Article in press offers chemotherapy neuropathy scale. Cancer Nurs. 2010 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print]
The Reliability and Validity of a Modified Total Neuropathy Score-Reduced and Neuropathic Pain Severity Items When Used to Measure Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients Receiving Taxanes and Platinums.
Lavoie Smith EM, Cohen JA, Pett MA, Beck SL abstract here
- Peo-ple with comorbid problems were high risk – Diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and alcoholism. I had one case with low B12 that aggravated situation.
- Vibration testing:
- 128-Hz tuning fork
- patient closes eye
- work distally to proximally
- top of
- interphalangeal joint of the great toe
- medial malleolus,
- midanterior lower leg
- the patella
- midanterior upper thigh
- fingertips
- dorsum of the hand
- wrist
- forearm
- upper arm
ask when vibration ended and see if you felt it longer
- Prick sensation:
- broke a cotton swab so pointy
- tested upper and lower
- distally to proximally
- Muscles tested –
- toe
- ankle
- wrist and finger extensors and flexors
- quadriceps
- hamstrings
- biceps
- triceps –
worse result used in scoring.
- Scores were overall low so that hope to scale things differently in future
Comment – not sure would have time to do all testing they advise. Since it is usually a peripheral neuropathy , might concentate on peripheral findings… Will await their revised scale..
I had the tests that they currently do for peripheral neuropathy done by 2 different neurologists, both showed significant peripheral neuropathy in my feet, but both failed to recognize how debilitating it is to not be able to feel your feet, how falling is a problem when the ground is uneven, if you are watching, or when surfaces are a bit slippery. I don’t think it is as much a problem with the tests as it is once they have found significant shortcoming, you are really left to your own devices. Fortunately, my wonderful GP has done more than any specialist has done. I’ll wait for the revised scale and for any one else in this boat don’t stop trying but it is a very long road.