Finished Folfox but Peripheral Nueropathy is Getting Worse

[testing765]

Hi. I finished my last folfox treatment this Wednesday, 3/25/15. Peripheral neuropathy was not bad during treatment. After round 9, the oncologist stopped the oxaliplatin because I had begun to feel numbness (not tingly) in two fingertips. Well, now that the folfox is complete, the peripheral neuropathy is getting bad. All of my finger tips have a stinging sensation to them, almost like I was sitting on them for a long time or something. And I am starting to feel the neuropathy in my feet too.

Is there anything I can do to minimize this neuropathy? I understand that there may be medications to treat it, but that they can have there own side effects.

Did anyone get through folfox without neuropathy, and then when you were finished with the treatment, the neuropathy kicked in? What did you do?

[Nickmark59]

I wear real sheep skin slippers around house with bare feet which helps with neurpathy on the feet

[TracieLynn]

Early in my treatment now, but a friend with pancreatic cancer on hard core chemo recommended Acupuncture and said it helped her alot. Planning to try it and get ahead of it if it helps!

[midlifemom]

I found temporary relief in my feet with foot massages - hey, just in time for blue manicure/pedicure day tomorrow!
Sorry, that's all I've got. My neuropathy is about 90% resolved on its own.

[mstults]

My neuropathy worsened for a few weeks after finishing and has not improved. It has been almost 3 years so I'm reconciled to the fact that is won't get better. I find it hard to walk very far. I take Neurontin and that helps with the shooting pains but the soreness and numb feeling never changes. Hope yours improves soon.

[orcasres]

My acupuncturist says that he treats a number of folks with neuropathy from cancer treatments. He considers his success rate in giving them relief about 50/50. I used him for back and piriformis problems along with my physical therapist and I was very happy with the results. My neuropathy has never completely gone away but I never got treated for that.

[Delinda2]

Mine started from thr ankles down with my last two rounds of FOLFOX. Then a few weeks after finishing my fingertips started. I have to keep my feet very warm & when it gets bad, I rub them with bag balm. That seems to help for a few days - not gone but better.

[LB10]

My neuropathy started 2 months after chemo ended. Mild in my finger tips but pretty significant in my calves and feet. I am now 8 months out from chemo and am happy to say I feel slight improvement. My onc says there is a 10% chance of it being permanent. Those are pretty good odds, so hang in there.

[Jenjb]

My neuropathy got really bad after I finished my 8 rounds of folfox. It seems to have peaked at around 4 months after chemo and now is getting better. It definitely is worse with cold weather and seems to be in the morning. It is really bad in the tips of my fingers and in my feet/calves. I have heard that it continues to improve - but that at a year after treatment, what you still have is what you have for the rest of your life. But hey - it beats cancer!!

[Kick'nAssCancer'sAss]

I finished 8 rounds of FOLFOX in July and still have the neuropathy. It is not painful but more of a nuisance right now. I won't take any meds because I have heard of bad side effects. I have also been told that generally what you have a year out from treatment most likely you will live with. It affects my skating and balance but does not interfere with my life. In the big picture though it is a small price to pay to beat cancer.