carpal tunnel syndrome or peripheral neuropathy??

[DonHess]

Hello, Riversidedawn! My friend who was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome felt numbness and pain in her hands. Do you feel tingly in your hands? I think you should check the symptoms of carpal tunnel because you might experience the same symptoms now. There is a difference between the symptoms of that certain syndrome and arthritis. You should identify it correctly so that you will know what medicine you should take.

[DonHess]

Hello, Teacherjy! I can relate to your situation now because I have a friend who suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome. Based on the symptoms you shared, I think it's carpal tunnel syndrome because the pain was concentrated in your hands. Peripheral neuropathy also takes place in the hand but it the pain spreads to arms.

[riversidedawn]

I have the same symptoms in my left hand. I do have arthritis in my thumbs, knees and big toes and lymphodema in my left hand.

I've recently been questioning whether it's neuropathy or carpal tunnel. Either way it's beginng to seriously disrupt my daily routine.

Any pain relieving tips gratefully received! X

[riversidedawn]

I have the same symptoms in my left hand. I do have arthritis in my thumbs, knees and big toes and lymphodema in my left hand.

I've recently been questioning whether it's neuropathy or carpal tunnelł

[riversidedawn]

I have the same symptoms in my left hand. I do have arthritis in my thumbs, knees and big toes and lymphodema in my left hand.

I've recently been questioning whether it's neuroi

[DPD]

Hi
I developed carpal tunnel syndrome after chemo -my middles &I index fingers were the worst with numbness & tingling -felt like a tight band around them -oncologist nurse said it's possible
The chemo may have irritated the nerve Tried various painkillers & acupuncture without success GP was great & did injection &a pleased to say pain went & 7 months later still pain free

[Celyn]

Hi all, I have a rare blood cancer and will be on low dose of hydroxycarbomide chemo treatment for life. This condition thickens the blood so I had a stroke but have recovered well but have developed TCS in both hands which is waking me up and causing me to have problems gripping and being clumsy with numbness and pins and needles especially at night and in the morning. Doctor doesn't think there is a link so I googled and found this site. There is definately a link ... we are not all mad! Thank you for all this information. I will pursue it with my doctor and consultants and let you know the result ...

[Kate21]

I haven’t had any surgery but I get numbness, tingling and trigger finger in the hand on my bc side. If I turn over during the night it wakes me up, tried going to sleep on that side to see roughly how long before it happened and it was almost an hour and a half. Mentioned it to my Onc, said it wasn’t to do with the cancer and did give me an explanation about it, but I was so happy with my scan and blood results at the time, afraid it went in one ear and out the other! It is a bit of a nuisance but doesn’t trouble me any other time, if I get trigger finger that tends to be in the mornings so assume it is a nerve/circulation thing. 

[dragoncarine]

I'm interested in following this thread too. Since September I've had some sort of internal growth on my right thumb that prevents it bending and also prevents me gripping things properly. The orthopaedic hand specialist I was referred to (wait 3 months for appt...) doesn't want to deal with it as he's worried about cancer implications. Oncologist doesn't want to deal with it because he says it's not an oncology problem, he tried to suggest I ask to be referred back to orthopaedics - but I don't want to be shuffled back and forth endlessly. Complicated by the fact that ortho man asked for an mri, which I had, but nurses at that hospital could not get contrast dye into my vein so suggested I should have another done at hospital where I have onc appts - onc said he would refer me but when I phoned yesterday to ask about it, his secretary told me there is no record of a request. Although I'm beginning to get used to it and my body is adapting I am getting a bit annoyed with it all now. XRay shows "something" but it's not clear, onc ia adamant it's not cancer related, meanwhile I have a lump on the side of my thumb that wasn't there before... Hopefully mri scan is being booked now. I will update when I know more.

History is that I was diagnosed with trigger thumb in Feb 2017 which was successfully treated with steroid injection. Diagnosis of SBC occured April/May that year and thumb problems started to recur in September. A subsequent steroid injection just made the problem worse

[grania16]

Hi teacherjo
I went several times to gp but they are useless
I was offered the carpal op and tried acupuncture instead. Then I stopped medication (letrozole) for a while and used tamoxifen and it improved. I then tried a different brand pf letrozole it is back so i am just battling on really. It seems pretty common for sure judging by the posts. You are not eccentric, believe me!

[Bottyboo]

I have thus is my left hand and only had 4 cycles of FEC. Mine has been put down to axillary clearance. It is intermittent but very painful at times. Gradually the feeling in the end of my fingers returned but my hand only has to be in the wrong position for a few seconds and the pins and needles and numbness starts. Did you have an axillary clearance particularly as it seems to be only 1 hand? Xc

[sortega]

Hi.  I just finished six months of chemotherapy for for lymphoma cancer in March.  About five weeks ago I noticed both my hands were tingling at night with severe numbness in the morning.  I have now been experiencing this for 5 weeks and it is now very painful.  I went to see a Neurologist and after been given some nerve testing they are telling me that I have severe carpal tunnel in both hands.  I am scheduled for surgery on my right hand at the end of August.  I did not want to do both hands at once.  

I mentioned to my Neurologist that I had recently undergone chemo treatments and his only response was that I probably had always had it but the chemo could have thrown it over the edge.  

My chemo treatment was R-EPOCH.  If anyone has had this kind of chemo and is experiencing these same symtoms please reply.

[grania16]

Hi teacherjy I have the same symptoms as you following radiotherapy in October it has just started recently. I am hoping it is a phase in things adjusting back to normal. It does worry me but I don't think anything can be done and don't want more surgery. Let's ride it out together eh?

[Dwkiwi]

Hi there, I only found out today there is a link between carpel tunnel and Chemo. I spent 2013 having chemo followed by 6 weeks Rt. Over Xmas my health and strength finally returned and I spent 3 months house renovating to end up the last month with terrible night numbness, tingling and eventually pain. I had operation for carpel tunnel to my left hand 5 weeks ago, no one mentioned any connection to me. I am. Ow back at work and my hand is very painful, the numbness has gone though. My right hand is definitely not as bad since I have stopped using the sander but I was booked in operation to this hand and now wondering should I do this??? It is a long recovery time and is the pain going to go away??

[Guest user]

This sounds alot like my sister's problems in Arizona. She went through Chemo and her masectomy very well, but now, losing the use of her hands is very severe. There doesn't seem to be anyone in her medical group who can help. The doctor she saw for carpal tunnel is unwilling to operate. He said it seldom works if it is Chemo related. Someone please give me some info she could use to get relief. I don't live near her so I can't be there for her.

[Guest user]

Hi everybody and thank you so much for responding. How interesting this all is - if it wasn't such a blithering nuisance it would be fascinating! I shall hie me to my poor benighted GP ( a real sweetie) and see how things go. I do feel that when it becomes painful to lift a teacup to my lips the time has come to say 'Enough, no more!'

If anyone has further egs or comments please do keep posting, though, as the thread may be useful to others.

[Guest user]

I had both hands operated on for carpel tunnel, after chemo and Arimidex, apparently it is a common side effect. Go to your gp and he will do some really simple tests.
regards Ann

[Guest user]

There is a condition called Brachial plexus neuropathy which is a side effect from radiotherapy. I have it, although it was diagnosed as Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow. I had surgery to release it but to no effect. Have since been told its Brachial plexus neuropathy.

I had radiotherapy at the end of 2004 and have gradually lost a lot of the use of my left hand and arm. Dr EJ Maher, oncologist has done a lot of studies in it and happens to be my oncologist. There are a few articles and reports if you want to search for them. Its quite a rare SE and degree of problems that people suffer from vary a lot. Some with very mild numbness in fingers or pins and needles sensations.

Paula x

[Guest user]

Hi treacherjy
I am having docataxol and i have had pain and pins and needles and numbness in my left palm on and off, it seems to come and last a couple of days then get better, hope when i am finished chemo it will go for good.
good luck to you
reneex

[Guest user]

I had peripheral neuropathy towards the end of my 6 cycles of Taxotere and although my memory isn't brilliant with regard to exact timings, I know I went through a phase of it getting worse about 6 months or so after the treatment had finished. This episode only lasted a couple of months and then went away completely. My Tax finished in March 2009.

Linda

[Divvy1]

Hi teacherjy My hands & feet are both pretty bad. There is a thread called Fingers & Toes that I started earlier this year.So far as I can gather I've just been unlucky.

[Guest user]

I finished FEC/ taxotere in November 2008 ande have had pains/pins and needles in hands and feet ever since. In fact the pain in my feet has got progressively worse. I saw the GP last week. He said do not stop Arimidex as I think it may be that certainly with my feet. At times it is very difficult to walk. I am 58 going on 88 I feel. The pins and needles in hand have i think got better but I find are usually worse in the morning after sleeping all night -I wish.

[Guest user]

Hi again teacherjy

Look on sensitive teeth thread, some people are posting about similiar problems due to peripheral nerve damage.

Carolyn x

[Guest user]

Hi

I didn't have taxotere, I had epi/cmf chemo after a right mastectomy.
My friend however had a left lumpectomy and taxotere chemo and has
always complained about pains in her hands, fingertips and her feet have been very painful, she has also had carpal tunnel like symptoms.
She had problems with her fingernails falling off durring and after chemo, but lately has had to have toenails removed because of recurrent infection, the doc reckons it is all down to peripheral nerve damage due to taxotere. It would be worth going to your doc, no your not neurotic. Hope this helps. Your never alone on this website.

Take care

Carolyn x

[Guest user]

Hi, Has anyone out there, following chemo (Taxotere), developed carpal tunnel syndrome? I thought the pain in my palm, pins and needles and numbness/'swelling' in my right hand was peripheral neuropathy but it seems to be getting worse not better and it wasn't a side effect whilst I was having the chemo but has only developed in the past month/6 weeks - I finished chemo and rads before Xmas.

Before I go whinging off to my GP I thought I'd ask if this is a known effect or just little old me being eccentric again!