Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN) is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatments. It is a type of peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage that occurs in the hands and feet due to chemotherapy drugs. Though it can be very uncomfortable for patients, there are many treatments available to relieve the symptoms.

The nerves in the hands and feet respond to the powerful drugs used to treat cancer by becoming inflamed or damaged. This leads to sensations like burning, tingling, numbness, or pain in the affected areas. The severity of CIN depends on the type of chemotherapy being used and the length of time it has been administered. It can also be affected by other factors such as age and the overall health status of the patient.

• pain in the hands and feet
• burning sensations 
• numbness 
• tingling 
• muscle weakness
• difficulty walking or standing up straight
• difficulty picking up objects with your fingers 
• loss of balance or coordination when walking or standing up straight 
• cramps in your legs or arms when exercising or sleeping
• changes in skin temperature sensitivity (hotter/colder than usual)
• changes in taste sensation (saltier/sweeter than usual)
• difficulty sleeping due to restless leg syndrome (RLS) 
• increased anxiety and depression due to chronic pain

Currently, conventional medicine has no cure for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
The extremely powerful side effects from chemotherapy can create many chronic symptoms like neuropathy. Traditional therapy typically includes managing pain by taking over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen (harmful to the liver and gut lining) or using topical creams such as capsaicin cream. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe anti-seizure medications, antidepressants, or analgesics including opiate drugs which have unwanted side effects.

Sadly, patients who are trying to recoup from their cancer treatment can feel overwhelmed by additional neuropathic pain and the burden of additional medication, hampering their body’s natural ability to heal and further impacting their emotional well-being.

Often they are told that they just “have to live with it” as fallout from the cancer treatment and “they have to stay on the meds” if they hope to manage the pain.

Fortunately, there's a clear path toward resolving chemotherapy-induced neuropathy naturally when you have the right guide by your side!

When it comes to chemotherapy induced neuropathy, it’s important to work with a practitioner trained in functional neurology who can examine all the ways to help you rebuild your body after chemo so that it can recalibrate and heal naturally. 

When treating chemotherapy induced neuropathy, our goal is to reawaken the nerves while replenishing the whole body. This usually includes identifying missing nutrients and powerful antioxidants that are the springboard for tissue and blood vessel regrowth.

In order to determine the correct treatment plan and properly treat each individual and specific case, Dr. Anderson conducts an in-depth evaluation in three ways: structurally, neurologically and metabolically. These three aspects of a patient’s body help determine exactly what is happening and provide necessary information to determine the proper treatment for each specific case.

All bodily functions are controlled by the nervous system:

• The brain and spine make up the central nervous system where information is sent and received. 
• The peripheral nervous system takes this information and sends it out to the rest of the body. 
• Any interference, issues with damage from chemotherapy and stress within the nervous system can cause serious health issues. Understanding exactly where the message to the brain is malfunctioning helps determine how to correct it.

At Premier Health of Summit, our team takes a holistic approach to any chronic disorder – including chemo-induced neuropathy. In fact, it’s less about managing symptoms and more about investigating the underlying “WHY”.

That’s why it is important to have a metabolic workup to check blood chemistry. 

It will indicate if there are nutritional deficiencies, blood sugar problems, anemia, adrenal issues, and many other metabolic imbalances. Knowing your blood chemistry helps facilitate effective nutritional changes that can be sustainable and encourage proper body functions. 

Once we do the correct testing, we craft a precise treatment plan unique to your needs that includes all the elements you need to finally leave your peripheral neuropathy behind and you may even experience a complete reversal.

So if you’re ready to explore how to approach peripheral neuropathy, then claim your free 10-minute phone consultation with Dr. Brian Anderson to help you map out an effective, technologically-advanced treatment strategy…

• without mind-altering pain medications
• without surgery
• without injections.

We’ll explore your desired treatment goals and review what’s expected and whether our functional neurology approach to peripheral neuropathy is right for you.

We offer these short phone consults for FREE so you can get more clarity & confidence on how to reverse your peripheral neuropathy before it’s too late.

We believe you can't make new decisions without new information, so this phone consult is your chance for a personalized assessment.

Click here to claim your free phone consultation or call our office at 908.913.7508 to schedule.