Neuropathy improvement: individual experience

[NHMike]

I have a question for FOLFOX veterans. I will start on FOLFOX soon. An oncologist at the hospital (not my local oncologist) suggested that I wear tight chilled gloves and socks during infusions. I guess to cut down circulation to those areas while the poison is strongest. Did anyone try that? Given the cold sensitivity people get, is it going to be possible?

Thanks for any advice.

It's in your bloodstream so I would think that it would circulate. I guess that his hypothesis is that it some gets deposited in areas. I think that I'd ask him for research on this. Just remember that cancer cells can go through the bloodstream too.

[Siti]

Sounds logical cause the half life of oxaliplatin is pretty short and this would reduce the reach to hands and feet. I read somewhere in the forum that sucking on ice chips helps too.

My husband gets his infusion through the arm and almost immediately has sensitivity to the cold. So I’m not sure if chilled gloves and socks are feasible — my husband puts on a heat pack on the arm to reduce the pain.

Anyway, I think no harm trying, tell us how it goes

[crikklekay]

My husband's last treatment was August last year, and our doctor recommended adding B Complex to his daily meds regimen at home to help with the neuropathy. She warned us that it could take years to see improvement but not to lose hope. I know it seems trivial, but recently his feet have become ticklish again! Before he couldn't really feel much sensation except for the electric jolt or tingling so I feel like it's an improvement.

Just wondering if you had an update about how you think the B Complex affected the neuropathy?

Sorry! I didn't get the notification for some reason and as checking the board can make me a little anxious I don't log on very often. Actually he's doing better! He says there is still a vague tingly feeling in his feet and the tips of his fingers but he does have feeling. It's just a constant background sensation that he has gotten used to. He still takes the B Complex, it can't hurt and hopefully it will continue to help.