Acupuncture for peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet

Hi Squarebox I have a different cancer to you, I am a community champ for the lung cancer group, but I wanted to reply because I have had acupuncture for neuropathy that I have in my back after having radiotherapy. It did help me, I had half a dozen sessions, this was done at the hospice centre. It has improved the symptoms for me, although not 100% better. I would say it is definitely worth a go! It is a painless procedure, and you have nothing to lose but to try. 

Hello Squarebox, - I had Capox (Capecitabin and Oxalipatin) chemo following surgery for bowel cancer in 2023. Had a much reduced dose of both drugs for only six sessions because I have a DPD deficiency (important to know about this as a good % of people have this issue) and also because I developed acute peripheral neuropathy soon after the start of chemo. Possibly due to my DPD deficiency ??? . As Chellelimo,says, it is worth you trying a few sessions of acupuncture - it might help. I did and thought it helped slightly only. In my case my PN manifests with a very cold sensation, sometimes hot tingly and occasionally somewhat painful feet, lower legs mainly but also fingers and here and there to a lesser extent. 

You may like to see several previous posts I have made on the PN problem which can go away for some after a while or can last longer. Walk as much as possible, wear loose warm socks (incl loose light socks in bed) and loose fitting shoes and warm loose foot enveloping slippers.Depending on how severe your PN is, you may like to talk to your contact nurse etc for tips to try and alleviate. I find lying down occasionally for an hour or so does relieve a bit. A foot massager and warmer can help a bit. It may also be a matter of being active with this and that to distract the mind from PN. Currently I am taking a low dose of Vitamin B12 as I understand this may help, but suggest you speak to a clinician before you consider this. Hopefully you can access my previous posts where I have made one or two other suggestions. PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW HOW YOU GET ON AS i AM VER KEEN TO HEAR FROM OTHERS WITH ANY TIPS ON WHAT MIGHT HELP WITH ACUTE Peripheral Neuropathy. BTW, I was given the all-clear six weeks after scans following liver radiotherapy for a small tumour found in the liver. Cheers from Anbou.

Hi Chellesimo, Thank you for your response.  I will definitely give acupuncture a go.  It is so frustrating to keep dropping things and stumbling about on my feet!  Good luck with your ongoing treatment.  Best wishes Melanie

Hello Anbou, Thank you so much for your response.  So pleased to hear that you have been given the all clear following radiotherapy for the tumour in your liver. I will spend some time reading your other posts on PN.  I have been wearing socks night and day and trying to get out for a walk most days.  I have an electric throw and might invest in a foot massager and warmer.  I will let you know how I get on with acupuncture.  My Dr told me there is a drug Pregablin which might help but it has lots of side effects so I would rather try other routes to alleviate PN first.  Take care and thanks again.  Best wishes Melanie

Hi Squarebox, Many thanks for your reply and I look forward to exchanging our experiences (and hopefully progress) in dealing with the difficult issue of Peripheral Neuropathy. I recently had a couple of sessions of a professional massage of my feet and legs which I helped, albeit temporarily. I will try that again some time as well as pure reflexology. I often apply cream and massage my feet and lower legs myself which helps a little (E45 and occasionally Udderly Smooth cream are my preferred). I was recently prescribed a drug called Amitriptyline 10mg but am holding off starting until I have tried occasional B12 and this and that. Apparently reduced alcohol intake is adviseable which I try to practice. Btw, to give you a better idea about me - I am 80, quite mobile (walk a lot fast!) and otherwise reasonably fit. My PN is quite severe and seems to surge a bit all over now and then, more at night. I now want to turn my attention to diet with less and plainer generally to see if that can help. On my own scale of 0-10, I would rate my PN acuteness as ranging between 6-8.5 to give you an idea of my daily challenge!  Please do let me know where you might be on my scale guide and how you get on. I very much hope your PN is milder and will dissipate aqap. Best wishes  Andy.

I also have chemo-induced PN. I have not tried acupuncture but would love to hear how it goes for you. 

I'm on Gabapentin for the pain which isn't like opiod pain relievers. It does not make me groggy or anything like that. I actually haven't identified any side effects.  

That said, I'd still prefer a non-drug option. 

Hi Andy,

I'm about 6 on your scale but before they increased my Gabapentin dose in October, I'd have said it was a 10. So maybe I'm confusing acuteness with pain.

My feet are numb to the point that I cannot drive. My lower legs up to the knees and my hands are also effected but to a lesser extent than the feet. 

It does seem like activity helps because my feet are always at their worst when I first wake up in the morning. 

I do stretching exercises on my lower legs which also seems to help.

Nothing seems to help long-term. I really wish there were a way to cure it rather than just treat the symptoms.  

Hi All,

I developed CIPN adter bout 10 or 13 of folfox chemo and have requested that the Oxi chem be removed from the duel chemo that I have as CIPN can be a multiplier in response to levels of chemo.

Tingling/numbness hands and feet: sit on your sofa or  chair and raise your feet and circle them both ways whilst watching the tv etc...

Stand against a wall or chair , hold on and elevate up on the balls of your feel and then down and back on your heals , rock back and forth until your bored.

Balance on each foot side to side whilst holding on.

Massage your feet with hot/warm oils, advocaado or sweet almond or olive oil...use a baby bottle to warm the oil in and to pour by widening the teat on the bottle.

Hot baths and salts ....and again circling the feet. 

Look at your diet and supplements

Complimentary therapies aka acupuncture, foot massage, tapping and yoga with meditation or breathing techniques.

An Instagram post from a Harvard dietician Dr (shintari?) eat junk food and you get a junk body, that post has stayed with me.

Experiment with what works for you...we are masters of our bodies, cancer may remove some functions or our lives but just for now we all have choices and know our bodies better than anyone or disease ever will. Have fun exploring, massaging, tickling, heating, cooling, resting and exercising feet and hands, x

I am now off to try acupuncture after I have been to the gym.

Hi Squarebox 

My GP nor CSN don't offer acupunture referrals so i initially went privately and how have free access thro local hospice.

I've found reflexology and acupunture very helpful. My acupunture therapist focuses mainly on apply to my feet, hands and back.