies but said he can't test in same way for psoriatic but same treatment would apply. She developed psoriasis after her first autoimmune attack which was on her kidneys after simple viral infection. I know both types of arthritis can be concurrent but she doesn't want to hear about more things to deal with so I have to tread lightly which isn't in my overprotective DNA. Nephrologist in hospital said the attack on her kidneys was aggressive so we had to get biopsy and 2nd opinion with very narrow specialist quickly which confirmed 3 autoimmune conditions/effects & she had to go 9-12 months on 1x month chemo, steroids and a couple other things I can't remember now.

She lost 25% kidney function so I'm always on the lookout for any change in her behavior or habits because her particular autoimmune condition can pop up in any organ. I'll always be the hypervigilant aunt.

Boy, one can think it's limited in numbers but once you experience it in your own family it seems like you meet so many people with RA and other autoimmune conditions.

Sorry so many of you suffer this pain.

Reading all with interest as my daughter has RA and my granddaughter ,14, was recently diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis.

I am sorry that I do not have any slipper suggestions. I have been checked for a variety of these things that many of you are experiencing and fortunately do not have them. But, as of January 1st it will be one year that I have been Gluten Free. I did it for two reasons: digestive issues ( for at least 40 years) and eczema. Unfortunately it has not really helped my eczema, but my digestive issues have essentially disappeared. BUT the other thing is that my swollen/painful finger joints have been pain free. It just dawned on me one day that my hips no longer ached, too.

I was discussing this with my dermatologist, and she said that can be a benefit of being GF. I did not know that, but the change had occurred for some reason. I remember that several of my relatives had similar digestive issues and wonder if we all had " wheat sensitivity ". Going GF has been easy, and I do not plan to go back.

I was just chiming in hoping that it might help in some way,

I too have Reynauds and the secret is to keep your inner core warm. I wear fleece all winter, two layers sometimes. I also have Dearform slippers I wear in the house. Does she have wool socks. I wear them in the coldest weather. You can order them from Lands End, Duluth Trading Co, llbeans. I always wear gloves when the temp drops, sometimes IN the stores and carry HotHands warmers in my pocket when I go out. I always feel a little odd when I have twice as many layers on then most people but that's what I have to do to be comfortable.

norsetex "Reading all with interest as my daughter has RA and my granddaughter ,14, was recently diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis"

I'm so sorry to hear this. Autoimmune area of medicine still isn't well understood but the genetic predisposition is seen in so many families. It's very hard on a teen such as your granddaughter and on your daughter who's dealing with her own condition.

Best to both of them.

jkayd_il5 "I too have Reynauds and the secret is to keep your inner core warm."

Good for you using whatever you need to keep warm and try to lessen pain a bit.

I can't get my niece to be proactive except on her own she always wears 2-3 layers fleece all year round. I bring shorts & t-shirt to wear at her house because the heat is cranked up and little air conditioning in Summer. She has wool and all the higher "tech" socks to stay warm but they don't work if she won't take them out of the drawer and put them on! She wears the same cheap, thin ankle socks she's always worn. Same goes for gloves..."I'm just running from house to car", etc. I hate to say it but she may be sorry when she gets older as cumulative damage makes things worse.

I'm going to show her your post...maybe if it comes from someone else she'll listen... or not...LOL.

grapefruit1_ar "one year that I have been Gluten Free. I did it for two reasons:
digestive issues ( for at least 40 years) and eczema. Unfortunately it
has not really helped my eczema, but my digestive issues have
essentially disappeared. BUT the other thing is that my swollen/painful
finger joints have been pain free. It just dawned on me one day that my
hips no longer ached, too."

Yay for you...digestive issues are nothing to sneeze at. Can you believe things can last 40 years and other doctors don't seem to have an answer earlier if you've tried to get help. It's life changing to get that better under control.

Joints not aching is a great benefit. At some point you move as you've done for so long and then realize it doesn't hurt!

Since being diagnosed with my first autoimmune disease it seems it opens one up for more. That's how it went with my situation. I read on the autoimmune diseases forums that seems to be the case for most people. Very unfortunate because each one on it's own is quite a challenge. My rheumatologist said that is why she tests for every thing!

Best of luck to your niece! You are correct taking care of yourself early is essential to your long term health.