Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
chemotherapy related neurppathy
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
chemotherapy related neurppathy
by dpwrs, Sep 21, 2005 12:00AM
My 23 year old daughter is in remission from lymphoma. She finished six rounds of chemotherapy (ABVD) in February 2005. Her last radiation treatment was in April. She returned to college in August. Beginning shortly thereafter, several times a day she experienced tingling in her feet and legs. Further, after about 5 minutes of walking, she now feels a weakness in her knees and must sit down. There is no pain or other weakness. Tests for low thyroid and vitamin B deficiencies were negative. Any ideas regarding the diagnosis or what we should do next?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Sep 26, 2005 12:00AM
Chemotherapy drugs can cause a peripheral neuropathy - the small nerve fibers at the longest nerves ie at the end of the legs, are the most susceptible. They can affect either the sensory (more common) and/or the motor nerves.
It is important to come to the correct diagnosis though and other conditions should also be tested for such as vitamins, B12 ,Lyme, thyroid, HIV, can exclude other causes of a neuropathy in her age group
An EMG needle study and electrical nerve conduction study can tell which nerves, what pattern of nerves, and what kind of injury is taking place, which can tell you something about prognosis.
Usually the symptoms will stabilize over time adn start to get betterm but there may be some degree of residual nerve damage.
It is important to come to the correct diagnosis though and other conditions should also be tested for such as vitamins, B12 ,Lyme, thyroid, HIV, can exclude other causes of a neuropathy in her age group
An EMG needle study and electrical nerve conduction study can tell which nerves, what pattern of nerves, and what kind of injury is taking place, which can tell you something about prognosis.
Usually the symptoms will stabilize over time adn start to get betterm but there may be some degree of residual nerve damage.
What I'm trying to get at is find a good Neurologist and get this taken care of before it escalates. It has been said it they can get to the source early, they might be able to reverse the process. I had symtoms in June, escalated to pain in August and only now referred to a Neurolgist last week. It is confirmed for me that I have Periphial Neuropathy, which from my understanding if it gets to this point there is no cure only trying to find a way for pain management. It has been about a month (32days to be exact) of this 24/7 pain. It is a task to even walk to the bathroom. I am on 2100mgs of Neurontin ( soon to be increased I'm sure) and pain meds (which really doesnt work) There is very little comfort but the pain is still extreme. Dont take your time with this and if your not comfortable with your Neurologist or not satisfied with the results find another Neurologist. Dont be like me, I should have seen a Neurologist a long time ago, who knows what my life would be like. For now, it has taken a sharp turn and it literaly turned my life upside down.
Learn from my mistake, do whatever it takes to get an answer to fix it. Don't wait because I found out the hard way time is valuable. Good luck to your daughter and to her recovery.