Cancer itself is a big challenge. Its treatment gives rise to even greater challenges, such as neuropathy. It is a condition where you feel pins and needles in your hands and feet. Therefore, people often ask, “How to reverse neuropathy from chemo?” You cannot cure it. However, you can cope with its symptoms.
How Does Neuropathy from Chemo Occur?
Some chemotherapy drugs, like Taxol, Abraxane, Taxotere, and Carboplatin, can cause damage to the peripheral nerves when people have prolonged or high-dose exposure. Peripheral nerves are the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, such as in the arms, legs, and stomach.
It’s very common for people undergoing cancer treatment to develop peripheral neuropathy. Up to 30% of all cancer patients will develop some form of this condition. Nearly 60% of patients receiving neurotoxic drugs (like taxanes and platinum-based drugs) will experience it.
Is It Possible to Reverse Neuropathy from Chemo?
Unfortunately, there is no definite cure or treatment to fix nerve damage. In most cases, chemo-induced neuropathy will go away on its own. It depends on the dose, but usually, the symptoms will fade over time. Sometimes, it takes a few months after treatment for the symptoms to disappear.
Symptoms of Chemo-Induced Neuropathy
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet are the main symptoms of neuropathy. Some people also have weakness and struggle to hold small objects. These symptoms can be severe and greatly affect a person’s quality of life. Common symptoms include:
- Pain in the hands and feet
- Tingling or burning in the hands and feet
- Shooting or electrical sensations in the hands, feet, or legs
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty picking up objects
- Trouble with tasks that need fine motor skills, like buttoning a shirt
- Very cold or hot hands or feet
- Loss of balance
- Painful or difficult urination
- Constipation
Medical Treatments to Manage Neuropathy from Chemo
Chemo-induced neuropathy can’t be reversed. However, the symptoms can become less bothersome. A pain management specialist can offer the following treatments:
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Medications
Pain management specialists have expertise in interventional procedures and medications. Therefore, they can prescribe various medications to help control the pain from chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN):
- Antidepressants like duloxetine (Cymbalta), which increases neurotransmitters to interrupt pain signals.
- Anti-seizure medications Like Lyrica and Neurontin.
- NSAIDs like Celebrex.
- Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil.
These medications are often used together to manage CIPN symptoms.
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Interventional Treatments
Pain management specialists can give targeted injections or nerve blocks to provide temporary relief from neuropathic pain. Sometimes, they may also use procedures like spinal cord stimulation to help control chronic CIPN pain.
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Multimodal Approach
Pain management specialists use a comprehensive approach, combining medications, interventional treatments, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other complementary therapies. This multidisciplinary strategy is important since no single treatment can fully reverse the nerve damage causing CIPN.
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Monitoring and Adjusting Treatment
Continuous monitoring and adjustment of the treatment plan is crucial. This is because CIPN symptoms can be unpredictable and vary over time.
Wrapping Up
The concern of “How to reverse neuropathy from chemotherapy?” is often overlooked. Doctors might not ask about neuropathy because it isn’t life-threatening. Patients often don’t mention it because neuropathy is hard to describe. However, one must seek comfort in this situation.
Visit Dr. Raza Jafri at Genesis Pain Clinic. Our board-certified pain management specialists help countless patients live a pain-free and fulfilling life. Dial (913) 871-9888 for an appointment.