Both arms going numb at night.

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exercise_guru
exercise_guru Member Posts: 716
edited March 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I wanted to post because I am have been on arimidex for five weeks. At that time both of my arms started to fall asleep like I hit my funny bone. It happens when I lay down at night. I had some massage and PT and my left arm is not going numb but my right hand keeps going numb even during the day. This especially happens in my thumb.

My Mo put me on gabapentin for nighttime. He told me if I do not improve he will order an MRI of my neck area.

I went off of Arimidex for one week but didn't dare go off it any longer. My joints stopped hurting and my hands did not have as much arthritis feeling but the numbness did not go away.

Has anyone else had their arms both go numb at night post Chemo? I did have TE swap in January but didn't experience this numbness until 9 weeks post surgery and 15 weeks PFC

Any suggestions?

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited March 2016

    wonder if a different sleep position might help...how do you sleep now? Do you wake up in the same position?


    LisaAliss

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited March 2016

    Do you think you have another issue that is coming forward...have you hurt yourself or do you have a spinal compression or disc injury? I am asking because thiis what I had going on when I did have a spinal compression injury, I ultimately had surgery to fuse C5, 6 and 7. I am sure this is what your Doctor wants to rule out if you do have an MRI of your neck. Hoping you get more input. Hugs to you!

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited March 2016

    I had numbness and aching in both hands and arms on Femara, went on Tamoxifen for two months numbness went away, started Arimidex three weeks ago and the numbness and claw hand are back. I sleep with wrists guards on both hands and it really seems to help. It's like the nerve, tendon whatever gets an 8 hour break and is happy about it.

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited March 2016

    I have been experiencing this for years, long before cancer and arimidex. It may be slightly worse since starting the anti-hormonal and I am getting pain in the thumb joints too now. For me, I think the numb arms comes from compression on a nerve due to certain sleep positions. I don't get it if I sleep on my back.

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  • exercise_guru
    exercise_guru Member Posts: 716
    edited March 2016

    Thank you very much for responding. I meant to include in my original post. I didn't do anything differently and I do not have any pain in my back or neck. It just came on a week ago.

    Also at night when I am laying in any position I will feel my arms start to go numb like I hit my funny bone. it happens before I fall asleep so it isn't like something that is where I bent my arm funny and woke up.

    My MO says if it is still there at my next Herceptin dose in three weeks they will order a MRI.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited March 2016

    First things first--before the expense of an MRI, a simple X-ray of the cervical spine will reveal bone spurs or worn facet joints that could be impinging on the radial and/or ulnar nerves. Aromatase inhibitors drastically lower estrogen production, which accelerates or exacerbates preexisting osteoarthritis (of which the worn facet joints and the bone spurs are evidence). Tamoxifen acts by a different mechanism, and so the OA symptoms may not be as bad.

    I didn’t have chemo, but the tingling in both my hands (and soreness at the base of the thumbs) did intensify on letrozole. But the alternative--taking my chances with an increased possibility of recurrence--is something I’m not willing to live with unless my SEs get unbearable.

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  • MargaretEleanor
    MargaretEleanor Member Posts: 42
    edited March 2016

    Could the numbness be from carpal tunnel or something similar?

    I developed carpal tunnel syndrome (both wrists) and trigger finger (right thumb, right middle finger, right ring finger, and left middle finger) within months of starting Arimidex. All had to be surgically released to relieve the numbness and pain.

    My oncology nurse practitioner and my hand surgeon both say carpal tunnel and trigger finger is not unusual when taking AI's.

    Honestly, the narrowing of the "tunnels" has been my only negative side effect of Arimidex, so I'll keep taking it, and probably longer than five years. I look at it like this, my hand surgeon can fix my narrow tunnels, but, if the cancer comes back, my oncologist might not be able to fix that.

    Hope your numbness is only annoying and completely fixable.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2016

    Now that you've posted this, I found this to be true with one arm on Arimidex, which did go numb at night sometimes; Arimidex also gave me some neurological problems in my hands--trigger joints in thumbs and ring fingers. All SE disappeared when I went to Aromasin and quit the Arimidex.

    So yes, it could certainly be a side effect. Most docs won't admit to it, though. Or don't even know that it is happening when we take the drug.

    Claire

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  • Mamiya
    Mamiya Member Posts: 432
    edited March 2016

    I have had this issue since I took taxol. I did have some carpal tunnel problems a few years ago but they resolved with lifestyle changes (no mountain biking, being more careful about opening "push" doors, not sitting on the floor leaning on hands etc). I dug out the wrist braces I was given for the carpal tunnel and started using them at night with good results, it nearly solved my issue. I ordered a new set on amazon and have been sleeping in them for a couple of months. Just an idea. I think i sleep on my arms and bend my wrists in the night so if you don't this may not apply.


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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2016

    Ask for an EMG which will help determine where the numbness is originating from. Since my first time with chemo, I developed carpal tunnel on both sides and cubital tunnel on one side. Both were moderate to severe. I did require surgery to fix them, but it was quick, with a quick recovery, and I have had zero problems since.

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  • exercise_guru
    exercise_guru Member Posts: 716
    edited March 2016

    Thank you all so much I will follow the advice. Does someone want to link to the braces they wear at night? At least no one is telling me it is BC returning. My mind is going funny places so grateful for some perspective.


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  • exercise_guru
    exercise_guru Member Posts: 716
    edited March 2016

    Ladies I am starting to think that this is nerve damage or extreme neuropathy. My arms and hands are starting to tingle during the day and because of the Arimidex I can't grip anything even to open a jar.

    For those of you with neuropathy post Chemo what can I do about it? Do you still do Glutamine and protein? I have Gabopentin but only at night. I am wondering if there is anything I can try to see if that is what is causing this before they order an MRI and EMG which will be in three weeks if it doesn't clear up.

    In looking back I started to get this condition one week after I stopped taking Juven(glutamine) and protein because the dietician told me I should get off of it .

    I went to gentle yoga and the cancer center and did the stretches fine no worries then two hours later I am driving my car and my hands start to tingle and go numb. I am still getting numbness and tingling at night even with the gabopentin.

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  • VioletKali
    VioletKali Member Posts: 243
    edited March 2016

    Those symptoms happened to me on Aromasin. I have no previous problem with carpal tunnel, and this was distressing. I ended up with trigger finger afterwards.

    Everything improved once I discontinued it, it took only a week.


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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited March 2016

    I took B-6 for the chemo neuropathy. I get the numb arms while driving too. I drive one handed and switch off.

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