Pins & needles

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JennieWren1
JennieWren1 Member Posts: 17
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After


Good afternoon :)


This is a fantastic forum, for support & inspiration, thank you everyone :)


I've had my third chemo, 13 days ago, & am experiencing what happened at the same time after the second dose. I put it down to tired muscles as I had been doing a lot of painting (the household kind, not the artistic kind), but it is happening again.


The fingers on my "chemo" arm are slightly puffy, as is the lower arm, and during the night, always between about 4 & 5am, I'm woken up with severe pins & needles which become very painful. No amount of changing position or wriggling my arm in an effort to get the blood flowing again, as you might do with normal pins & needles, seems to make a difference. It just continues until it's done it's thing, & then, with no rhyme or reason, gradually abates. On the really bad days, my fingers will stay puffy & stiff through until around the middle of the day.


Anyone else experienced this, and have any suggestions on how to avoid/cure it?


Thank you :)

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited November 2013


    I am not sure which regimen you are on, but if you are on taxotere, these are likely side effects of that. The side effects are cumulative. the swelling may be edema (fluid retention) and the pins and needles is likely peripheral neuropathy. Both of these warrant a call to your MO. Good luck.

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  • JennieWren1
    JennieWren1 Member Posts: 17
    edited January 2014

    Thank you, KBeee.

    My last chemo was Dec 2nd. I've stopped having the night pins & needles, but am finding that if I have done any physical work (gardening) that involves using my hands &, of course, arms, I get the pins & needles during the night again.

    Has anyone else experienced this?

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