Neuropathy 3 months after treatment?

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CPB1167
CPB1167 Member Posts: 24
edited March 2019 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I finished my last chemo Nov. 29, 2018. About a month ago I started feeling numbness in both hands. I am aggravated because I iced my hands and feet during my 4 treatments to try to prevent neuropathy. I did acupuncture the day before and the day after each treatment. I thought I was skating through this with no neuropathy side effects....but now it is daily pain/numbness from my forearms through both hands. When I am trying to sleep the numbness keeps me awake. My oncologist kind of brushed it off as carpal tunnel, which I know it definitely is not.

What can I do to help ease the discomfort? Will this last forever?

Thanks so much in advance for your help.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2019

    Hi CPB,

    We're so sorry you're experiencing this frustrating and uncomfortable side effect of treatment. We're sure others will be by shortly to weigh in with their experiences and advice on managing this effect.

    In the meantime, you may find it helpful to check out the main Breastcancer.org site's side effect page on Neuropathy, which offers tips to manage the discomfort, as well as a podcast with expert advice.

    We hope this helps!

    --The Mods

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  • CBK
    CBK Member Posts: 611
    edited March 2019

    CPB

    I have neuropathy from Taxol but it presented around my 7th dose of taxol. It has improved a lot but i feel like the Al exasperates the feeling of numbness and heaviness. Perhaps you are experiencing this as well.

    According to my hematologist .... he claims it could take 2 years or ten but eventually it will go away. I’m sorry this is interrupting your sleep.

    Acupuncture was the only thing i did for neuropathy and I feel it helped. I was given gabapentin (this knocked me OUT) but some are a fan of it. Lyrica is another option I refused. Lyrica really messed up a friend of mine so i wanted nothing to do with it.

    I take B6 vitamins and B12. I know there are other supplements that others recommend and you can most likely find this on neuropathy thread.

    Good luck getting some relief and a full night 💤

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  • bravepoint
    bravepoint Member Posts: 404
    edited March 2019

    CPB1167 - I went through something very similar to you. My right hand starting going numb while sleeping, driving, knitting, reading etc about 3 months PFC. It started about 2 weeks after I began taking Letrozole. I stopped taking it and have switched to Exemestane. My MO also said carpal tunnel. I had a nerve conduction test and the diagnosis was carpal tunnel. I was not going to rush into surgery but tried a brace while sleeping and did physio. It took about 18 months but it is so much better now! I still believe is was a side effect of the Letrozole not chemo but my MO doesn't agree. Oh well. I am able to sleep without the brace again and do the other things I mentioned without my hand falling asleep. So happy I didn't go for any surgery!

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