Chemo side effects to feet and hands: cold and tight

(or maybe “multiple tender trigger points?”)
Once again, I'm not quite sure which MCC group is the most appropriate for these comments and question.

Somewhere recently in my searching for help regarding my "tight feet,” I ran across the suggestion that protecting your feet from "percussive injury" might be important in dealing with “Chemo Foot.”
My “chemo feet” occur typically after receiving infusions of Abraxane - Gemcitabine given as treatment for inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

My calling them “tight feet” is a novel description to a very experienced oncology nurse who I have known for a very long time. When asked to clarify, the best I could do is was to substitute “tense muscles."

Unfortunately, as with so much else encountered trying to navigate this confusing landscape, my own situation is further complicated by having had tight muscles for as long as I can remember (as indeed does my full brother). I’ve been educated by two people I consider better informed on the subject, to refer instead to "multiple tender trigger points.”

Have others in this situation any pertinent experience or comments to share?

I’m not sure the best group to post this, so apologies if this isn't the right one.

Background: recently diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Have been receiving Abraxane and Gemcitabine (up to cycle 5 now, after several speedbumps)
Have as a complication what I suppose to be Chemo Feet

Questions:
(1) What is your experience, if any, with continuing to keep your feet cold once outside the actual chemotherapy infusion period “window” - does it help? How cold is cold (ice vs cool air, for instance)
(2) Again, in your experience, does elevation help? And if so, how much above heart level do you aim for? Do you attempt to do it while sleeping?
(3) I have read that it’s a good idea to wear shoes that provide cushioning against the percussive effect of standing and walking - if you’ve selected footwear with this idea in mind, did It help?

Has anyone here received chemotherapy with their legs elevated?

Did it have any impact on whether or not "chemo feet" developed after the chemotherapy infusion?

Apologies if these questions have already been answered.

I understand there is some evidence that cold (say a frozen bag of peas), if used at the time chemotherapy is being infused, can help prevent the development of "chemo feet."

Has anyone here continued to ice their feet after the chemotherapy infusion? If so, has it helped?

If so, how long have you continued to chill your feet?

If so, are you wearing footwear meant to be worn with ice packs? Does it help?

This is coming from someone who absolutely hates having cold feet.

Hi @ajh5285, I see you started several discussions about chemo side effects, especially side effects to your feet. You ask great questions and offer some solutions too. I’ve merged the posts into one discussion and added it to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms support group.

To help answer your questions and to share tips that helped them regarding sleep position, footwear and cold feet, I’m tagging fellow members like @beth123 @helenar @lfitz @asingh90 @luciad @davidtd @susanpmadigan @mayoconnectuser1.

You might also be interested in this article:
How Chemotherapy Can Affect the Feet
— https://www.ipfh.org/foot-conditions/seasonal-articles/how-chemotherapy-can-affect-the-feet

I, too, hate cold feet. Ajh, what recommendations have the chemo nurses offered? They often have good tips. I’d like to hear what they might say about using frozen peas.

Hi Colleen -- I'm scheduled for another chemo infusion this coming Friday; if all goes as planned, I have a list of questions for my former colleague, the experienced oncology nurse. I will share what I learn. A couple of my most significant questions for her were inspired by comments on this group. Thanks everybody for your contributions here.
The server where your article is posted isn't currently responding. Perhaps too many of us have been trying to get there at the same time!

I hear your problem with coldness and neuropathy. My cousin Maryann is going through the same thing. She cannot feel her fingers and it is difficult for her to pick up items. She is going to try and use white cotton gloves to see if that will help. I will let you know if it works
Sincerely Susan

I was beginning to think that I had imagined someone mentioning using a bag of frozen peas to combat "Chemo Feet" and about to chalk it up to my own "Chemo Brain."
However, I've just found a thread on a breast cancer support forum. Since I'm not sure about the propriety of posting a link to another discussion forum here, I'll just include the final sentences of the post, in the hopes of stimulating further discussion on this forum--
My infusions went in the order of pre-meds, than Taxotere, then Carboplatin, then Herceptin. I also held ice chips in my mouth simultaneously to prevent mouth sores. To combat neuropathy I did take a 50mg B6 and 30g of powdered L-Glutamine, daily.

I did have the chance to talk with my former colleague, the experienced oncology nurse, about some of my questions; her answers as to what she was hearing about solutions from her patients are much the same as have been offered here. Specifically --
(1) Many oncology patients complain about not being able to get warm enough; they use dryer-warmed towels and blankets to wrap up
(2) For tension headaches, some have had good results with acupuncture; others use caffeine and tylenol
(3) Regarding the side effect of Chemo Hands &/or Feet
(A) she hasn't heard anyone refer to continuing chilling hands and feet once the infusions are finished (B) some do sleep with their feet elevated (C) some are taking vitamin B6; she hasn't heard anyone mention taking powdered L-glutamine
(4) she and my actual nurse agreed that care in my (university) hospital could be better integrated

Interestingly, after another chemo infusion with my feet slightly elevated above heart level and no covering with the lovely heated blankets, I've been lying down (even sleeping overnight) with my feet uncovered. My feet do feel a bit better than I've come to expect, and when elevated even my foot which is usually redder looked normal this morning.

Maybe there is some merit in continuing to cool one's feet for some time beyond the actual chemo infusion.

A possible confounding factor, however, is that this old steel-sided farmhouse doesn't seem to be having quite such a chilling effect as it has over the winter since the temp has warmed up a bit. However, there's still plenty of damp new snow present from a storm that moved through yesterday, and our skies continue to be stubbornly overcast.