Foot Numbness

I just completed 3 months of chemo for colorectal cancer -- eloxatin and 5 FU -- and have now developed foot numbness in both feet.  My oncologist is recommending a neurologist but my appt is over a month away and I am afraid I won't be able to stand the pain and discomfort before I see him.  Any suggestions?  Looking on the internet I see where there are various creams but don't know how effective they are.  Also I was wondering if hot water soaks might help but don't want to do further damage. 

 Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

I don't want to discourage you, but this numbness may continue for quite a while. My chemotherapy ended in September of 2006, but as of today, I still suffer numbness in the feet. I was on a Folfox regimen (5FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin). At the time, the medical oncologist told me the neuropathy might last up to 12 months. Well, that is long past now. Others have written me on my blog (An Unwanted Journey - rtfax.blogspot.com) telling me of similar responses to chemo.

 Nobody recommended creams, only supplemental magnesium and calcium, something I've done consistently,  but without changing the numbness. At least the pain in the hands is completely gone now.

On 1/11/2008 Jnette wrote:

I just completed 3 months of chemo for colorectal cancer -- eloxatin and 5 FU -- and have now developed foot numbness in both feet.  My oncologist is recommending a neurologist but my appt is over a month away and I am afraid I won't be able to stand the pain and discomfort before I see him.  Any suggestions?  Looking on the internet I see where there are various creams but don't know how effective they are.  Also I was wondering if hot water soaks might help but don't want to do further damage. 

 Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, your numbness is most likely caused by the oxaliplatin (Eloxatin-trade name) and it usually stays around for quite some time.  I had a extremely bad reaction to it so was only on it once.  However, I have neuropathy in my feet from repeated foot surgeries.  There really is not much that you can do for it.  Although my neuropathy is from a different source, it is still nerve damage, much like that of oxaliplatin.  I have tried so many Rx's, over the counter pain pills, you name it and nothing really seems to work.  Over time, it does get somewhat better and the pain occurs less and less frequently.  There are two things that I do consistently that have proven successful for me.

1. I take a low dose diuretic to help with any water retention.  I was a little surprised at this suggestion but the doctor explained to me that particularly in the feet a person can have a small accumulation of fluid (I am totally unaware of it-not swollen or anything) and that this fluid can and does press against all of the many tiny nerves in the feet.  By taking the diruectic I significantly reduce tha amount of pain that I have.  If I forget for more than two days to take a pill, I KNOW IT!!  The only drawback is you have to go to the bathroom a lot lol!

2.  I was prescribed a patch called Lidoderm which I can put on anywhere I want to.  Usually these are prescribed for people with back problems, but they work wonders for my feet.  I know of others that have used the patches and they also work for them.

Other than that, only time will help the effects of oxi go away, but unfortunately, the likelihood is that you will have some of the effects either permanently or for quite a long time.  It is one of the drawbacks of the cancer treatment protocol.

Jaynee

Excellent info!  I just saw my oncologist yesterday (2/4/08) and he said there wasn't much to do about the problem.  But your two suggestions are encouraging and I will indeed try them.  I know, however, that my condition is probably permanent from the chemo but I just received welcome news that my recent Pet Scan was "clear".  So I guess I can put up with the foot numbness if the cancer has gone away.

 Thanks again for your reply.

I finished FOLFOX6 in June 2007. Now I have neuropathy in my feet and hands. However, it is much better than it was before, so I'm confident that it will be completely gone within the year that a lot of folks estimate. I don't have pain and never did...just the numbness and tingling. For a long time when I walked it felt like I was walking on pillows...strange.

 Do you have a colostomy? If so and you are taking a diuretic drink lots and lots of fluids! Dehydration is one of the colostomate's worst enemies!

Pam

On 2/8/2008 PammySue51 wrote:

I finished FOLFOX6 in June 2007. Now I have neuropathy in my feet and hands. However, it is much better than it was before, so I'm confident that it will be completely gone within the year that a lot of folks estimate. I don't have pain and never did...just the numbness and tingling. For a long time when I walked it felt like I was walking on pillows...strange.

 Do you have a colostomy? If so and you are taking a diuretic drink lots and lots of fluids! Dehydration is one of the colostomate's worst enemies!

 

Pam

 

Pam: Even though a considerable portion of my rectum was removed I did not have a colostomy.  I have, however, extreme diarrhea and hope that the end result will not be a colostomy but time will tell.  I can put up with the foot numbness if there is no pain associated (none so far), but I know what you mean about feeling like you are walking of "something". Since walking is a great exercise I hope to be able to continue but am unsure at the present time.

Clinical trials over the past two years have demonstrated the effectiveness of glutamine together with B12 to mitigate the neuropathy that can come with oxaliplatin.  These treatments, however, were conducted during the actual course of FOLFOX chemotherapy regimens.  I'd give this a try anyway.  Since these are health supplements, there should be little cost & little harm since they are not toxic, even in large doses.

Dosing is 15 mg of glutamine 2X a day. Dosing of B12 is 1000-2000 mcg per day.

Check with your doctor & see what he or she thinks.

I presented my oncologist with the documentation from the successful trials, & he approved this approach for my upcoming 6 months of Xelox following total mesorectal excision for stage 3 cancer last month.