I have Neuropathy in my feet and fingertips as a side-effect of chemo. I ran into a friend last night who is a nurse. She says it’s usually permanent. I haven’t been able to see my oncologist lately because my husband became unemployed and we lost our insurance, so I haven’t been able to ask a doctor. I’m only 36 and don’t want my feet and fingers to have this condition forever. Any advice would help. I only went thru 6 chemo treatments and have been in remission since April. If it is perminant, please tell me how to sooth this condition because sometimes it wake me up at night.
Well they told me that is usually is reversible, but mine is hanging on and I am a few years post chemo. However it has gotten better. You can expect improvement in your hands before your feet. Nerves do regenerate to some degree, but it is slow. Some think vitamin B12 helps. There are drugs that help some people, but they are not to be used lightly.
These are the things I do that seem to help.
1. I try to keep my hands and feet warm
2. Comfortable socks and shoes – stylish high heeled shoes are part of my past.
3. In the winter I use a heating pad for my feet. Be careful here, you want one with an automatic off and don’t set it too high.
4. Those capsicum lotions work for some – it is a pepper extract. The Body Shop has a peppermint foot rub which is nice too. There are also oatmeal foot soaks that are nice and relaxing.
5. If your feet are particularly sensitive, rig up some sort of tent so the blankets don’t touch them at night.
Good luck. It might not totally resolve but it may well improve a bit.
The condition is permanent. The damage cannot be reversed, but there are medications that can help with the symptoms. Neurontin is a very good one that comes in generic and is very safe. Lyrica is another, but it is expensive and not yet available in generic.
I have seen stories of people that got relief with the use of capsaicin therapy. One guy said after the therapy he regretted it for three days cuz his feet burned so bad. But on day four the burning subside and he was able to actually go out running. Check it out you may get some help.http://www.canceradvocacy.org/resources/treatment-issues/side-effects/neuropathy.html
The only treatment that I’ve found works for neuropathy caused by chemotherapy is Neuremedy, a supplement that is a bioactive form of
thiamine (vitamin B1). Although it doesn’t help everyone (nothing does) I’ve had many patients get great relief. Give it a 2 month trial. If it’s helping, keep taking it. If not, stop. Neuremedy can be purchased online at http://www.buyneuremedy.com