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Speed up recovery of damaged nerves?

Page last modified on: October 16, 2008

Question from Cathy: My daughter has very painful tingling in all fingers and toes. Her last chemo was September 2006. Lately she's fallen down a few times as her feet were "dead." Anything you can suggest to speed up recovery of the nerves and/or relieve the pain? Does massage help the nerve endings?: Answers —Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D: The sensation of tingling and numbness in both the feet and hands as a result of chemotherapy is very common. Unfortunately, there are very few conventional treatments to help combat this problem. It is important, however, to make sure that your medical oncologist knows of this problem, and to make sure he/she knows the severity of this problem if it's actually interfering with balance and mobility. There are some complementary therapies that should be explored to help with peripheral neuropathy, as it's called—the sensation of tingling in the hands and feet. One that's being explored extensively is the use of acupuncture to help with this problem. You should be able to tell after a relatively short period of time whether it's going to relieve some of the sensations.

Reiki as well as light touch massage may also be useful, but there isn't a lot of evidence to suggest that these modalities will be useful, simply because there hasn't been the research conducted. We do know that over time the sensations should dissipate. On average, it can take up to a year or a year and a half before the tingling fully disappears. However, as mentioned at the beginning, it is very important that all conditions are discussed with your daughter's medical oncologist.; Beth DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Acupuncture has been very successful in my practice with these symptoms, and for those patients who have an aversion to needles after their extensive treatment, acupuncture treatments can be performed with sound and vibrational energy. So don't let a fear of needles prevent you from seeking acupuncture as a complementary modality.

On Wednesday, March 21, 2007, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Complementary Medicine Techniques. Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D. and moderator Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. answered your questions about different types of complementary techniques and how they can help during and after breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of Breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D. is an associate professor and director of the Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Cohen is conducting a number of studies to find out how complementary techniques such as meditation, stress management, emotional writing, yoga, and music therapy might be able to improve patients' quality of life during cancer treatment.

Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. the medical director of the Breast Health Program at Holy Redeemer Health System in Meadowbrook, PA.