Is Icing Hands and Feet Necessary for Neuropathy Treatment?

I religiously put hands and feet in ice with brief breaks during my hour of Taxol, towel in between skin and ice, and last chemo this week with NO neuropathy! Yay ! Started with mittens and footies, not cold enough to work and don’t stay in place.

Putting socks over your hands and feet help keep you a bit more comfortable. Your MO will likely have orders for icing put in for you so the nurses have everything ready for you and help. It is supposed to help a lot in keeping neuropathy risk down so I figure I can be uncomfortable for an hour or so if it means I can avoid it.

I iced my hands and feet in an effort to minimize the chance of neuropathy. I still ended up with some numbness on my toes but my advice is to do anything you can to prevent it!

I didn't know about the option of icing hands and feet at the time. My chemo ended Dec 2020. They reduced my last chemo dose as a result. Unfortunately, I still have neuropathy in 3 toes on my left foot.

Ask about bringing a small electric blanket to keep you warm. Also, during my chemo treatment, the nurses always offered warm blankets and when the cool off, just ask for another. They want to make you comfortable. You can do this!

Neuropathy symptoms can be really challenging to manage, especially when cold sensitivity makes everyday activities uncomfortable. The relationship between temperature and nerve pain varies from person to person, so what works for one patient might not work for another. This is definitely something worth discussing with your oncology team, as they can provide guidance based on your specific treatment plan and symptoms. Many others in this community have navigated similar concerns with neuropathy management - hopefully some will share their experiences and what approaches have helped them find relief.