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A MyBCTeam Member asked a question ๐Ÿ’ญ
Medina, OH
January 5
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How can you heal neuropathy caused by chemotherapy and radiation?

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands or feet. While healing can take time, several approaches may help manage symptoms and prevent further nerve damage.

Medical Treatments
- Pain relievers, Show Full Answer

How can you heal neuropathy caused by chemotherapy and radiation?

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands or feet. While healing can take time, several approaches may help manage symptoms and prevent further nerve damage.

Medical Treatments:
- Pain relievers, including NSAIDs
- Anti-seizure medications like gabapentin or pregabalin
- Antidepressants such as duloxetine
- Pain-relieving patches or creams with lidocaine or capsaicin
- Your doctor might adjust your chemotherapy dose or try a different medication

Physical Approaches:
- Physical therapy to improve mobility, balance, and coordination
- Acupuncture - A MyBCTeam member shared: "I have been three times and my armpits are no longer hurting"
- Regular exercise, including yoga and walking
- Massage therapy

Important: Talk to your doctor right away if you develop nerve pain during or after treatment to prevent serious complications and permanent nerve damage. They may refer you to a pain specialist who can guide you through treatment strategies.

January 5
A MyBCTeam Member

Hi JW. There is a neuropathy post located 3 posts down from your post. I don't know how to heal neuropathy, but you can learn to live with it, it may ease up some over time, and there are medications your doctor can prescribe that can help with some of the symptoms. I'm lucky that my chemo related neuropathy has only caused numbness and some balance issues. I've copied and pasted my post that I wrote in response to the other neuropathy post.....

I've had chemotherapy twice now. The first time I developed neuropathy in my toes, feet, fingers, and hands. The neuropathy progressively grew worse after each chemo session. Over the course of a year after my first round of chemo the neuropathy became less severe, but didn't come close to going away entirely. I'd say the neuropathy had about a 20% reduction in severity overall during the first year post chemo and there was no additional improvement afterwards.

I had chemo for the second time around last year. With each chemo session my pre-existing neuropathy grew worse during my second round of chemo. Typically about a week after each chemo session I would notice an increase in severity of the neuropathy. I am now about 6 months post chemo and have had no improvement. The neuropathy is just as bad as it was about a week after my last chemo session in early July.

January 6
A MyBCTeam Member

Good morning ๐ŸŒ… JWMusic. Talk to and work out a plan with your oncology team. Early intervention can help keep it from worsening. Exercise would help tremendously such as swimming, biking and walking. I take morning and evening walks. Hopes this helps.

January 6

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