Physical Therapy for Peripheral Neuropathy

I had 36 sessions of acupunture for neuropathy in my hands and feet. My oncologist had me start before I was finished with my chemo and then continue after it was over. I found it vital to controling the numbness. I also walked and on rainy days, used a treadmill. I didn't go very fast at first as I was tired from the chemo and my balance was a bit off from the numbness in my feet, but just being up and moving helped. I didn't do PT because the acupunture and walking seemed to control it pretty well. Although I have been left with a small bit of numbness in the very ends of my fingers, the tips of my toes and the balls of my feet. I can deal with it, I just don't plan on wearing heels anytime soon, but with good supportive walking shoes was able to climb Siamond Head in Hawaii. If I miss a couple of days walking, I find the numbness increases. So movement and being active really does help. I also used a warm foot massager for a few minutes morning and night. It also seemed to wake things up a bit. Not sure any of this will help anyone, but thought I would share my experience.

Blessings,

MAlice

It´s 4 years now since my last chemo and my neuropathy got very bad just before I got out of chemo.  At first I did not want anything because my doctor told me that this pain would go away after 3 - 6 weeks.  Well after about 6 MONTHS I almost got crazy out of the pain but I did not have anything to ease it until almost 2 years later and then I had Qutenza patches, it´s made out of chili pepper.  I had to have help from the hospital every 12 weeks to put the patches on my feet.  At last I gave up on this, it did not give me a good results and I had proplem with the hospital, the did not have any space for me to do this, they asked me if I could have it done somewhere else.  I was hoping for more support from them, this was all so
difficult so I could not try this any longer and gave up and talked to my doctor about a diffrent patches that I had been reading about.  It´s morphine, Fentanyl, at first I had 25mcg but that did not do enough for me, then I had 50mcg and have been on that since November and I feel that I have some of my life back, at last.  I use some extra medicine for break thru pain.  I had been thinking about that I lost so much of my quality of life that I was sinking into a depression, I was not ready to use some serious medicine like morphine but after living like this for so long I had to think all of this over, I had to think about what I want from this life and yes I need to have one more day that I can feel joy, not constantly in pain.  And now I sometimes feel joy and can forget the horrible neuropathy pain, with out the morphine I could not do it.  So, I´m glad I found my way to enjoy some of my life again.   

I hope you all will find what will help you, it´s so important not to just sit and wait for the pain to go away, I just sat here for more than two years and that is too much if you can find something that can help you to get up!

MAliceR said:

Foot Massager

I bought a regular foot massager at Bed, Bath and Beyond. It was about $40 if I remember correctly. It massaged and heated. I used it a couple times a day and found it really helped. Along with the acupunture. I was at the Dr earlier in the week and passed all the neuroptathy feeling tests with flying colors. For me it is vitally important to walk and stay miving. If I get lazy, the numbing begins to build again. 

Good luck! I hope you are successful in finding something that works for you.

MAlice

Since you mentioned it helped, I may get one today. Not to far from Bed, Bath and Beyond.   Bought comb, brushes, insoles as suggested and a pair of sandals with the little nubs on them.   Was also thinking perhaps the parafin therabaths.  Session 5 is tomorrow and want to get out ahead of this. 

It is interesting what you mentioned about moving.  For some reason the first week or so this round I had something opposite, which threw me off.  If I started walking around it went to my feet and a bit of my hands.  Maybe I did not give it enough time.  Was a bit of a bummer, because the doctor has exercise as something I should be doing as much as possible. Maybe this time will be better, but I m still trying to see if there is any pattern so far for me, other than being tired building up and last longer (another 20 hours or so of sleep in the last 24 and next hook up tomorrow) and the cold drink syndrome lasting.

John212 said:

Yowza!

What's it like to walk with your whole body weight on those nubs? Looks kind of painful. That can't be the case, though, right?

The other pair I misplaced (different brand) did take some getting used to.

These are fine and comfortable. I figured for the price it was worth a flyer.  Right now I have a pair of socks on with them (old pair and really not much too them), and will try without sox (better fashion statement I think that way ) at some poiint.    

A couple of times I got up and walked, felt tingling, put these on and they helped quickly.  I am now wearing them, whenever I remember, when walking around the house.  I take them off when lying on the couch.  But right now I am front of computer doing some work and have them on. Periodically rub feet and toes over them, guess a variation of the brush and other items you mentioned.  No numbness or tingling.  The last session my feet hit immediately and hard.  This time is it really okay.  I had a bit of nausea yesterday so they gave me some Ativan, perhaps that is also helping somehow in the overall scheme.   Guess I will see more as the days progress. This is a good cycle for me now - on of the two 17 day ones because of Memorial Day.  Looking forward to the bonus good days

I have had a weird thing overall - when I move the tingling and numbness is worse, which seems backwards.  But this round is easier.