Is there any help out there for NEUROPATHY?
Question:
Answers:
That seems unusual that it has appeared so long after your treatment so much so that I would suspect that it may not be related and you should probably get some further checks. Perhaps go and see a Neurologist. If it was radiation induced neuropathy then it should slowly recover over time, as nerves do regenerate be it ever so slow (1mm per day). Fo what it's worth I am currently going through a Cisplatin induced periperal neuropathy which peaked at its worst probably around 4 months after completing my last course of chemo. It was quite distressing at the time as each week it was getting worse and worse with the numbness/tingling commencing at the toes and fingures and gradually working its way up until at its worst my arms and legs were numb, side of my face, loss of fine motor movement and balance! But it does get better over time. It is now almost 6-months since finishing chemo and there has been impovement as I am now able to type on the keyboard, write legibly (just a little) and the numbness is now just in my hands and feet. I am also able to handle cold items, which before I could not as it was shear agony and I don't get shooting pains which were also part of the problem. What did I do to overcome this? Well not much, I was initially taking a course of vitamin B6, B12 and multivitamin B supplements to supposedly assist in the nerve regeneration, but I only took these for a few weeks as they did not appear to be doing a great deal. In fact you need to be aware that B6 in high doses can in fact have the opposite effect and cause neuropathy! Basically I've maintained a healthy diet and underwent some rehab comprising of Occupational Therapy, Physical Eduaction and Phisio, along with regualr exercise (i.e walking). This all seemed to help and having someone massage hands and feet helps and feels great!
Hope this is of some help. I'm told that it will improve over time and in my case it has, but it appears that it does get worse before it gets better. Generally the symptomns peaked at around 3 - 5 months after the last session of chemo, before starting to improve. All the best.
No - but why not try vitamin B complex. That is one of the side effects they forget to mention and the nerves don't repair but the B vitamins help with nerves that do work.
You may be interested in the book "Waking the Warrior Goddess". You can read passages at Amazon.com to see if you are interested.
One time a woman, who had really bad neuropathy in her feet due to Type 1 diabetes, came into my store to buy some sublingual vitamin B-12. Her pain caused her to scream out in tears at night. She had even been taken to the emergency room by her parents due to the pain. (She lived with them, as she was unable to work due to her illness.)
She ended up buying 5,000 mcg tablets.
She took a tablet as she left the store. She came back later to tell me that her pain had left her by the time she had gotten to her parent's car. She said that at about 12 hours, some tingling would return until she took another tablet.
Another method that has been shown to work in studies, is capsaisin cream. Applied topically, it deadens the pain.
Thirdly, you might want to start taking evening primrose oil. Radiation has a negative catabolic effect on the body. Evening primrose oil has an anabolic effect which might help to correct the damage done by the prior radiation.
Radiation can also cause an abnormal "trienically conjugated fatty acid" which can lead to rancidity in the body. That is a serious outcome, as the rancidity gradually spreads. The oil might help to correct any rancidity.
If it were me, I'd follow the instructions on the bottle and then gradually double the dosage at least.
Good luck and be well.
Kelley
you might want to try neurontin (gabapentin) or lyrica (pregabalin)
both are good drugs for treating neuropathy.
Hi. Carla
I also have neuropathy and my chemo ended in Nov. of 2006.
My oncologist prescribed nurotten and B6, B12, and also an anti-depressant. Its been almost 8 months since chemo. and 2 months since radiation.. and 5 months since surgery. I don't really know if they can cure this my oncologist said that in 6 months it would be better and then he told me in a year sorry to say a year is almost up. I was told that one of the chemo drugs was the cause of neuropathy. Some days are worse some are better. Guess it depends on the person you know every ones effects are different. it just depends on the person and their system. Hope things get better for you. We just have to take one day at a time and keep on going. i just feel fortunate to sill be alive and happy to be able to keep going. Good luck! and take care. God Bless
More Questions & Answers...