Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy

JPJC said:

Neuropathy in Feet, Stomach and Pain in Feet
Thanks for your comments Black Knight.

After searching for a long time, I have begun to find that I am not alone in dealing with the neuropathy problems.

It has been nearly three years since finishing my last chemo treatment for Stage IV colon cancer.

And, in addition to being happy to be here, I have had some difficult times with the numbness and pain - particularly in my legs and neuropathy in my feet and stomach.

The stomach problems are numbness - probably due to the several surgeries (that's my guess), but the pain in my legs from my hips down is generally about a 6 or 7 on the 1 - 10 pain scale, with 10 being the most painful.

I am a former jogger - having run a mile or so, three to four days per week, for about 20 years. I cannot do it any more because my leg muscles are as "tight as a bow string," and at times it becomes even more painful. Walking is good for my psyche, but I think my bones have gotten brittle and one day my dog ran into me and broke my leg.

I have tried yoga, deep-tissue massage (many times), deep stretching and working out and anything else that may help. The massage therapist said that she could feel all of the knottiness in my legs and if she rubbed too deeply, I would nearly scream with pain.

Recently, my oncologist put me on Lyrica. So far, I have seen a little improvement, but I am really drowsy and am not as motivated as before.

After having looked and looked online and after discussing this with my family doctor and my oncologist, a helpful nurse from our state cancer center
told me that they heard complaints like mine nearly every day and that it was an unfortunate side-effect from the strong chemo drugs that I was given.

So, after about three years of complaining about the pain and thinking that I was just "whining" and feeling sorry for myself, it now appears that what I am putting up with is a long-term side effect from the chemo, that will likely not go away.

Even though "it sucks," things could be worse.

It is always nice to know that I am not alone in putting up with this.

Thanks for your post!

Best wishes.

JPJC

i think physical therapy, occupational therapy works, but it is a long term to get results.