What to do about numbness in hands and feet after cancer chemotherapy

  In rectal cancer treatment, chemotherapy has an important position and is needed in many cases, but chemotherapy is a double-edged sword, which can damage normal cells while killing cancer cells.  Paralysis of hands and feet after chemotherapy for tumor patients is a common side effect.  Cause: Peripheral neurotoxicity caused by platinum-based chemotherapy drugs: platinum oxalate, 5-Fu agent: Siroda, etc.  Mechanism: Current research suggests that the microscopic blood vessels around the motor nerve fibers are blocked, resulting in a lack of nutrients for the nerve fibers, causing severe damage to neurons and nerve fibers, and a decrease in the conduction ability and conduction speed of nerves, leading to paralysis of the hands and feet. Paralysis involves numerous factors, such as neurological disorders, orthopedic disorders, etc. It may also be caused by potassium and calcium deficiency, or certain immune system disorders, endocrine factors, circulatory system disorders such as cardiac aspects, etc.  Symptoms: Paralysis of the hands and feet is the most common, mostly occurring at night while sleeping, resulting in waking up with numbness, or in the morning after waking up with sleepy hands and a feeling of numbness and stiffness, but can be relieved after a little activity. The above symptoms are often aggravated by cold and exertion and are accompanied by fatigue and fear of cold hands and feet. Individual patients also have some complex abnormal sensations, such as the soles of the feet on cotton or pebble-like abnormal sensations, or tingling sensation, burning sensation, electric shock.  Treatment: 1. Paralysis of the hands and feet may gradually improve over time.  2. In general, nerve-nourishing drugs such as vitamin B1, vitamin B12, and Micronutrients can be given.  3.Chinese herbal medicine is unique in its conditioning.  4.Patients can also start with daily dietary therapy to improve the symptoms of hand and foot paralysis.  5.If the symptoms continue to worsen and drug treatment is ineffective, chemotherapy regimen needs to be changed.