Yes this is one of the gifts that Cisplatin keeps giving, side- effects. My tingling and numbness is annoying. I too find my hands are pretty weak. Once in a while my foot drags. I am also very cold and must wear lots of layers. Hope it does go away some day. Ken

Brendan, I'm so glad you are finding things a bit easier. Sally

I had numbness on the bottom of my feet post-treatment. Doc did the poke with a pen test and sort of wrote it off. Three years out and it has improved but I still feel it. And the hard to stand from sitting, I still have to pause when I stand. Between the chemo, rad, and surgery, it did a number on my already shaky (pun intended) sense of balance.

I have severe neuropathy since 2009, and was even paralyzed from the waist down, and could not walk for 10 months. In severe cases, it can effect the organs. I have optic ischemic neuropathy too in my left eye causing complete blindness in it, and almost the other. The neuropathy is my major complaint, and still causes 24/7 pain, numbness, loss of feeling, sensation, movement, muscle loss in the toes, feet, calf and hamstring, and fingers too. I can't drive, stand long or walk that far..a block or two. There severity of neuropathy..chemo induced.. there are 20 different types neuropathy, depends on the type of chemo given, the amount given, duration, frequency, and underlying Medical conditions or other medications that may contribute to netve damage...diabetes, alcoholism...most neuropathiex are resolved after time, but some can be permament.

There is not much really to be done for it, and each person is different as far as some therapies, medications, and vitamins. I used some prescriptions, which I did not like them since they are basically antidepressants or antiseizure medications. Docors rell e I'm better off without. Others have success with vitamin b6, glutamine powder. Accupuncture, PT...to name a few.

There is a nerve test, EMG, Electromyogram, that can test for nerve damage. I had it done, and it's like getting stuck with an electrical cattle prod 200 times lol. The results, I have nerve damage in my hands, legs and feet. Like I didn't know that.

This is all quite interesting - and disturbing - to read. The latter especially in your case, Paul.

I'm having another strange archipelago of symptoms/side effects... don't really know what to call them. Beginning about this past February my hands, specifically the thumb and first two fingers, went cold, numb and tingly. To make a long story short I've had the usual battery of tests - first those delightful nerve conduction studies that Paul speaks of, then an MRI of the cervical spine. Result: no nerve or spinal damage. For which of course I'm grateful.

Yet the problem persists. Most of the time if feels as if there are hundreds of tiny pinpricks in my hands and radiating up my arms, sometimes to the shoulders. The fingers are always cold, sort of the halfway feeling you get when you've come in from extreme cold and your hands are beginning to warm.

I should add that this isn't painful. But it's damn disturbing, and since both my neurologist and my regular MD have no answers for me, quite a puzzlement.

I am 3 1/2 years out from RT and I had no chemo but I did have a neck dissection. No idea what of any of this may have contributed to it. I also get lightheaded from time to time when I try to stand up. So maybe it's a circulation problem.

Sure is weird! Any thoughts appreciated.

Have you checked your glucose lately?

Yes... I was thinking the same thing... ;o) It could be related to diabetes or poor circulation. hopefully not... but do have it checked.

David, I was going to say diabetes like mentioned, which I have, and have the same numb cold feeling in the legs you describe, like having frostbite. I also have anemia, which makes you feel cold too.

Ken, after holding off so long...3 years almost, I'm finally going to see a pain specialist tomorrow that I was referred to see by my RO team. Will probably prescribe Neurontin, and see what is new with treatments.

Something else I should have mentioned. The thyroid could be the culprit. It tends to make you cold especially in the extremities. Reggie was like that until they got his hypothyroidism under control.