Numb fingers

[Winchie]

Just after I woke up my ring finger became numb. Is this normal with HU?

[hunter5582]

Apparently numbness in the fingers can occur with HU. I expect it is pretty uncommon.

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple...

Do note this warning

Call your doctor at once if you have: numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;

rxlist.com/hydrea-side-effe...

Suggest you call your hematologist to consult. Hopefully this is a MPN Specialist who is familiar with this side effect. It could, of course, be something unrelated. Best to not take chances though.

Please let us know how you get on and what you learn.

[Winchie in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you Hunter

[EPguy]

I occasionally get numbness in various parts of my hands/fingers since near the time of my Dx. Usually there is some tingling with it. I've had it on both HU and IFN and my blood counts are good. There is some correlation to low blood pressure, but it can happen with normal BP also.

It usually lasts for only minutes.

[Winchie in reply to EPguy]

I had been having muscle pain in that arm the past couple days and then the numb finger started this morning. I took a Tylenol and all pain and numbness stopped. I don’t know if it was related or not. Time will tell.

[EPguy in reply to Winchie]

Muscle and other pains are a common part of our MPN experience. I don't really have it any more since switching from HU to IFN. But my Dr put muscle pain on my recent symptom list maybe just from habit.

Tylenol is not known for helping numbness, from one site:

"In any case, tylenol is unlikely to address numbness and tingling. Tylenol is a medication commonly used to treat pain and fever"

answers.zocdoc.com/details/...

But with our MPNs nothing is so knowable.

[Winchie in reply to EPguy]

Thank you

[Ilgim]

I’m not having HU but waking up every morning with fingers numb especially ring finger

[Wyebird]

sorry I didn’t experience that but never say never we are all different

[Bluetop]

Yes,

I frequently get numb fingers -often in a morning and they can last up to 15 minutes. I have mentioned it to Haem but not seen as a concern then, though I think it's getting worse and will be talking to haem at my next appointment.

[Winchie in reply to Bluetop]

Hopefully it’s not a concern since it doesn’t last long. Good luck.

[merlisa]

If you are taking thalidomide, which is an immune modulator, this drug can cause peripheral neuritis, which is a normal side effect of medication. If so, mecobalamin is recommended. You can ask your primary care physician. and I don't think Hu causes numb.

[Winchie in reply to merlisa]

I’m not taking that medication. So far it only happened one time, so hopefully won’t happen again thank you.

[JT_Marlin]

I get Raynauds syndrome very frequently when its cold out which presents with white finger tips, some get in their toes and face as well. I take a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) to help reduce the frequency and severity.

[Winchie in reply to JT_Marlin]

I am sorry to hear that. I live in a warm climate, so don’t have to worry about that. Good luck.!