Neuropathy After Chemo

todhunter said:

Foot neuropathy and Teva Flip Flops!
Cancer and its devastation create a great empathy for humanity. In the last chemo treatment I was told "Get another 10%" off the possibility of recurrence. That meant extra toxicity coursing through my veins (they get to use rubber gloves!). I quit half way through, it was horrible! 2.5 years after last chemo - CT last week - Clean bill of health! Have a colonoscopy!

My main issue is the sole of my feet. Initially entire sole felt like slabs, now from arch forward. When in shoes it feels like walking on corn cobs or ball bearings - but only when on hard, cold floors or when wearing shoes. Hmmm.... Yea, that's it ... I don' walk on hard, cold floors without wearing my wonderful Teva flip flops (they are SOFT!). I don't wear shoes either. My Berkenstocks also cause NO discomfort. The good news is that I have always worn that foot gear, now I just have to explain myself when in formal meetings. Really loose shoes aren't too bad. Normal fit shoes, tennis shoes don't work without discomfort. I never walk around the house barefoot.

I also find that my tpyign has issues. Like my fingers move at fidfernt speeds. I guess that the neuropathy, in my fingertips or my brain have been permanently affected my coordination. I was always a good spealer, but that seems to have gone by the waysde. Buck up, put on your flip flops, grow long hair and live life to its fullest. Best wishes to you! Viva Teva (no I don't own stock).

sue K said:

You have my sympathy - I
You have my sympathy - I feel exactly the same, with constant aches and pains all over. I am free of my cancer just now, but it's hard to feel happy about it when the pain goes on.
As you say, no-one seems to understand, except the good people on this forum.
I don't know how long it goes on, but it would be good to get some relief.
Good luck to you, and God bless
Sue

bluerose said:

I am a 25 year cancer survivor and I have neuropathy in my feet and hands and who knows where else, have alot of side effects of treatments long ago.

I myself have had the neuropathy get worse but it has stabalized now and has left me with a numb foot and numbess and tingling in several areas of my legs. My hands too, pain in them as well.

You have to remember though that everyone is different after treatments, depends on so many things like what drugs were taken, your basic health to begin with, blah blah blah so read the entries for interest sake and to absorb what others have experienced and use the info to run by your doc and check with your own symptoms but do remember that just because one person like me had this type of symptom last for years that your brother's situation might be totally different.

I am actually going to see a new neurologist for the first time this Friday and so I will see what treatments might be suggested, if any. I will try to remember to post what she said for your information. I have chemo brain so if I don't remember to post, give me a jingle through person messaging on this site and I will share what she has said.

All the best to you and your brother.

Blessings,

Bluerose

bluerose said:

I am a 25 year cancer survivor and I have neuropathy in my feet and hands and who knows where else, have alot of side effects of treatments long ago.

I myself have had the neuropathy get worse but it has stabalized now and has left me with a numb foot and numbess and tingling in several areas of my legs. My hands too, pain in them as well.

You have to remember though that everyone is different after treatments, depends on so many things like what drugs were taken, your basic health to begin with, blah blah blah so read the entries for interest sake and to absorb what others have experienced and use the info to run by your doc and check with your own symptoms but do remember that just because one person like me had this type of symptom last for years that your brother's situation might be totally different.

I am actually going to see a new neurologist for the first time this Friday and so I will see what treatments might be suggested, if any. I will try to remember to post what she said for your information. I have chemo brain so if I don't remember to post, give me a jingle through person messaging on this site and I will share what she has said.

All the best to you and your brother.

Blessings,

Bluerose

bluerose said:

Balance issues and nerve damage in the feet.
If you have neuropathy in the feet have you ever had issues with balance? Like you are walking along and all of a sudden you just tilt over to the side? You don't trip on anything and there is no apparent reason for the tilt to the side but it happens?

I went to see a neurologist about neuropathy and I just happened to mention the falling over and she said that it is no wonder because apparently nerve damage in the feet can produce this lack of balance. It is something about the fact that the nerves have been damaged and parts of the feet are numb so your spatial concepts are all off - in other words you don't know exactly where your whole foot is at any given time - or part of it -due to the damage. It makes total sense but this is the first time a doctor has tied my balance issue with neuropathy in the feet.

Let me know if you have this issue if you have a minute?

Blessings,

Bluerose

kkstef said:

Same issue here
Hi Bluerose,

I also recently saw a neurologist re: my balance. I attributed it to my neuropathy in my feet but the oncologist did not think it was and suggested I see a neurologist. I tend to just tilt to one side at times and also notice I lose my balance if I turn to the side to fast. I have had 2 nasty falls...one resulting in a broken ankle and one in a ruptured disc so I am a bit nervous about walking, etc.

I did see a neurologist about a month ago. He did lots of neuro testing in his office and said about the same thing as the neurologist you saw. That my spatial relationships are messed up due to the lack of feeling in my feet. Since I finished chemo about 2.5 years ago, he didn't think there was much to do....he suggested B vitamins for a 3 month trial, to use a walking stick on uneven surfaces, and if I wanted he could refer me to PT to teach me some balance exercises (which I had already done).

My husband is trying to figure out how to outfit me with "training wheels". He is very funny!

Did you get any suggestions for living with the balance issues??

Best to you,

Karen