hands getting numb during treatment

[TonydNJ]

Hey everyone, been a while since i last posted, anyhow been on treatment over 5 months now and about a week ago my fingers have been getting really stiff, when i sleep especially they my right hand seems to fall asleep more often then my left, wondering if it is related to treatment or just like carpal tunnel, arthritis and i've heard raynauds syndrome which i believe i read somehting about that can be related to treatment i believe. Can't wait till treatment is over. So many different problems since i started but they seem to get better but then seem to come back. Also issue with the nasty taste in my throat and lung which i cannot describe seems to come and go, anyone have this issue as well. Sorry for double questions but might as well get them out of the way. Thanks Tony

[TonydNJ]

Thanks for all the posts. I see my doc tomorrow for my standard lab works, enzymes, and if still undetected. last visit 6 weeks ago was still undetectable but alt shot up to the 80's & ast was around 70, so hope these numbers went down. I believe he also is checking a Lipid test which i believe is cholesterol of some kind, the other labs i see my pulmonary/physician regarding all the other blood work that was taken which will be some time this week, i'll keep everyone posted. Thanks tony

[kickboxingmom]

Hi Tony.I haven't started tx yet.I also hand and feet numbing and burning sensations.I have RA so it concerned me, why? I had a nerve conduction test and Dr.(neuro) said, my nerves were fine.
He thought at 103 lbs. and no body fat at all that when I lay in one spot to long I have numbing, some burning.
The nerves with no body fat are not protected and with HCV they are just waiting to do damage.Those were his exact words.He told me to wear elbow guards, like the ones with onehalf tennis balls in them and to gain weight.He also said, all of his overweight patients would be interested if I would write a book.Ha.I'm not tellin my secrets.
That's just what my experience was about.I thought it may be helpful in some way.Please continue to have your own Dr. to tell you what your condition is and what it's caused from.Good Luck on testing.
Tammy

[rita863]

I have had it on and off the entire time and especially when I sleep.  I just think it one of those sides that you dont hear about much, but most of us are going through it.  

good luck

peace
rita

[Marc1955]

Tony – I don't have an answer but I do have an appt. with a good neurologist at Johns Hopkins in October. I'm hoping I will get some info and if I do I will post it here.

I am pretty sure I have a mild neuropathy as a result of treatment. In my case it's in my thighs and also my hands. As someone said above, neuropathies are often caused by diabetes, but it's clearly the case that the treatment causes neuropathies, diabetes aside. It's reassuring that of all the people on this board who have posted about the problem, it is mild for most. One concern I have is that neuropathies can be permanent. I can definitely tolerate my current symptoms but I want to be knowledgeable in case they get worse.

This is listed as a potential side effect of treatment but I find no reliable information about it. The Pegasys helpline is no help at all. My doctor doesn't know. I'll let everyone know if I learn anything.

[TonydNJ]

thanks. I'll mention to doc if he ordered anything regarding my sugar, if not i'll see what he thinks. Thanks

[merryBe]

the lack of movement certainly could cause it, but you may want to get a free blood sugar monitor, like bayer is offering right now.

One thing Interferon can do is push people into diebetic territory. This can cause, numbness, tingling, cold or sahrp pains in extremities. Simply monitoring what your blood sugar is when this is occuring can quickly rule in or out whether your sugars are out of whack. If so, you'll need to see your doctor, make some dietary changes at the very least, and in worst cases be put on an insulin product.
However it is better to find out is it is your sugars. If you went a whole year with high sugars you could have permanent neuropathy, or permanent eye damage. Diebetes is called the silent killer, but it does give a few clues it's there, if we are paying attention.

So get a free meter, and if you need help using it call Bayer's help line. Your doctor can write you an RX for all your test strips if it turns out you need to keep monitoring yourself throughout tx.

mb

[TonydNJ]

oh yeah... the cold has always been an issue even before treatment started with pale hands but the numbness just started, seen doc last night and feels it is carpal tunnel, had about 12 tubes of blood taken out of me this morning for my standard HCV labs and a bunch of others from my regular physician. what a joke, why do they need so many dam tubes of blood, i know they are not donating my blood..

[helpnikki]

me too... numbness in feet and hands - seems to get worse when I am cold or lay in the same spot too long.

[TonydNJ]

Thanks everyone, i go see my doctor tonight just in case, lets see what he thinks. I would also hope it goes away with mostly all these other crazy affects that i've been getting since i started treatment.

[RJGCEDARS]

But when u end treatment does it go away after some period of time. I can't move in the morning...my hands feel like wood...my feet at my ankles are going to fall off

rjg

[nygirl7]

I had lots of numbness in my hands and feet during treatment - I don't think it's all that uncommon with us a bit.

[jdwithhcv]

Early in tx I noticed that my hands would get numb when I lay on my back.  This went on for a few months, then got better.  About a week before I finished tx I began to have occasional nerve-burning type pain and numbness around the knuckles in the backs of both hands, mostly when I flex my wrists.  My doc suspects either carpal tunnel or a nerve problem in the neck/shoulder area.  I'll let you know what they find.

jd