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What Causes Numbness In Legs With History Of Chemotherapy For Cancer?
Question: Numbness in back of legs feels like circulation had cemotherapy for cancer but this is now 3 years after can the treatment cause this type of prolonged problem
Could it be dibetes causing this. I don't use sugar very often or juice that may contain its own natural sugars or vegetables such as carrots which contain fructose....
Could it be dibetes causing this. I don't use sugar very often or juice that may contain its own natural sugars or vegetables such as carrots which contain fructose....
Brief Answer:
Not related to chemotherapy.
Detailed Answer:
I read your query carefully and I understand your concern.
Chemotherapy, depending on which drug is used, can at times cause neuropathy. However, it usually starts during treatment and considering it has been already 3 years I think that can be ruled out as the cause.
The most probable issue to be looked at is a lumbar or sacral spine issue causing compression of your nerve roots. The most common cause is a herniated disc, with central disc displacement compressing the nerves bilaterally.
I am not sure what you mean by circulation. When there is lack of blood flow usually there are other signs like changes in the skin (pale and cold), lack of peripheral pulse etc. Also often symptoms develop after walking for a certain distance due to added blood needs, like painful cramps, since you say that exercising helps that is not characteristic for lack of blood flow.
Diabetes can cause neuropathy, but one has to make a diagnosis of it first through blood tests, dietary habits don't determine the diagnosis. Even if you had diabetes the peripheral neuropathy it usually causes is different in distribution from your symptoms.
So I would suggest a neurological evaluation for signs of nerve root compression and if confirmed by the exam, possibly imaging tests like CT or ideally MRI of lumbar spine. If exam and imaging are not conclusive or indicate a peripheral neuropathy rather than nerve root involvement, at times tests like nerve conduction studies/electromyography might be needed.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Not related to chemotherapy.
Detailed Answer:
I read your query carefully and I understand your concern.
Chemotherapy, depending on which drug is used, can at times cause neuropathy. However, it usually starts during treatment and considering it has been already 3 years I think that can be ruled out as the cause.
The most probable issue to be looked at is a lumbar or sacral spine issue causing compression of your nerve roots. The most common cause is a herniated disc, with central disc displacement compressing the nerves bilaterally.
I am not sure what you mean by circulation. When there is lack of blood flow usually there are other signs like changes in the skin (pale and cold), lack of peripheral pulse etc. Also often symptoms develop after walking for a certain distance due to added blood needs, like painful cramps, since you say that exercising helps that is not characteristic for lack of blood flow.
Diabetes can cause neuropathy, but one has to make a diagnosis of it first through blood tests, dietary habits don't determine the diagnosis. Even if you had diabetes the peripheral neuropathy it usually causes is different in distribution from your symptoms.
So I would suggest a neurological evaluation for signs of nerve root compression and if confirmed by the exam, possibly imaging tests like CT or ideally MRI of lumbar spine. If exam and imaging are not conclusive or indicate a peripheral neuropathy rather than nerve root involvement, at times tests like nerve conduction studies/electromyography might be needed.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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