How to Repair Nerve Damage From Chemotherapy
The nerves carry electrical signals from the brain to different areas of the body. During chemotherapy, nerves can become damaged and disrupt the nerve paths within the body. Broken nerve paths trigger short or long-term pain and loss of feeling in the extremities. This condition, also called chemotherapy neuropathy, can be reversible or irreversible. Neuropathy can occur in any area of the body; however, neuropathy in the legs and arms is most common.
- Inform your healthcare team of any changes or new pain that develops in the extremities. Symptoms include shooting or stabbing pain that comes and goes, burning or tingling sensation, loss of sensation, balance issues, muscle weakness or atrophy and decrease in reflexes.
- Identify the type of chemotherapy you are taking. Platinum drugs, taxanes, epothilones, plant alkaloids, thalidomide, lenalidomide and bortezomib have links to chemotherapy neuropathy. Your doctor may decide to delay or reduce you treatment until symptoms subside and before irreversible nerve damage occurs.
- Consult a neurologist to establish the extent of your nerve damage and different treatment options. Some forms of nerve damage are reversible, others are not. Treatment for irreversible neuropathy focuses on relieving painful symptoms.
- Take prescribed medications to relieve the pain associated with nerve damage. Pain relief options include steroids, numbing patches or creams, antidepressant medications, anticonvulsant medications, narcotics and opioids.
- Improve range-of-motion, muscle strength and flexibility with physical therapy and occupational therapy. Occupational therapy teaches you new ways of doing common tasks to prevent pain and further damage.
- Consider electrical nerve stimulation, acupuncture to reduce pain, and try to reestablish proper nerve pathway communication. Biofeedback therapy, yoga, meditation, relaxation therapy and guided imagery techniques can help you gain a sense of control over the condition and control pain.
- Ask your doctor about taking vitamin E to protect nerves from damage during chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel. Calcium and magnesium infusions before and after oxaliplatin chemotherapy have reduced chemotherapy neuropathy in some patients.