Finger and Nail pain

SlowRollin
SlowRollin Member Posts: 75
Howdy folks,

I'm not even certain if I've ever started a thread here; I mostly just lurk and gather info for my wife. Some background info: my wife was diagnosed with Stage IIA IDC the day after her 37th birthday. The day of her 9th Taxol infusion, the Oncologist commented that she'll probably keep her nails...we hadn't thought about losing them. After that treatment her nails are excruciating to the touch. Literally, just touching a glass for her is like tapping her nails with a hammer. They don't look purple, just slightly discolored. But she can hardly walk they hurt so bad.

Is there anything any of you have done to lessen this pain? She's out of pain meds so we'll refill that tomorrow. The only pain meds she has are from the port surgery...that was just lovely. I just wanted to know if there's anything at all that we should be doing besides just bearing it. I appreciate any info you can offer.

Thanks!


Tony

Comments

  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    Hi Tony!
    I do remember nail sensitivity and my doctor told me to use tea tree oil. I sure hope she finds something to lessen the pain :( I didn't have the extent of pain she seems to be having. Maybe others have experienced that.

    Sylvia
  • SlowRollin
    SlowRollin Member Posts: 75
    sea60 said:

    Hi Tony!
    I do remember nail sensitivity and my doctor told me to use tea tree oil. I sure hope she finds something to lessen the pain :( I didn't have the extent of pain she seems to be having. Maybe others have experienced that.

    Sylvia

    Thanks for replying
    Thanks for replying Sylvia.

    We were supposed to have our 10th round of Taxol today and the Onc. cancelled her treatment until next week to see if the side effects subside. He also gave her some pain meds so she can get some sleep...we'll see how this works out.

    She's terrified about missing a week but really needs some time to recover. I truly hate this.

    T.
  • BetsyJane
    BetsyJane Member Posts: 127
    I lost two nails
    My fingers and toe nails tingled and hurt too. I lost two of my toenails (months after my chemo ended). My chemo ended in June and the tingle sensation is almost completely gone in my fingers and hands but my one foot is still bothered with tingly sensation and once in a while some pain....but it's much more bearable. I put cold packs on my feet for the pain. You can buy them at the pharmacy. Good luck.

    God Bless,

    Betsy
  • SlowRollin
    SlowRollin Member Posts: 75
    BetsyJane said:

    I lost two nails
    My fingers and toe nails tingled and hurt too. I lost two of my toenails (months after my chemo ended). My chemo ended in June and the tingle sensation is almost completely gone in my fingers and hands but my one foot is still bothered with tingly sensation and once in a while some pain....but it's much more bearable. I put cold packs on my feet for the pain. You can buy them at the pharmacy. Good luck.

    God Bless,

    Betsy

    Hi Betsy,
    This cancer thing

    Hi Betsy,

    This cancer thing is a gift that just keeps giving...I don't have the heart to tell her that her nails might still fall off even after we've completed this treatment. We'll know in a few days if we finish the last three or just go straight to f/a/c. The meds and a good nights sleep have done wonders for her mood. She even made dinner while I was at work. I hadn't thought about icing the sore areas, but we'll definitely give it a shot.

    Thanks again.

    T.
  • WJGardner_Dec2009
    WJGardner_Dec2009 Member Posts: 50
    Toe Pain
    My two big toes still hurt after nearly 1 1/2 years after chemo ended. Even the sheets touching my toes would hurt. But I have to say the pain has let up now. Never did lose nails though. Several fingers did get go black and hurt some but those healed after treatment stopped.
    Wanda
  • finger nail pain
    Hi Tony,

    I know it's really hard to see your love one in so much pain. I do remember my mother having pain after her second treatment of taxol she had to be switch to another med taxatere for remainder of her 2 treatments. Her hands and feet both peeled completely she couldn't walk or use her hands. Once the skin shed completely off her nails both toes and fingers turned completely black. She loss all her toe nails her finger nails hurt to the touch. They looked like she had acrlic on them that grew out. 1 year and half later she still can't use her hands need help with bathroom, bathing, eating she can't even write her name been on Diaudid 4 mg for pain all most year. The oncologist told her she might have to see a neurologist she might have nerve damage. She even took neurton but it didn't help at all. My mother did say the pain is only on the tip of her finger and toes. both are still extremely senative. If your wife can stand the touch try cutting her nails and toes really short. My mother wears gloves on her hand it helps with being able to pick up things. You can try using thicker utenils or wraping them with paper towel (bounty soft white)At times that was to hard. Please let your wife know she is in our prays. Tony continue to be her support its really hard when you can't do for yourself. I hope you find this helpful.
  • Toe Pain
    My two big toes still hurt after nearly 1 1/2 years after chemo ended. Even the sheets touching my toes would hurt. But I have to say the pain has let up now. Never did lose nails though. Several fingers did get go black and hurt some but those healed after treatment stopped.
    Wanda

    Glad to hear you are doing
    Glad to hear you are doing better
  • Thanks for replying
    Thanks for replying Sylvia.

    We were supposed to have our 10th round of Taxol today and the Onc. cancelled her treatment until next week to see if the side effects subside. He also gave her some pain meds so she can get some sleep...we'll see how this works out.

    She's terrified about missing a week but really needs some time to recover. I truly hate this.

    T.

    changing taxol
    Hey Tony,

    I wonder if you could ask the Oncologist about switching her meds the side effects get worse depending on the dose. My mother was able to do anything after the second dose of Taxol it really did a number on her like I said before it's been 1year and a half since her chemo treatment was switched to taxotere. I'm no doctor just a suggestion there are different meds they can use.
  • SlowRollin
    SlowRollin Member Posts: 75

    finger nail pain
    Hi Tony,

    I know it's really hard to see your love one in so much pain. I do remember my mother having pain after her second treatment of taxol she had to be switch to another med taxatere for remainder of her 2 treatments. Her hands and feet both peeled completely she couldn't walk or use her hands. Once the skin shed completely off her nails both toes and fingers turned completely black. She loss all her toe nails her finger nails hurt to the touch. They looked like she had acrlic on them that grew out. 1 year and half later she still can't use her hands need help with bathroom, bathing, eating she can't even write her name been on Diaudid 4 mg for pain all most year. The oncologist told her she might have to see a neurologist she might have nerve damage. She even took neurton but it didn't help at all. My mother did say the pain is only on the tip of her finger and toes. both are still extremely senative. If your wife can stand the touch try cutting her nails and toes really short. My mother wears gloves on her hand it helps with being able to pick up things. You can try using thicker utenils or wraping them with paper towel (bounty soft white)At times that was to hard. Please let your wife know she is in our prays. Tony continue to be her support its really hard when you can't do for yourself. I hope you find this helpful.

    Thank you for your reply and
    Thank you for your reply and well wishes. Yes, I did find your direction helpful. It's easy to forget how limiting chemo can be and I feel like I let my guard down with her rebounding so quickly. Your recommendations would help and I'll take care of them as soon as I get home in the morning - joys of shift work.

    Amy was having a really bad day today, emotionally. Physically, she's doing measurably better. She did have a "chemo brain" moment at the gas station today. She got into a debate with our 15yr old...should have known what was about to happen. She got distracted and drove off - with the nozzle still pumping gas!!! My son's best friends' mom was parked beside her. One email to her son and she was on everyon'e facebook before she even left the parking lot...oh, what a day. I wish I could say that was the first time she's done this.

    I do appreciate your comments and I can't wait to get all of this behind us. I hate cancer..

    Tony
  • DebbyB
    DebbyB Member Posts: 86
    I had neuropathy issues from
    I had neuropathy issues from the taxol, too. It hurts to walk, hurts to even think about shoes or even socks, lost nails, etc. I lost my thumbnails about a month after my last taxol and my toenails about a week after that.
    Good news: a couple weeks after I finished radiation, I started going to water aerobics a couple times a week. Been going just over a month now and its been a lifesaver. It helps so much with the pain. I get exercise without having to put any weight on my feet. My dr said for most people the pain goes away within a year.
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member

    Thanks for replying
    Thanks for replying Sylvia.

    We were supposed to have our 10th round of Taxol today and the Onc. cancelled her treatment until next week to see if the side effects subside. He also gave her some pain meds so she can get some sleep...we'll see how this works out.

    She's terrified about missing a week but really needs some time to recover. I truly hate this.

    T.

    Hi Tony! What a great
    Hi Tony! What a great husband you are to help your wife out. I don't know about finger and nail pain, but, want to wish your wife good luck and hope she can get something to help with the pain.


    Hugs, Debby
  • Kathy09
    Kathy09 Member Posts: 99

    Thanks for replying
    Thanks for replying Sylvia.

    We were supposed to have our 10th round of Taxol today and the Onc. cancelled her treatment until next week to see if the side effects subside. He also gave her some pain meds so she can get some sleep...we'll see how this works out.

    She's terrified about missing a week but really needs some time to recover. I truly hate this.

    T.

    Nails
    I had the same issue, it was terrible, I could't even buckle my seatbelt, or write. I can totally feel her pain. They did cancel one treatment. Then they lowered by chemo dose, I thought I would die from the chemo before the cancer. My nails are still a mess, it seemed like it started in my thumbs and worked out, because the first three fingers are the worst, (I must have cut back on meds before it got to the ring finger and pinky because they seem ok. Its been three years I still can't get nails to grow out.
  • Muschi
    Muschi Member Posts: 85 Member
    Nails
    Hi, my nails are looking so bad,( no change in color) they are braking off past the quick and they only hurt when I get them haingnails. I wonder how much shorter they are getting,I hope I don't lose them all together. My oncologist had warned me that this cought easy happen.I hope that helped a little.
    Ilona