restless legs

Diseases & Conditions Breast Cancer
1
Hi,i finished chemo july.27 and my finger tips and toes are numb doctor said it could be permanent.And i constantly have to move my legs at night when i try to sleep,has anyone had this as a lasting effect after finishing chemo treatments?if so what did you do to make your legs feel better.And also i start tamoxifan next week what are your expierences with this medicine....Tammy
2
Tammy,
 
I didn't get the numb fingers and toes, so can't help there.  I just started Tamoxifen a week ago and so far no side effects.  My husband has restless legs at night.  I don't know if there is really anything you can do about it.

L & H,
Kathy

3
Hi Tammy! Congrats on finishing your chemo!!!!! The numbness in your fingers and toes is called neuropathy. It is one of the side effects of some types of chemo. I am surprised that your onco hasn't given you any meds to help counteract this. grrrrrrrrrrrr Hopefully you will see some improvement as time passes. My onco was very aware of this problem and if I was really having difficulty or pain, she would stop the chemo for a week or two, and still does today. This gives my system a chance to recover somewhat. I am on a new med and it is working great. In fact, when I saw her on Tues, she told me that this med she prescribed was just now being used for neuropathy symptoms and was delighted to hear that it was working so well. I have found that putting a pillow or blanket between my knees helps my legs when I go to bed. If I am really uncomfortable, I do one of two things...get up and soak in a hot bath or take an ibuprofin 800. It just helps to relax me. I wasn't able to take the tamoxifan so I am no help to your there. But I know that there are several ladies that have been on it and are presently taking it. I'm sure that they will share their experiences with you.
 
Hugs...Deb
 

 

4

My mom has Restless Leg Syndrome. I don't know if that may be what you have. I know several years back she took some meds but she had a bad reaction to it and had to stop. She gets it in the middle of the night sometimes and the only thing that helps sometimes if she gets up and walks. She didn't have chemo. This is just something you can get. Not sure if your may be related to the chemo or not. Here's 1 link, but you can do a search on RLS. 

http://www.restlesslegs.com/?rotation=11401548&banner=16966469


5
I got that too when I finished chemo. My last dose was end of May, I think it lasted for 2 months and now I get alittle bit if I sit/stand for along time, but seems to be getting better each day. Hopefully yours will do that too. I have to go back to work and stand for long hours soon so I ordered some compression stockings to help my circulation. I think its caused from our nervious system. I think in time it goes away but have hear from others that they still have it years later. No sure but have notices mine is getting better. Congrats on being done with chemo!! thats a big hurdle you just jumped huh!!! skeeter1
6
I have a friend I used to work with that has Restless Leg Syndrome. Her legs jerk and jump on their own during the night, she does not move them. It keeps her awake and she has tried several medicines with poor to fair results. Nothing has totally stopped her legs from jumping. From your post I seemed to think you were moving your legs because they were feeling numb and bothering you. Either way, you can't get much rest and you get so tired. I hope you get to feeling more normal and the numbness dissapates. Hugs MK


7

Tammy,

I have not had CA, but I'm in the medical field.  Regarding your Restless Leg Syndrome, I do have that.  I have found heat and muscle relaxants to help.  You could also purchase pneumatic leg cuffs(the kind you see on patients post-op that rythmically compress your legs to mimic you leg muscles moving to propel your venous blood back up towards your heart and lungs to prevent blood clots).  I have found the OTC kind in health product magazines and at Target--only about $20!  They do help.

Regarding Tamoxifen, this drug does increase your risk of developing blood clots (DVT).  Info. for everyone, the 3 major risk factors for developing DVT are:  trauma (surgery or injury), stasis (not using your leg muscles to propel your blood, found often in immobile patients who are unable to walk, and those who sit for long periods, and hypercoagulation-which refers to changes found in the blood itself-either from a genetic condition or meds that alter your blood's 'thickness'.  Remember, blood is sticky, and if it's just sitting there in your veins and not really moving, it may feel like clotting.

The only thing that keeps your venous blood moving is the calf muscle.  And blood that's moving efficiently doesn't really have the time to stop and clot!  This is why everyone is encouraged, while driving for long periods, or taking a flight, to frequently either get out and walk, or at least do isometric calf contractions.

This is my first time on this web site, so perhaps I've been too chatty, for which I apologize.  My best to you in your noble fight!  Peg of My Heart.

 

 

 

 

8
Hi Peg, Glad you are not a breast cancer sister! Thank you for your information about restless leg syndrome. I found it very interesting and I will tell my friend who really suffers from it about the leggings. She has had by-pass surgery so I am not sure about whether they would work for her, but she can ask her doctor. That is what is so great about the internet, we can learn from each other, from strangers we would never have crossed paths with....... Hugs, Mary K.


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Thank You so much for everyones replies..Tammy
10

Hugs right back at you, Mary & Tammy! 

Re breast CA, yes I did not have.  I did have breast surgery 18 mos. ago.  Radiologist rates suspicious findings on mamm as #1 thru #4.  My left was a 4; right remains a 2.  So the left it was for surgery.  Removed tissue about size of a large egg.  Said it was neg., but my kind of tissue is such that it is more likely to turn.

To my surprise, most recent mamm result checked-off #3 on their form:  Probably Benign!!  Sounds a lot like 'maybe pregnant' to me!!!  So now more frequent mamms.  The frustrating thing about breast (or other) cancers is regardless how many times you're scanned, cancer remains a possibility!  Went to an onco for 2nd opinion-asked " if the breast tissue is more likely to become cancerous down the road, why not just surgically empty both breasts and install implants before it happens?"  He replied "because insurance will not cover it until cancer is found"  No pre-emptive strikes, so to speak!!

Fun Fact:  Viagra was approved in record time, and is covered by insurance--long before mamms were covered in many areas!!!  Bottom line-money!  and ED drugs are most certainly profitable!!

I am blessed to have found you all.  Peg