how long for neuropathy

[wwroam]

I had no neuropathy until after the 10th cycle of Folfox ( I had very little cold sensitivity on chemo). In common with almost everyone it peaked about 2 months after chemo finished. It faded a bit over the next 3 months but since then it has been long and slow. My hands are generally fine, & my shoes stiil feel like they're filled with sand . Nothing is painful and I am quite happy to moniter the effects over the next 10 years.

[Anonymouse]

Been off Chemo for almost 1 year, my hands are much better but my feet are still very numb and weird feeling, almost to the knee in one leg.

my last oxi infusiion was 10/29/10. my neuropathy was pretty bad by then, and after a month it got even worse. I thought it was easing up just a little, but the last couple of days it got worse. my ONC said it will be 18 months till i know what is left of it.
how about you?

[Stomatrooper]

( I had very little cold sensitivity on chemo).

Come on - would you know what cold sensitivity is in Brisbane

Wait - just got it - someone serves you a warm beer and you don't notice

[crockpotgirl]

My neuropathy started about 2 months after chemo ended. It is in both hands (to the 2nd joint) and feet (sometimes up to the calves.) It is going on 8 months now, but I do believe there has been some improvement in the hands because I no longer drop things and am able to type without constant errors. I don't believe it is just accomodation. I also feel a sense of muscle atrophy and weakness below the knees which has made excercise more challenging, but I still work out. Going barefoot is out of the question and I am limited in which shoes I wear, because I can't stay balanced in heels and sandals can fall off my feet without my knowing it. Sometimes the footpain is severe, especially if I have been on my feet most of the day.

I am spiritual and cope best with this neuropathy by considering it my own stigmata or redemptive suffering. I can live with it and would also be delighted to be around long enough to report on my progress for the next decade! However, it would be great if it improves!

[wombat]

Finished oxi in December 2010 with numbness in my feet, which has gotten slowly better over the past year and half. Today, my feet still feel numb, but only from time to time. For the most part I don't notice. It's worst after exercising (running, cycling).

[beth568]

I'm only about 7 months out from my last infusion - I had no neuropathy (other than the temporary cold sensitivity) until after my 8th and final round of FOLFOX in October, 2011. It started in my toes and gradually increased, spreading to my hands within about 2 weeks. I think it peaked in January or February and hasn't become too much worse, though it does become aggravated with cold or after exercise, especially running. I don't expect that it will ever go away, and I'm getting past my disappointment about that, because what's done is done.

Other things I'm learning to do with out the sense of touch, like tieing apron behind me, fastening bra hooks, etc... It's amazing how much we use that sense

YES! I'm realizing how much I took that for granted. I can no longer reach into a bag to root around for my keys, or into a pocket for change. And forget fine motor tasks. I'm in charge of costumes for my daughter's theater group, and I can't really help kids with buttons or clasps any more, and I struggle with small alterations (you should see how long it takes me to thread a needle).

I'm in my 4th week of acupuncture, and haven't seen any real changes yet, but I'll stick with it a bit longer and see if it makes a difference, because I know it does for some people. In the mean time, yep, I'm with CRGuy. Part of the tradeoff for living past this diagnosis. It's not ideal, but I'll live with it as long as it means I get to live, period.

[nicola smith]

For me, the neuropathy started in late July 2010. I finished chemo in October 2010. The worst neuropathy started in about November. It was Grade 2 neuropathy in the feet (going as far up as the mid-calf) and in the first two joints of the fingers. The right foot and hand are worse than the left ones (go figure). Now the neuropathy in the hands is diminishing somewhat (probably down to Grade 1) but nothing has changed in the feet/calves. I was taking 300 mg gabapentin 3x daily which helped but switched to one at night because (a) I was putting on too much weight and (b) it's worse at night, especially in the feet.

My neuropathy occurs when I apply pressure...like in the normal daily activities of walking, keyboarding, buttoning etc. It goes away completely when swimming. It's worse when I am cold.

Crossing fingers that time will ease this for us all.

just an update since I posted a year ago. My hands are pretty good, there's only minimal neuropathy left. However no change to my feet and legs. I think this is the 'new me'. I'm not taking any gabapentin.

[sadysue]

I finished up chemo 2/9. I had severe hand neuropathy but almost no foot neuropathy throughout chemo. Now it's reversed. My hands feel so much better but my feet have gotten very bad . The problem with my feet started 2-3 weeks after I complete chemo. Sux.
Mary Ann

[jjlist]

been a year since I opened this thread. my hands are 75% better, feet, well i dont think they are any better.
I also notice my limbs "falls asleep" much faster and deeper than before.