Greetings to everyone! 
I finished chemo at the end of March 2013. 3 x EC plus 3 x Docetaxel. My feet suffered immediately upon starting Docetaxel - fingers too. This has continued and I suffer in bed at night - it was like someone was sticking hot knitting needles into my feet - so much so that I jumped. (hands are not as bod but I struggle with fiddly tasks). I am on 300mg Gabapentin 3 times a day plus 20mg Amytryptaline.
Some years ago I had an injury to my pelvic area (I did something stupid on a water slide!). Anyhow, periodically this used to flare up and I was told it was my periformis muscle. Ecercises with a golf ball eased things. However, since chemo the pain has changed - it is remarkably similar to the pain in my feet (ie neuropathy).
My question is this: has anyone has neuropathy to an area other than hands and feet - or an old injury. BC Nurse says chemo looks for week areas!! I am also interested to see what other treatment you guys are having for neuropathic pain and are you able to work with it?
Angie xxxxx
Hi ~Angie,
I finished my Chemo (3xFEC and 3xDocetaxel) back in june last year and the neuropathy kicked in after the 1st Docetaxel in the April and continues to plague me and will keep doing so for who knows how long? I had the restless feet/toes and was forever shaking them out in bed and hanging them off the side of the bed even let my feet touch the floor in the middle of the night as i have laminate wood flooring upstairs (we have dogs!).
There is constant pins and needles, sensitivity to hot and cold, muscle cramps are terrible expecially when i drive, sore toes which were so bad at one pioint that i went to my GP and he gave me tablets but to be honest i chucked them away and decided to use my Dermol cream which i swear by! I told my Onco last week also and she said it could stay that way for years and to keep my hands and feet moisturised and dry and i might look at some Sketchers sandals i was recommended to try.
I have also noticed that as i have had lower back problems (due to a winter toboganning accident at the age of 12) that they have flared up since the Chemo and sometimes it feels as if someone is stabbing me in the back! And it is also affecting the top of my spine round the neck area which i have been advised to have looked at by the GP as there is a swelling to the left of the top of my spine which is giving me grief (pain and soreness and the occasional dizzy spell). Apart from that and the usual side effects that seem reluctant to do one, i try and do what i can , when i can, and try not to overdue it. Cheers, Michele x
Hi Rosiecliff, Hi Michelle
Rosiecliff what a wonderful way to break up chemo! Congratulations too!! xxx
Lyrica is the next thing I am to try for the neuropathy. Moisturising my feet does tend to help a little. Gabapentin isn’t making it better - in fact it has worsened slightly despite the full dose which lnocks some people out. I had to stop taking Amitryptaline due to groggyness.
Well - I have a new symptom since last post. I cannot make a fist first thing on a morning - fingers feel swolen but look normal. After an hoour it wears off as I work them. GP says osteoarthritus. Breast care nurse says to take Glucosomine and it wont interfere with Tamox.
What are MBTs by the way?
I’m still in chemo brain (although it’s only 5 months for me) so forgetful and cannot understand things I used to grasp straight away.
The feet kept me awake the night before last so I deliberately stayed up late last night so I was tired - feel much better. Have to say shooting pains across fingers don’t help either and yes, I too drop things. That said I try to be normal and do normal things. However, I struggle psycholoically. Having these symptomes seem to be a constant reminder. I have flashbacks - PTSS - am waiting for CBT. Being “high risk” with 13 nodes positive despite a tiny 8mm tumout worries me - BUT - I know this isn’t a science and there are people with no positive nodes who have secondaries. I guess I would still be as affected if I had no nodes positive I suppose. I’ts hard to let go emotonally when there is something contantly tapping on your shoulder (meaning the SEs).
Hope you both have a lovely Sunday - I have a HUGE pork joint and family round so hoping no rows xxxx
Hello Rosiecliff and Angiebobs! Congrats on your wedding and great break in Oz, Rosiecliff it sounds amazing. We have relatives in Adelaide we keep in touch on Facebook! Its so true that going through the nasty side of treatment we cope quite well, until the preventative drugs take over! I may ask my GP about the Lyrica when i next see him, my feet havent improved any. I was never offered anything for them when i mentioned it to my Onco, but then again i didnt see my regular one again. I still use the Dermol cream i was given during Chemo, in fact i use it all over! I also have that “sausage finger” feeling, although they look normal - I got the same thing when my Rheumatoid Arthritis was flaring up back in the 90’s (seems a lifetime ago now!). I now take Glucosamine and Cod Liver with Omega 3 as recommended by my Cardio, he said they would help with not only heart health but the joints too. I am curious also as to what are MBT’s? I swear that my “ChemoBrain” is still with me! I have real trouble with remembering things and have to write things down everywhere! “Dropsy” is what i call my inability sometimes to hold on to things! I also try and keep to routine and be normal, even though my mind is constantly racing with things. I cant seem to do that thing where you can file things away in your mind and when you need to remember something it just pops out and you retrieve it - now it all comes tumbling out at once andi get confused!! I think about things differently now, and i am going through a phase of worrrying about recurrences or secondaries - I Must Stop Googling!!
I hope you both have an enjoyable Sunday - at least here in Swindon it is sunny if not quite breezy!
Cheers, Michele x
Thanks for your post, I am suffering from what I am calling Peripheral Neuropathy in my fingers and hands and have done so since my chemo in 2010. I am still waiting for a definite diagnosis but would be v interested to know if the two meds you mention are helping with pain. Tnx