Neuropathy

Big problem! Many patients who have been treated for cancer are left with some degree of neuropathy if they received a taxane or other neurotoxic chemo. I have a couple of suggestions. Acupuncture is a good treatment for neuropathy. It has only been looked at in a very small group of cancer patients but it works for other causes of neuropathy. No offense to your acupuncturist intended, but another acupuncturist may approach it slightly differently. So before you give up on that, try another practitioner at least once a week for 10 treatments before you throw in the towel. The other recommendation I have is for alpha lipoic acid 600mg per day. This should not be used while you are still getting chemotherapy or radiation since it is a potent anti-oxidant and will interfere with those therapies. Other suggestions are those therapies that are good for pain in general including guided imagery, massage, and hypnotherapy. Good luck! Big problem! Many patients who have been treated for cancer are left with some degree of neuropathy if they received a taxane or other neurotoxic chemo. I have a couple of suggestions. Acupuncture is a good treatment for neuropathy. It has only been looked at in a very small group of cancer patients but it works for other causes of neuropathy. No offense to your acupuncturist intended, but another acupuncturist may approach it slightly differently. So before you give up on that, try another practitioner at least once a week for 10 treatments before you throw in the towel. The other recommendation I have is for alpha lipoic acid 600mg per day. This should not be used while you are still getting chemotherapy or radiation since it is a potent anti-oxidant and will interfere with those therapies. Other suggestions are those therapies that are good for pain in general including guided imagery, massage, and hypnotherapy. Good luck!

Acupunture may help with this. Also alpha lipoic acid has been tested with diabetic neuropathy and offers some gains.

Our site has a big section on neuropathy with some ideas. Try searching for it under www.annieappleseedproject.org Acupunture may help with this. Also alpha lipoic acid has been tested with diabetic neuropathy and offers some gains.

Our site has a big section on neuropathy with some ideas. Try searching for it under www.annieappleseedproject.org

When my neuropathy began I told my Oncologist right away and she sent me to a Neurologist who did blood tests and other tests and a neuro-exam to make sure what I was having was related to the chemo that I had and that is was neuropathy. Symptoms of neuropathy include:
- pain, tingling, burning, numbness, loss of touch, and change in sensitivity to temperature in fingers, toes, arms, hands, legs, or feet
- constipation
- balance problems, difficulty walking, and weakness
- hearing loss
- jaw pain

People may begin to notice tingling and numbness in their fingertips and toes. The feelings gradually move to the hands and feet and the rest of the body. The bowels may also be affected resulting in constipation

If you suspect neuropathy please consult your physician and share your symptoms.

Here are some suggestions for dealing with neuropathy:
- Because of the side effect of loss of feeling, patients are prone to accidents and should be extra careful when cooking, in slippery areas, and in dark places.
- Keep the area with the symptoms warm and avoid extreme temperatures
- Good skin care and watch for cuts and burns
- Massage and physical therapy
- Make sure your diet includes the essential vitamins and minerals
- Stop smoking and exercise to improve circulation
- Moderate your alcohol intake Here are some suggestions for dealing with neuropathy:
- Because of the side effect of loss of feeling, patients are prone to accidents and should be extra careful when cooking, in slippery areas, and in dark places.
- Keep the area with the symptoms warm and avoid extreme temperatures
- Good skin care and watch for cuts and burns
- Massage and physical therapy
- Make sure your diet includes the essential vitamins and minerals
- Stop smoking and exercise to improve circulation
- Moderate your alcohol intake

When a physician treats neuropathy caused by cancer treatments, they treat the pain symptoms as well as prevention from worsening.

Pain relief options include:
- Over the counter - pain patches, topical creams, tylenol, etc.
- Prescription medications that might be effective are anti-seizure medications, lidocaine patch, and anti-depressants

Potential options to prevent the neuropathy from worsening are:
- If the medications are the cause, switching chemotherapy medications or dosage may be considered
- If a tumor is causing the problem, the tumor may be treated When a physician treats neuropathy caused by cancer treatments, they treat the pain symptoms as well as prevention from worsening.

Pain relief options include:
- Over the counter - pain patches, topical creams, tylenol, etc.
- Prescription medications that might be effective are anti-seizure medications, lidocaine patch, and anti-depressants

Potential options to prevent the neuropathy from worsening are:
- If the medications are the cause, switching chemotherapy medications or dosage may be considered
- If a tumor is causing the problem, the tumor may be treated

Neuropathy can be caused by the following treatments for breast cancer:
- certain chemotherapy medications - toxins from the treatments damage the nerves
- radiation therapy - radiation damages the nerves Neuropathy can be caused by the following treatments for breast cancer:
- certain chemotherapy medications - toxins from the treatments damage the nerves
- radiation therapy - radiation damages the nerves

Neuropathy is damage to your peripheral nervous system, which may effect the skin, internal organs, or muscles.

For cancer patients, chemotherapy treatments may result in neuropathy. The symptoms, if they appear, usually increase gradually and may worsen as chemotherapy treatments continue. The symptoms may be the worst months after the treatments are completed. Neuropathy may be permanent, either the symptoms stay constant or diminish in severity, or eventually disappear. It may take months for the symptoms to resolve.

If the skin is affected, the symptoms are tingling, numbness, burning, sensitivity to touch, or freezing. People may notice these feelings in their fingertips and toes. The feelings gradually move to the hands and feet and the rest of the body.

If the internal organs are affected, the symptoms are constipation, bladder problems, dizzyness, or sexual dysfunction.

If the muscles are affected, the symptoms are weakness, cramping, spasms, and balance. Neuropathy is damage to your peripheral nervous system, which may effect the skin, internal organs, or muscles.

For cancer patients, chemotherapy treatments may result in neuropathy. The symptoms, if they appear, usually increase gradually and may worsen as chemotherapy treatments continue. The symptoms may be the worst months after the treatments are completed. Neuropathy may be permanent, either the symptoms stay constant or diminish in severity, or eventually disappear. It may take months for the symptoms to resolve.

If the skin is affected, the symptoms are tingling, numbness, burning, sensitivity to touch, or freezing. People may notice these feelings in their fingertips and toes. The feelings gradually move to the hands and feet and the rest of the body.

If the internal organs are affected, the symptoms are constipation, bladder problems, dizzyness, or sexual dysfunction.

If the muscles are affected, the symptoms are weakness, cramping, spasms, and balance.