burning legs and feet

[marivirginia]

This is week 19 for me on peg, rib and inc for 10.5 weeks. The burning I started experiencing in my feet and legs is getting worse. Does anyone understand why this happens? I stand on my feet to work and it is killing me...thanks

[marivirginia]

Pooh is awesome, I agree...

[crossroadsec]

I had burning and numb tingling too. I thought it was anemia... ? Pooh is awesome. Karen :)

[marivirginia]

Thanks pooh..I think it has to do with interferon..it is getting worse..and I have not mentioned it to my doc because I rarely go to the doc....don't think they can do anything for it...

[pooh55811]

I don't know for sure if this is the cause of the burning, but both Hep C and Interferon can cause peripheral neuropathy. One of the signs of peripheral neuropathy is burning of the feet.

These symptoms are something you should discuss with your doctor. They could be from Hep C, from the interferon, or both. They may disappear after treatment but they may not. Plus they may or may not be from peripheral neuropathy. They could be from something else. So best to get it checked out.

I actually had some foot/feet burning prior to treatment and it happened mainly at night. During treatment I had it worse for a few weeks, but then it let up and I actually no longer have it at all (so it is now better than before treatment). I never consulted the doc before treatment and only mentioned it a couple of times during to my case manager (who ignored it), but your symptoms sound worse than mine (plus I have a tendency not to go to docs unless I am dying, LOL).


The following link is to an excellent article by HCV Advocate. The article won't copy and paste so to view the article, copy and past the link and search that way.

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/PN.pdf


Here is some more info from Cleveland Clinic (but the HCV Advocate article is better):

What is peripheral neuropathy and how is it related to chemotherapy?

The body's nervous system is divided into two major systems; the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.  The peripheral nervous system is also divided into two major parts, the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.   The somatic nervous system consists of peripheral nerve fibers that send sensory information to the central nervous system and motor nerve fibers that send signals to skeletal muscle.  The autonomic nervous system controls smooth muscle of the viscera (internal organs) and glands.

Peripheral neuropathy results from some type of damage to the peripheral nerves.  Certain chemotherapy drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy such as vinca alkaloids (vincristine), cisplatin, paclitaxel, and the podophyllotoxins (etoposide and tenoposide).
Other drugs used to treat cancer such as thalidomide and interferon also can cause peripheral neuropathy.

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy:

    Numbness, tingling (feeling of pins and needles) of hands and/or feet
    Burning of hands and/or feet
    Numbness around mouth
    Constipation
    Loss of sensation to touch
    Loss of positional sense (knowing where a body part is without looking).
    Weakness and leg cramping or any pain in hands and/or feet
    Difficulty picking things up or buttoning clothes

.....

Link to the complete article:

http://www.chemocare.com/managing/numbness__tingling.asp