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oops doubled it

jim and i
jim and i CSN Member Posts: 1,788 Member
edited May 2013 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I know it is probably normal rad side effects but has anyone had tingling (like when hand falls asleep but worse) in their shoulder, arm and chest? Jim gets it in his upper back sometimes as well but mostly left shoulder and upper arm. Oncologist wasn't sure.

Debbie

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  • Billie67
    Billie67 CSN Member Posts: 898
    #2
    Lhermitte's
    Does this happen when he looks down? If so you could be dealing with a wonderful side effect of rads called Lhermitte's. It usually kicks in at about 4 months post rads, as it did for me but really it can happen sooner or later than that. I didn't know anything about it when it started happening to me and my first thought was "oh great a new cancer" I was just sure I had another tumor pressing on a nerve or something. I wish they would warn us that this could happen but in my case they didn't and I don't think most onc's warn their patients either. However, when I went to my onc for a 4 mo. check up and mentioned "oh, when I look down" and he finished my sentence...it was apparent that this is very common. He then told me I had Lhermitte's.
    He told me it usually lasts a couple of months but at 10 months, I still have it :-( it's more annoying than anything. In my case I get the zapping, tingling down my legs and right into my toes.
    It could be very possible this is what Jim is experiencing.
    Billie
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