Numbness, Tingling...when will it end?

Maya86
Maya86 Member Posts: 2
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi All,
My father finished treatment (35 rads & 3 rounds of cisplatin chemo - 7 weeks period) for laryngeal cancer on the 7th of Feb (Stage 3) his Pet scan came back clear and he has recovered well very so far. However in the past 2 months the tingling, pins & needles in his feet & legs has become an issue and some numbness in his toes.
The oncologist advised that this is a side effect from the cisplatin chemo he received as it damages your nervous system & with cisplatin it is very common for the side effects to come a couple of months after finishing treatment. He advised that over time it gets better as the nerves heal and recover, may not completely heal but should get better.
I have him taking vitamin B tablets everyday for the past few weeks but things are not yet improving.
We would just like to know for those who have experienced this, do the symptoms get better, how long did it take and is there anything to help (excluding medications anti-depressants) etc.
Many Thanks

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
    for some, this problem reverses on its own
    for others it may be permanent.. Improvement can take a year, so dont get discouraged. If you are into trying vitamins, the treatment of cisplatin neurotoxicity is vitamin E, ina dose of about 300 mg/day. This is about 300 IU.



    Pat
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Neuropathy
    The numbing you describe is known as Neuropathy, and a side effect that they probably told you of before treatment with Cisplatin.

    As Pat mentioned, it can be temporary, or permanent. I know that my MD's (and other's MD's here also), to watch for signs during treatment.

    Some on here had to have the Tx plans altered because of the side effects of Cisplatin, some even switching to a different type of chemo, or lesser version.

    So hopefully the side effect he is experiencing will deminish over time.

    Best,
    John
  • CajunEagle
    CajunEagle Member Posts: 408
    #4
    Neuropathy
    After 3 years of having partial feeling in my feet and fingers, I'm assuming that mine is permanent. I've pretty much accepted this, but it's still a bummer, and something that I have to be aware of quite a bit. Fingers feel like they have Band-Aids on the ends of them. Feet feel as if I'm walking on thin pillows. No pain is involved, and I am taking medication to keep it somewhat controlled. Got to keep a watch out for dropping articles, or getting small objects in my footwear ( got a bad infection this way a year ago). Re-learning how much pressure to use on the accelarator and brakes was interesting, also. Off to 3 year PetScan now, and hoping for continued progress.

    Larry
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #5
    Do keep giving him the Vit B complex....
    don't give up on it. I know this sounds off the wall, but I have a dog who had horrible nerve damage in his spine (first joint of his tail)...it was so bad he couldn't urinate without Prazosin and Valium. It took a year after I started giving him the B complex to show some real signs of improvement. Now...4 years later, he has nearly beaten the "pee problem"...I am positive it was Vit B, along with his own body fighting to be well.

    p
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #6
    phrannie51 said:

    Do keep giving him the Vit B complex....
    don't give up on it. I know this sounds off the wall, but I have a dog who had horrible nerve damage in his spine (first joint of his tail)...it was so bad he couldn't urinate without Prazosin and Valium. It took a year after I started giving him the B complex to show some real signs of improvement. Now...4 years later, he has nearly beaten the "pee problem"...I am positive it was Vit B, along with his own body fighting to be well.

    p

    Cisplatin?
    I just always figured it was the rads, rather than the Cisplatin. As some may remember, my delivery of the Cisplatin was a bit unique, and if the Cisplatin is the cause of nerve damage...And here I thought it was the rads that was the gift that keeps giving...

    kcass
  • CajunEagle
    CajunEagle Member Posts: 408
    #7
    Kent Cass said:

    Cisplatin?
    I just always figured it was the rads, rather than the Cisplatin. As some may remember, my delivery of the Cisplatin was a bit unique, and if the Cisplatin is the cause of nerve damage...And here I thought it was the rads that was the gift that keeps giving...

    kcass

    Nope, Kent......
    it was the Cisplatin. My Chemo Onco always asked me how I'm doing with the Neuropathy, and I keep telling him that it's the same. He will then proceed to apologize and tell me it's his fault for pretty much demanding that last round be administered. He's in my golf foursome at the club, and feels bad about the situation. He ends up paying for multiple rounds at the 19th hole, due to my "disability" and inability to get my wallet from my pocket. :)

    Larry
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #8
    CajunEagle said:

    Nope, Kent......
    it was the Cisplatin. My Chemo Onco always asked me how I'm doing with the Neuropathy, and I keep telling him that it's the same. He will then proceed to apologize and tell me it's his fault for pretty much demanding that last round be administered. He's in my golf foursome at the club, and feels bad about the situation. He ends up paying for multiple rounds at the 19th hole, due to my "disability" and inability to get my wallet from my pocket. :)

    Larry

    I got neuropathy from Radiation
    since I didn't have any chemo, I know mine is from the rads. Mine is only in my fingers. My surgeon said he has seen it a few times in rads-only patients, but usually it's caused by chemo. I have been taking Lyrica and it has helped somewhat. Other folks have had good luck with gebapentin.
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #9
    Rads
    Mine showed up years after treatment and I've been told by every secialist that it is from rads. Mine is in the face (chin and jaws) and is getting worse. I tried the Neurotin (sp?) for the "ice pick" pains but after one dose I couldn't function...all I could do was sleep so I stopped it.

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