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

I've had chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy definitely 'full-bore' in my legs, feet, hands, and arms since May 2023 with my initial chemotherapy treatment (Bendamustine & Rituximab) which turned out being totally ineffrctive on me. Since November 2024, I have been taking 4-80mg capsules of a BTK Inhibitor called Zanubrutinib every morning and currently I am stable. I never had any neuropathy prior to this as a 2-hour ENG procedure verified/confirmed. I was extremely fortunate to discover a highly certified Doctor of Acupuncture, AC who I willingly entrusted my peripheral neuropathy to her. I might add that I reside in Calgary, Alberta and this Doctor of Acupuncture I was extremely fortunate to discover lives and owns/operates her business solely in Edmonton, which is a 3-hour drive one way (6 hours return) for me. I became a patient/client of hers late July 2024 and have never looked back! Even though I love driving, I assure you that if her treatments weren't helping, I would have stopped long before this! My body has responded phenomenally well to her manual and electro-acupuncture treatments ... so much so that my peripheral neuropathy is completely under control and/or nonexistent. As well as the weekly treatments, you undergo comprehensive monthly functional assessments from which the level of neuropathy, plus any monthly change, is continuously tracked.

The Doctor of Acupuncture who treats me is 1 of only 5 such certified Doctors of Acupuncture in ALL of Canada. Given Canada's comparative population to the USA, I would suspect there would/should be many more Doctors of Acupuncture, AC qualified to and practicing in the USA.

Ever since late July 2024, I have had 2 to 3 weekly sessions of acupuncture initially centred on my peripheral neuropathy areas of concern. The key to this is that treatments need to be done weekly as the effect is cumulative with each treatment building upon the treatment(s) before.

I have been receiving said weekly treatment sessions EVERY WEEK since the end of July 2024, currently that's 12 months worth of treatment. You might wonder why it appears to have taken that long to resolve my issue ... good question for which I have a couple of logical answers. Upon reaching an 'agreed upon' level of success, treatments then revert to a more relaxed maintenance program for any such areas. In addition to that, as a 75-year-old male who has lived life, and continues to do so, very passionately, I've managed to accumulate other parts of my body who are currently benefitting from the same treatment regimen ... My lumbar region (complete with protruding discs, herniated discs, disc fragments, and spinal stenosis) as well as my severely osteoarthritic knees have become treatment focus areas ... as a level of success is reached with both of these areas, treatment decreases somewhat in frequency as they too revert to maintenance. Maintenance is/will be ongoing but nowhere near the initial intensity.

I had never had acupuncture treatments before now and I swear by them! The results for all areas I/we have focused upon, have all sown remarkable and ongoing improvement. Prior to acupuncture, my world felt that it was closing in on me but that is definitely not the case now!!! I continue, at my age, to live my life very passionately!

I might also underscore all of this with the fact that I have an IgG-secreting Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (similar to Waldenstroms but considerably rarer) as well as an indolent non-aggressive renal cell carcinoma in addition to numerous other issues. I realized at a very young age that, like everyone else, that I have two choices ... to withdraw from life and become a burden on society or to continue to live my life as passionately as possible. My choice without hesitation has been, and continues to be, to live my life as passionately as possible and to not let my issues define my life. It's all a state of mind!

Hi @kathan55 ,

At the moment, there is not a cure for neuropathy, and depending upon the doctor, the level of acknowledgement that it is there, and how it profoundly changes your outlook of your life is just terrifying. So you need to research what works for you by reading, eating better, exercising and trying different treatments. I started doing (what I could) of a 'Happy Feet" yoga video, and 5 minute massage from Pinterest. These helped me because they encourage movement, and hopefully loosened up some nerves. I see a cranial sacral physical therapist, a regular Physical therapist for the Shockwave treatment, and a chiropractor did the cold laser treatment.
Regards,
jfn

Thank you for sharing this. If you don’t mind, can you tell me what type of Dr does this? Thanks again!

What I meant was that my feet are doing better…I switched from 600 gabepentine 3 times a day to 100 Lyrica 3 times.
Still feel neuropathy but better now. Still can’t wear anything binding on ankles but I just cut my socks off the top of my feet.

The pain is unpredictable, moves around to different areas of my body, is different intensities and different types of pain.
Painful muscle spasms, pain all over at one time, back pain ( mid back- thoracic), neck and shoulder pain.
That all started within 1 month of completing chemo.
I got epidural’s for spinal pain, trigger point injections for muscle spasms, and am on pain management.
Later I developed burning sensations on my back and arms, legs and feet tingle and hurt, arms hurt, both knees are almost bone on bone ( wear knee braces). Continue to have initial issues. It’s so confusing. I really have trouble describing everything. Sometimes I wonder if I have fibro as well as CIPN. In 2005, fibro was the initial dx. A trashcan dx back then! Sorry this is such a long reply.

Hi @kathan55 ,

Shockwave like the cold laser is used to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow. It is a slightly intense vibration ( which can be controlled) with different 'heads'. I always feel better after.

Jfn

I’ve never heard of shock wave treatments. Can you tell me more?!