Radiation Induced Plexopathy

Joel4

Hi All.  I used to be a regular on this board.  Diagnosed SCC unknown primary in April 2010.  Had surgery only and was considered cured 5 years later.

in 2017 I was diagnosed with SCC unknown primary a second time. Ended up finding a tumor on the right BOT.  This time I had radiation and chemo and I am still cancer free over three years later.

Starting last fall I started to experience numbness and tingling in my right forearm and hand.  It has since moved to my upper right arm and I have experienced diminished strength.  A couple of MRIs later it looks like I have radiation induced plexopathy or neuritis.

Has anyone else experienced this?  Everything I've heard is that the condition worsens until the limb is practically useless.  I'm looking for some positive news from someone in a similar boat.  I play bass guitar and I am a photographer.  So far I can manage those things but I am concerned that if this worsens I won't be able to do those things at the same level or at all.

Thanks and God bless!

Joel

 

burakbolluk

Hi Joel, I was looking for someone that has the same experience, 3 years after my bilateral Radiotherapy on my neck I stared to feel tingling on the upper left arm (deltoid) at the beginning, then it spread to my bicep and tricep and it got weaker within 6-8 months and within a year I completely lost the function of left arm but my hand works, I have numbness on first 3 finger, I got very evident atrophy on my left arm muscles; after some time it also stared moving to my right arm in exact sequence I am on the 7th month. but since right is my dominant arm I think it will take longer then 8-9 months it is now functioning 20%, my hand is working as the left one. in this 18 moths, I have tried Japanese medication called Radicut -(Ederavon), Cortisone steroids, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, various medications (neurotin ecc), vitamins but nothing has help… I am desperate for a help… how did it work out for you?