Delayed Neuropathy or Tendonitis?
I am 2 years out from treatment for head and neck cancer. I did three rounds of induction chemotherapy with Cisplantin, Taxotere and 5FU. This was followed by a full course of radiation and Erbitux. I also took Neulasta during chemo to boost my immune system. I have long term neuropathy in my feet (and tinnitus in one ear) that I know is a result of the treatment, but lately I have been having problems with my hands and elbow.
Post treatment, I have become very active, so I am doing a lot of exercise (rock climbing is where this issue comes up), and I know that I am susceptible to tendonitis because I have had it in the past. But I have a constant low grade pain in my elbow and very recently have been experiencing weakening in the right arm. I also have been feeling a little deadening in the feelings in my fingertips.
Does anyone have experience with increased neuropathy this far out of treatment? I am wondering if it is something I need to work around like with my feet, or if it is a new issue, maybe due to nerve or disk damage in my neck due to the radiation treatment. I asked my oncologist and he thought it was probably tendonitis, but I am not so sure. I see my radiation oncologist later in the month, so I will ask him about it then, but I am wondering if I should go in to see a orthopedist if this is unrelated to the treatment.
I know I am susceptible to tendonitis because I used to get it regularly from overextending the elbow joint when I played sports. Currently, I rock climb and play ping pong, both things that stress the joint, so my initial thought was nagging 'tennis elbow.' If it is tendonitis, it is not a side effect of the treatment.
April, I have some of the same mouth issues, but not as bad. I used to way overproduce saliva, so even though I may be back to only 60% of what I used to do, it is enough for a semi-normal routine. I still don't bother with chicken breast or grilled fish because it is too dry to eat, but otherwise I am OK. The neuropathy in my feet are 100% a side effect of the chemotherapy, and something I will deal with long term, but it is not getting worse, and it does not really affect anything i do, it just is. But if the issues in my hands and elbow are new side effects, I am wondering id I will keep getting new issues cropping up, or if my feet will get worse