Hand and Foot Syndrome - any suggestions?

@adanab, please note that I have removed your personal phone number from your post as this is a public forum. You can use the secure private message function to exchange contact info.

It’s nice that @sallyg has generously offered to contact you privately. However, I would like to point out that by sharing here on the forum, your messages benefit many and we can all learn from each other.

Yes, 3 chemo and fingertips still numb after 3 weeks, have used over different over counter creams with lidocaine cream that I apply and base of thumb and around wrist that helps. My son bought me a machine for Xmas called LUNIX that you insert your hands and about half my
arm in and it massages your fingers and arm, it does help am hoping maybe will help with time. I get a rest for 5 weeks for external radiation treatments wish it goes away before last 3 chemo treatments. My left foot is the most affected and long bones are still bugging me just hope will go away soon, was told month or 2 should be better. Wish I really believed that hate taking tylenol. Oh and also the wrist bands with the round dot seem to help some some your hands.

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’d not heard of the LUNIX machine and will look into it. The wrist bands are something I’d also never heard of. Thanks so much for the tips! And best of luck to you.

@jbickler, neuropathy is a common side effect with some cancer treatments, especially certain types of chemotherapy. You might find this discussion useful:

- Need hope: Neuropathy from chemo https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/needshope/

I'm two months after finishing 6 months (12 times) of chemo and my skin feels like it doesn't belong to me, especially my hands, bottom of the feet and forehead. It feels more slippery than normal and I don't feel things normally. For instance, holding a pen is difficult, or when I walk it feels like I'm not making normal contact with the shoes or floor.
My fingers sometimes get locked in a certain position for 2-3 seconds.
Anyone ever experienced anything like this?
Thank you and wishing you all good health always!

So I read in hear somewhere where some people are getting or have gotten peripheral neuropathy after stopping chemo. Definitely sounds like you have some numbness like what I get in winter without the chemo that is reynauds syndrome. I would reach out to your oncology team and see if have suggestions on where you could go for therapy before it gets worse. Have you tried epsom salt baths and magnesium for the muscle cramps/locking? Maybe deep tissue massages as well?

@mosk I believe you may referring to a side effect known as hand-foot syndrome (HFS). HFS is side-effect of some chemotherapy types. It is also called Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia or PPE. It affects the skin on your hands and the bottom of your feet. It usually starts with tingling or swelling of your skin and can become painful, red and numb.

I moved your question to this related discussion where members like @sallyg @adanab @seathink @mjjc are talking about hand and foot syndrome.
- Hand and Foot Syndrome - any suggestions?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/handfoot-syndrome-any-suggestions/

Have you finished chemotherapy treatments? What chemo were/are you getting?

The chemo that I got was Folfox 6, which includes 5-FU. The last treatment of 12 was 2 months ago. The situation with the skin on my hands and feet is only getting worse so far. I met with the oncologist today who said it's a very typical side effect of this type of chemo and with time it'll get better. Hopefully so and hopefully soon.
It does sound very much like HFS. This is the first time I'm hearing about this and did some research on it. Makes a lot of sense. I'll see what others share about this.
Thanks so much for responding. This is so helpful.