Nerve pain post chemo

Hi , I’m a 23 year old female . I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 21, did 12 chemotherapy’s in 6 months and finished last February. From last February (2024) until October (2024) I was doing well. Suddenly in October I started having nerve pain.. it’s in my hands and feet. It’s a burning painful sensation. Feels scary. My doctor said it couldn’t be a side effect of the Vinblastine drug and prescribed gabapentin for it. I’m on a low dose so I think that’s why it’s not helping. Feels like it’s getting worse and flares up at night . Wondering if anyone else experienced this and if it went away because it’s making me super anxious . 

thank you!

Comments

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 929 Member

    It seems like almost everyone I know who has had chemo for lymphoma suffers in some degree from neuropathy. Though it has been a few years since my last chemo, I sometimes suffer from neuropathy, especially at night and mostly in my feet. It has eased over the years but still on some nights it may keep me awake. Last night for example I felt it in my feet as soon as I got into bed. I took a 300 mg Gabapentin which enabled me to sleep well for 7 hours. I wish you well and in my non-professional opinion think you should request a stronger prescription for Gabapentin as a possible aid. It should also improve on its own with time. Best of luck.

  • tom1953
    tom1953 Member Posts: 3 Member

    Hi Sara….

    I am a 71 year old male, finished chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma just over a year ago. I had neuropathy in the hands and feet. While dealing with it in the fingers, I could barely manage buttoning my shirts. Exercise was the key to getting relief. I used hand grippers for a couple months. I had physical therapy for issues not related to the neuropathy and that helped with the foot pain. You may just need to keep working with the joints. Very best of luck.

  • po18guy
    po18guy Member Posts: 1,514 Member

    Sorry to hear of this. After doing a bit of research, I decided to take R-Alpha Lipoic acid capsules. Relatively affordable and I noted a reduction in neuropathic pain in my feet. I started at a low dose and have remained there. It is approved in Germany to address diabetic neuropathy. US authorities are undecided, but it is a natural substance that our bodies can synthesize.