Chemo Side Effects - Hand Pain

[muddypelican]

Has anyone experienced severe hand and finger pain? My boyfriend's hands aren't tingling, but they hurt him constantly. I have to open bottles of water for him, and anything else that may chafe the skin. Sometimes they feel swollen and tight and he cannot close his fist. Is this normal at all, and is there anything you know of to relieve it?

[DAWN82]

as a matter of fact, yes! Brian would complain about the tops of his hands hurting him. he thought it was from the IV from where they put the chemo in, i think it had something to do with the bleomycin. but yes, he complained alot of hand pain. i would go to grab his hand to hold it, and he would always be like OUCH!

Dawn

[dannysbrother]

hi,

peripheral neuropathy isn't limited to tingling an numbness. it can also present itself in the kind if intense pain, sensitivity and cramping that your boyfriend is experiencing.

Here's a link that you might want to read:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-neuropathy/DS00131/DSECTION=2

I'd have him talk to his doctor and make him/her aware of what he's experiencing.

All my best to you both,
Mikey

[dadmo]

This is one of the unfortunate side effects of the chemo. Quite often it will go away on it's own but certainly mention it to your doctor.

[DAWN82]

Has anyone experienced severe hand and finger pain? My boyfriend's hands aren't tingling, but they hurt him constantly. I have to open bottles of water for him, and anything else that may chafe the skin. Sometimes they feel swollen and tight and he cannot close his fist. Is this normal at all, and is there anything you know of to relieve it?

Brians last chemo was almost 2 months ago, and he still has these issues.
he ALSO has pain in his feet when he first gets up to walk, then he is ok, has anyone experienced that?? i meant to ask that question a few weeks ago

dawn

[TCLEFT]

Brians last chemo was almost 2 months ago, and he still has these issues.
he ALSO has pain in his feet when he first gets up to walk, then he is ok, has anyone experienced that?? i meant to ask that question a few weeks ago

dawn

5 months out of Chemo and I still have the neuropathy. I was on Lyrica which helped but knocked me out. I'm on Cymbalta now which seems to be helping. I'm hoping this isn't permanent, but I figure it's going to take a while. I kind of got blasted with chemo from two relapses.

[dadmo]

Problems with the hands and feet are quite common. Follow the link dannysbrother provided for some really good information. Make sure you mention the neuropathy to your doctor.

[muddypelican]

Thanks for the info. We have mentioned it to the doctor, she seems unconcerned about it and said it should go away when he's done with the chemo.

[dadmo]

Yes it should go away but as you can tell from some other posts that isn't always true.

[muddypelican]

His feet are starting to cause him alot of discomfort now too. We're going to ask for some medication for this. Its really affecting his daily activities now.

[muddypelican]

Found this

Found this link which explains it specifically related to chemo induced neuropathy.

http://www.chemocare.com/managing/numbness__tingling.asp

"Although some of the signs of neuropathy may appear suddenly, this change in sensation usually builds gradually and can worsen with each additional dose of chemotherapy. It is usually strongest right after a chemo treatment, but tends to lessen just before the next treatment. The symptoms usually peak about 3-5 months after the last dose of treatment is taken. The abnormal sensations may disappear completely, or lessen only partially; they may also involve less of the body. If neuropathy diminishes, it is a gradual process usually requiring several months. However, in some cases it may be irreversible and never diminish in intensity or the area of the body affected."

[sldl1106]

Dr. Motzer at Sloan told my husband yesterday that the hand/foot problem goes away completely in 4 out of 5 patients, and it should resolve in a few months. His feet are tingling and hurting, and his fingers just tingle slightly. His last chemo was in June, making him almost three months out.

[fuse929]

My next door neighbor finished prostate chemo about 6 months ago and numbness/pain in his hands and feet has been slowly fading away. His dr. told him the tingling and numbness could be there upwards of a year.

[Karen]

When TCLEFT was having a lot of foot pains I remember he posted about wearing Crocs (which of course we picked on him for ) But I gotta say, I will admit to buying them for a servere bout of plantar faciatis they did the trick for the pain. They make a lot of types specific for foot conditions (diabetes etc). Check out the Croc site and see if it helps.

[TCLEFT]

When TCLEFT was having a lot of foot pains I remember he posted about wearing Crocs (which of course we picked on him for ) But I gotta say, I will admit to buying them for a servere bout of plantar faciatis they did the trick for the pain. They make a lot of types specific for foot conditions (diabetes etc). Check out the Croc site and see if it helps.

Um, that was Don, but I did buy them, and do wear them. I guess I just gave you an invitation to tease me now!