My Alex reports that when he moves his neck (usually suddenly) he feels a "jolt" in his feet. As a veteran of many many electric shocks (he should have been a plumber), he describes it as a mild electric shock - not enough to blast him across the road but enough to stop whatever he was doing.

I think (a big guess) the mechanics of this might be nerve damage in the neck area caused by radiation creating a "misfire" down the spinal column, but am keen to get others' experience or thoughts. Guesses as to what's going on also welcome.

Is this something we should panic about now (ie move doctor appointment up to next week) or wait till our appointment in 3 weeks? Who might be the best healthcare professional to raise this with? Is it likely to deteriorate and if so, to what? What treatment to halt progression (if any) is warranted? Is there physio Alex should be doing (God help me, if there is, I can't even get him to spray his oral antibiotic or moisturise his face and neck every day)?

Pain is not really an issue at the moment as the sensation is more of a surprise than actual pain.

Ok, I am replying to myself how pathetic. I am assuming the lack of response on this issue is because I have either described this poorly, or my Alex is unique and the only person on planet to be getting pain in his feet when he moves his neck.

I asked the question of our cancer co-ordinator too and also received a deafening silence. In the last week the pain and number of occurences has not got worse so will wait till our appointment on the 16th November.

Comments still welcome though.

Does the Playboy dictionary have anything "footish" which might be relevant for this one Charm?

Karen - My first guess is that Alex is unique! When I Googled "Nerve pain in feet" there were so many different possibilities about different parts of the foot, that it just brought up other questions - like, is the pain in a specific part of the foot? How old is Alex? Could he be diabetic? But so far, your guess re radiation being the cause is the best one. This has really made me curious so I'm hoping you get an answer to Alex's uniqueness!

Love your recognition of Alex's uniqueness

your questions are all smart too. He is 51, too skinny to be diabetic and it never occurred to me to ask which part of the foot. Maybe it is coincidence that this started with radiation and maybe cisplatin is part to blame with peripheral neuropathy. I clearly need to explore Alex's description a little more.

Thanks

I do know exactly what you are talking about. I had the same sensation and it is very common. It is caused by the radiation and will disappear over time. Mine took about one year.

Look up L'hermittes sign. See if that fits what you are having. If so, it will gradually go away. Mine did. There are posts on this site about it. here's one i started - http://oralcancersupport.org/forums...amp;Main=9095&Number=99652#Post99652

Thanks people - happy with this. Knowing we are normal is actually better than being unique in this instance