Description:  Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet.  It can also affect other areas of your body.

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Your peripheral nervous system sends information from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) to the rest of your body.  The peripheral nerves also send sensory information to the central nervous system.

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Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. One common cause of this condition is chemotherapy.

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People with peripheral neuropathy generally describe the pain as stabbing, burning or tingling. In many cases, symptoms improve once treatment has ended.

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This is a side effect you will be warned about before you begin chemotherapy.  It may affect you to a greater or lesser extent, and with a bit of good luck, not at all.

 

I thought I had got away with it as during the first 12 weeks of AC chemo, I didn't have any symptoms.  But a couple of weeks into Taxol my feet started to feel different.  It can't really be described as numb, but I started to do things like fall up the stairs.

 

A couple of weeks later my fingers started to go.  I can only liken the sensation to when I had carpel tunnel whilst pregnant.  Holding a pen, opening jars, nose picking (just kidding!) all became a challenge.

 

I know I should have told my chemo nurses about it, but I didn't want them to reduce my dose as I figured numb feet were preferable to The Cancer lurking in my extremes.  However, fate played a part when I went to have my pre-chemo bloods and weigh-in done, and I fell arse over tit into the consultation room.

 

My nurse said to me "Marita, can you feel your feet???" and I replied "erm, yeees?" (I've always been shit at lying).  Consequently, she sent an urgent referral to my Oncologist to have my meds re-evaluated.  It was decided that my dose of chemo should be reduced by a quarter to try to prevent any further or permanent nerve damage.

 

Unfortunately, things didn't change much.  I probably shouldn't have carried on driving with my numb feet, but I would have gone mad if I became housebound.

 

One afternoon, Justin had been to do the big Tesco shop but then had to rush off to meet a client and he left me with strict instructions not to empty the boot of the car, he would do it when he got back.  

 

I fancied a slice of toast and opened the cupboard to find it devoid of bread, so I thought, I know, I'll just get the shopping out of the boot....

 

I was very sensible - I didn't do my usual donkey impression or try to do my self-challenge of getting it all from boot to kitchen in one run.  I had just one carrier bag in each hand, stepped up to my front door, caught my foot on the step and landed face first into the front door.  Bread, mayo, apples, and Tesco's finest strewn all over the front garden.  Luckily, I wasn't carrying the bag with the wine in..

 

Needless to say, I got into a bit of trouble when Justin got home and looked at my fat lip.  I was henceforth banned from carrying stuff and walking at the same time, especially if wearing flip flops.

 

Unfortunately, years on, although much reduced, I do still have neuropathy and I guess I have to accept that there is some permanent nerve damage.  Sadly, my killer heels days are over as I think my poor feet would fuck off and leave me if I asked them to walk about in a pair of 4 inchers.  Can't bring myself to get rid of them though!