Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: What helps get rid of it?

Hi Colleen, thank you! I am not icing anymore during chemo: it was a torture for me. I will be on chemo as long as it works - or as long as I can take it. My oncologist suggested acupuncture, which I am doing (it seems to help very little so far, but I'll continue it). I don't think he can decrease the chemo dosage, he's just trying to avoid increasing it. I am wondering if there's any specialist I can address (neurologist maybe?...)
Thank you for managing Mayo clinic connect so well!! You are doing a great job, I think.

@chiara58, not sure if this will help with your neuropathy, but I had lingering feelings of toxicity for several years after my intense chemo…neuropathy symptoms, odd stiffness, etc.. I tried acupuncture, which did help a little. What has helped me the most is having regular massages. After returning to my favorite massage therapist after a lengthy absence of a few years, I mentioned how I was feeling. She explained chemo toxicity can remain in the cells long after therapy is over. She started with a lymphatic massage. I admit for the first 2 days after I was tired and felt like I had a chemo infusion! She had warned me that I might feel not feel the best for a few days. I drank copious amounts of water to flush my system. I swear this cleansed my body! Even my bloodwork improved since then. I finally felt whole again and continue with monthly sessions. I no longer have of the nagging symptoms I had before. Might be worth a try, having a massage with a certified massage therapist. If nothing else, it’s so relaxing. 😉

Thank you!!

Hi, Chiara - I did two rounds of carbo/taxol and have neuropathy in both feet and somewhat in legs. I find the worst is at night - not really much pain but a kind of restless leg and unable to sleep with it. My infusion nurse suggested gabapentin at night and that helps enormously. I do not take it in the day and do not know if that would be appropriate for you, but at night I have no side effects. It does not 'take it away' but it does manage it well, for me. I did try icing on my feet and hands but am not sure it did much. Only have numbness at ends of fingers - feet much more involved with numbness, pins and needles and sometimes some pain. Do talk to your doctor and nurses about the neuropathy - and the dosing and scheduling of your chemo! Best of luck and health - Kathryn

New to the sight. I had 8 rnds. in 2016. I don't like taking prescriptions. I do take a low dose of gabapentin 3 times a day. 2 of which I take around bedtime. If I don't the neuropathy in my feet keeps me up at night. It starts in my calf and goes to my feet about every 10 seconds. I also find I can't sit with pressure on the back of my knees too long. Wondering if anyone else has the same problems.

Welcome @autonomic, You are not alone. There are a couple of discussions on the topic although not necessarily for chemo induced neuropathy, the symptoms are similar and it might help to read what others have shared.

-- Neuropathy Pain at Night: What helps?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/night-pain-2/
-- Peripheral Neuropathy - Shooting Foot Pains at Night
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/peripheral-neuropathy-shooting-foot-pains-at-night/
Have you tried any complementary or alternative treatments like those mentioned on the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy website - https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Complementary-and-Alternative-Treatments-Revised-2020-final.-1.pdf?

I have some chemo related neuropathy, and it really bugs me once I am sitting quietly. Maybe that it why everyone thinks I am the energizer bunny all day 😂. I do take 900 mg of gabapentin at night. I also put my feet on a giant ice pack every night when I lay down in bed. When my feet are really cold I set the ice pack aside to be frozen again in the morning and go to sleep.
I can’t stand anything on my feet that is synthetic, I can’t say why, but I wear wool socks in the day, and at night, I stick my feet out below the sheet and blanket.
I sometimes use a roll on lidocaine from aspercreme in the evening if my feet feel like they are on fire.
All of this isn’t foolproof, but for me it is better than gabapentin during the day. I couldn’t stay awake to accomplish anything when I took it in the daytime.
Do you have any tips or tricks you use to make it better?

I have trouble with covers being too heavy on my feet. I take a body pillow and place it under the covers at the foot of the bed. Looking this yr. for lighter still warm cover. I use a quilt now.

Me too. I switched to a polar fleece blanket to help with weight. I tried a piece of polar fleece fabric I bought as a remnant first and it worked.

Has anyone mentioned L-glutamine? Memorial Sloan Kettering has an Herbs and Botanicals reference website. It will let you know of some known interactions.
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/glutamine