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

Posted by taxlady @taxlady, Jan 31, 2023

I finished chemo April of 2022
I have neuropathy in my fingers and feet. It doesn’t seem to be going away. What are treatments I can do to help get rid of it.

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Profile picture for erichendrix @erichendrix

I know of only two prescription drugs, from personal experience, that help relieve my neuropathy symptoms: Hydromorphone HCL (Dilaudid), a synthetic opioid, and Zolpidem Tartrate (Ambien). That’s right – the sleeping pill Ambien, a sedative-hypnotic. An analogy might be to consider neuropathy as a type of “fire”, with Dilaudid being a “fire extinguisher”. Been trying to get a prescription for Dilaudid but no luck. As a last resort, I am now using medical marijauna, suggested to me by a palliative care nurse, which I think is analogous to fighting fire with fire. It helps some. I am also taking all the known supplements that may support the body’s efforts to repair or even regenerate dead, damaged and dying nerve tissue. Doing Epsom Salt warm foot baths, Lidocaine cream on my feet, both of which, along with light exercise and whatever else I can discover, provide some temporary relief. It does not seem likely I can reverse this neuropathy, stop the progression of it, or even slow it down. However I am giving it the college try.

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@erichendrix

Thanks for your post very informative. what dose of Ambien do you take and does it not make you sleepy? do you take it during the day? Would love to hear a response

jeff

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