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Does anyone have a treatment for Neuropathy due to chemo

Neuropathy | Last Active: Aug 25, 2023 | Replies (72)

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@user_ch1df4426

Neuropathy

I have been treated for multiple mylenoma and during the time of being on chemo I have developed neuropathy in my feet and finger tips of my left hand. It feels like my feet are freezing or numb is this a normal, when I accidentally bump into anything with my foot the pain is incredibly painful, is this normal? <br />
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Replies to "Neuropathy I have been treated for multiple mylenoma and during the time of being on chemo..."

Hi @user_ch1df4426, welcome to Connect.
My dad developed neuropathy from chemo treatments too. It can be quite painful. Here's some further information about peripheral neuropathy http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/basics/definition/con-20019948

Are you finished chemo now?

I'm also tagging @martid @jerrybecker @philippe who have also talked about managing chemo-related neuropathy here on Connect. I hope they will share their thoughts and experiences with you.

I developed peripheral neuropathy in both feet and both hands about the end of the 2nd month of chemo - from the Taxotere. I am 2 years and 3 months out of treatment. Often they take you off of the drug that is causing it, but due to the nature of my cancer and the treatment regime, I toughed it out. They had me taking both B6 and B12, but I do not think it did much. I have since read that B6 may not be good to take - so please check with your doctor before doing either of them. I also have taken Gabapentin and did feel some minor improvement in my feet. It was not enough to put up with the side effects, however. It made me very dizzy, even in small amounts, and I stayed on it for only a few months.
Initially my tingling covered only my toes and the balls of my feet; plus it feels like there is a pad of sand wedged up under my toes, which affects my balance. Now it goes to almost the back of my foot on both feet. I also have pain sometimes and yes, it hurts a lot if I hit the wrong spot. Other spots, I can not feel anything but the constant tingle. They are always cold. I have forced myself to walk and can do so as long as I am careful. I can now walk a mile without too much pain and, until cancer reared it's ugly head again, I was walking almost daily. That seems to have helped me as much as anything, and I do continue a B complex 100 vitamin daily. I was told that, with chemo induced PN, if you have it 2 years out, you will probably have it for life. My hands are pretty hopeless and I cannot write for any period of time at all and I drop things a LOT. A shame since I love to both draw and paint.

I have found that moving my toes around - like exercises - seems to help some. I often do that when I am just sitting. Those roller balls that you use on the bottoms of your feet feel good to me; I do not know if they actually help, but anything that feels good is on my list. Hand massages as long as they are not hard, feel good - and holding a warm cup of anything is lovely. I have learned to be very careful; check the water temp before putting your foot in the shower; do not go around barefooted because you can hurt yourself and not realize it (I am bad about doing this one, but my oncologist fusses at me about it to keep me in line). Get good sturdy shoes that are comfortable and give you a good support base. Please remember that yours may be different, and Gabapentin or Lyrica just might do the trick for you.

Be sure to mention these symptoms to your oncologist. If you are still on chemo, they may want to adjust the meds or the amount of the med they are giving you. I think it depends a lot on how bad it is and what meds you are on, so please, BE SURE TO TELL THEM. Hope yours is the kind that will gradually go away and you will be good as new. If not, it does get easier - still there, you just get more used to it.