Nerve pain post chemo

sarahlillly963
sarahlillly963 Member Posts: 2 Member
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1

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: 931 Member
    #2

    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
    #3
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/328957/nerve-pain-post-chemo

    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: 1,518 Member
    #4

    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.

  • ryanfler
    ryanfler Member Posts: 3 Member
    #5

    I am new here and suffered from neuropathy from not only my cancer treatments but also from a failed back surgery. Gabapentin is a very effective medicine. I’m currently taking 100mg 3x daily. There are also antidepressants that can help with nerve pain that you can ask your doctor about that are very effective and have less side-effects than gabapentin in my experience. The best treatment for neuropathy is physical therapy and swimming. I also recommend to start a some type mobility therapy like yoga, tai-chi or meditation. I was very very skeptical at first. But after about 4 weeks I was amazed at my progress and I had nearly stopped all of medications for about 6 months until I had another hospitalization and had to start all over. YouTube is a great place and resource to start.

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 931 Member
    #6

    What side effects did you experience with gabapentin?

  • sarahlillly963
    sarahlillly963 Member Posts: 2 Member
    #7
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1721284#Comment_1721284

    I stopped taking it not because of side effects but because they switched me to another med that they think can help more(cymbalta). Gabapentin I think is a good option but I was taking a very low dose and didn’t see results

  • ShadyGuy
    ShadyGuy Member Posts: 931 Member
    #8

    Very glad to hear you found something that helps! It should improve with time. I was at my Doc yesterday. He said that its ok to take up to 900-1200 mg of Gabapentin per day if needed. 300 mg at bedtime as needed seems to work for me. I do not like the idea of antidepressants like Duloxetine (cymbalta) because of side effects. But like you I would take it if Gabapentin did not work for me.

    Ryanfler did you have any side effects from Gabapentin? Just interested so I will know what side effects to watch for.

    BEST OF LUCK EVERYONE!

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