Will My Chemo-Induced Neuropathy Improve?

During my chemo, the Dr gives my ice packs mitts for my feet and hands to help detour the neuropathy. I think Amazon sells them too. I wish you well.

Dear Joyce, so sorry you are going through this! I also have neuropathy from chemo. I take daily walks and feel like that helps my feet. I type on my computer and keep my fingers moving. I have tried various creams but I put Vicks vapo rub on my feet with socks at night and sometimes on my fingers and I feel like that helps me. I see that a company named Lune makes a cream that I'd like to try. I still feel numbness but it is not painful like it was in the beginning. I see that physical therapy can help. I have not talked to my doctors about that but that would be an option and of course it's always good to discuss treatments with the doctor.

I have this problem too. Physical therapy and infrared treatments in feet there help a bit but it is still here nearly 5 months after finishing chemo infusions. Has anyone had improvement after that point?

Thank you everyone for your advice and recommendations. I see my Oncologist next month and I will speak to her more about it and the possibility of getting physical therapy .

Soaking feet in cold water 20 mins per day. Ice relief

3-3-25: My last chemo was Dec 27, 2024 and my neuropothy feels like my toenails were ripped off and the skin is splitting open. My fingers aren’t as bad, just numbness and super sensitive to heat. We did a Parafin (?) wax which I believe will help My OT is going to try a tens unit in a sock (?) for my feet next week. I hope to keep you updated with proper name and effectiveness Best of luck to you

I’m 70 which increased the neuropathy in my feet after receiving Kadcyla one year ago. The neuropathy appears to be permanent

I’m er/pr + and her2+. Stage IV. Age 65. Chemo ended 4 years ago. Current meds are phesgo injection every 3 weeks, Zometa every 3 months and Letrozole daily. Neuropathy in toes and finger tips. Gets worse at night. Not really painful but it can be rather annoying and uncomfortable. Wearing shoes mutes it a bit for me. I’ve seen ads about socks with copper in them but haven’t tried it. I’ve concluded that discomfort will be a part of living with this disease. I’ll take some discomfort to the worst state of the opposite. GLTA.

Hi Joyce, I did 4 rounds of chemo finished august of last year (TC) the neuropathy. It’s been a while prescribed that same drug it made me so out of it! I think the neuropathy has gotten better! Do a cold shower and stay in their as long as I can. Cold water helps the hands and feet, massage, and movement swimming! Has helped me immensely. Swam all during my chemotherapy as many laps in the water as possible. Also helps with the fatigue! Walk through the fatigue even a few steps a day to help combat fatigue!

My neuropathy was caused by antibiotic. Green lazer treatment, red light therapy with vibrations help reduce it a lot. I take very hot Epson salt bath soaks now. Helps the whole body. Can brush the legs, feet, arms & legs. Roll the feet too.

I’m 71. My neuropathy is from chemo. I don’t feel my feet (and about halfway up my calves). Leg cramps that hit where the neuropathy starts (mid calf) are my alarm clock. It seems as though the morning leg pain is more intense after higher activity level days. It subsides quickly once I’m up and moving. I went through 12 weeks of chemo and neuropathy started after the 8th week. The numbness peaked around month 6 and it seems to be noticeably subsiding around month 9. It’s strange not to feel the floor beneath my feet. I have to look to make sure my shoes are still on, or that I’m standing on a flat surface. Driving is impossible as I can’t feel the pedals or the amount of pressure being put forth. Be careful to check your feet for cuts, infections, inflammation, etc.

Why don’t you try magnesium spray on your feet. Just try it, see if it will help.

I’ve been trying to find something to help my neuropathy. After having a terrible reaction to a med the tops of my feet swelled. I got compression socks and lo and behold I don’t notice the numbness at all. Can even feel my toes.

I did the ice gloves and booties during my 6 rounds of chemo before my surgery. I had a little tingling In fingertips and toes beginning after the 5th cycle. My last chemo was March 6 and it’s a lot worse now. My feet and ankles swell and the numbness creeps up my legs to mid-calf as the day progresses. Also burning in my feet and hands sensitive to both hot and cold. I feel unsteady when walking. Dr said try capsaicin but Vicks seems to give some relief at bedtime. Also offered gabepentin (sp) but took it after foot surgery years ago and side effects were unpleasant. I’m 74 and hoping it will improve. We’re very rural and I fear it will affect my future driving. I haven’t tried a magnesium cream but do take a magnesium supplement.

I finished chemo a year ago after developing neuropathy in both feet but more the left foot. Mine was caused by Kadcyla and I don’t think it is ever going away. If anything, it’s getting worse. But I’m 70

I keep seeing many women say acupuncture was what helped the most. I keep meaning to ask about it but forget when we get to talking about other aspects of treatment. I only have it in my feet, walking and yoga help a bot

After reading everyone’s comments, I’m extremely worried about neuropathy from chemo. I have multiple sclerosis and already have mild neuropathy that I’ve learned to live with over the past 20 years but I’m about to start 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin with 9 more months of Herceptin after the 12 weeks for stage 2A breast cancer. Does everyone have neuropathy pain from chemo?

Get a cream called (Mama Bear ) off the internet. They say it works wonders for neuropathy.

I had 6 rounds of Chemo. HER2+PR-Er-, 20 rounds of radiation-total of 18 rounds of Herceptin & Perjeta. I wore the ice mittens & boots with all chemo. Rounds on my oncologist advice. Fortunately, no sign of neuropathy. I’m 14 mos. Since my last chemo. round. Thank the Lord! Good luck to you. The mittens and boots are sold on Amazon reasonable.

Tens units can be purchased on Amazon. Also they have ones for feet.

I have some Neuropathy in middle.fingertips and toes. Did do the cooling during my thcp treatment. Doc told me to start vitamin b to help with nerve regrowth. Seems to be working but takes some time. Neuropathy started near end of chemo which was Aug 2024. Still taking the vitamin b and still slowly improving

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy can be challenging, and many community members have shared that recovery varies greatly from person to person - some see gradual improvement over months to years, while others find that certain symptoms may persist but become more manageable with time and treatment. Consider discussing other potential treatment options with your healthcare team, as there are various approaches beyond gabapentin that might help, and connecting with others here who have navigated similar experiences can provide valuable insights and support.