I underwent radiation therapy three times during the period of my conventional myeloma therapy from my original diagnosis through October of 1997. The first radiation series was to the area of my fifth cervical vertebra. The next radiation therapy was to my iliac crest area and nine months later, a radiation series to my sacrum or tailbone. No discussion of the possibility of nerve damage ever took place. I began to notice my legs weakening in 98 and 99 and went to a neurologist for some explanation of what might be happening to my legs. He told me that I had peripheral neuropathy. The weakness in my legs progressed resulting in numbness in my feet, ankles and calves. I can no longer jump, jog, have difficulty with my balance and I walk with a cane. While doing some general research, I came upon an article about emg testing and nerve damage in 2003. I went to a different neurologist who performed an emg and nerve conduction study and diagnosed my problem as radiation-induced lumbo-sacral plexopathy. My neurologist, Dr. David Preston, also diagnose peripheral neuropathy in my feet. The documents below are the first three evaluations by Dr. Preston and a summary by my physical therapist, Darrell Reed.

What I get from these reports is as follows-

My leg weakness and balance problems is due to the radiation therapy from 96 and 97
Nerve conduction studies from 11/8/04, 3/28/05, 9/25/05, about 10 month period, identify increased nerve function.

My gait hasn't improved much. I've noticed that I recover after I exercise more quickly. Dr. Preston tells me that a complete recovery is possible but he just can't tell me definitively. I will be getting another evaluation done in a month or so. Those members that request information packets as members of beating-myeloma.org, look for updates on my nerve damage in addition to specific information on nerve damage therapies. I believe that my nerve damage will continue to heal. The question in my mind is, how long will the healing take and how completely will the nerve damage heal?