Ice gloves/ mittens to prevent neuropathy and nail damage?

Hi

I can’t recommend anything but bear in mind if you aren’t having a pic line or port your cannula will need to go in the back of your hand (where possible) so gloves may not be easy to use? It is also warm in the chemo unit so not sure how cold things wI’ll stay for? I had the weekly paclitaxel and was in the unit for treatment average of two hours, longer with waiting around (6 hours my worst day) 
I do sympathise though as all my fingernails went black and became infected , and six months after the end of treatment my toenails fell off, these bothered me more than losing my hair …. I suffered a bit with neuropathy but nothing too bad.

Jo x

Hi,

I used a very large ice pack that is used for post surgery swelling on my feet and freezer picnic ice packs for my hands.Use gloves and socks to stop freezer burn.I have had no neuropathy problems.

I used Polybalm for my nails,great stuff never lost them at all.

Good luck,

   Yvie

I used the socks with cold packs in them,  but there was nothing for  my hand.. So, I used a cool bag and ice packs inside.  I zipped it as shut as possible, but I could just slip my hands in and out easily.  I used evonsil (like polybalm) too. I did start dropping things after my 6th Paclitaxel though,  but my feet and hands are fine.  The cool pack in the socks started to thaw, so also packed extra small ice packs, though I cold capped which meant a longer  time in chemo.

I can imagine how difficult it must be for you. Regarding the ice therapy slippers, I have never used them myself, but I have heard from my friend that they work wonders in preventing neuropathy. She used them during her chemo sessions, and she said it helped her a lot. So, it might be worth giving them a try. As for the gloves, I can understand your concern about them staying cold for only 20 minutes. I use gloves for work too, and I get them from harmonycr.com/.../. They have a great range of gloves, and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for.

I held a frozen hot water bottle (I filled it with water, and took it out of the freezer when I walked to my mobile chemo bus. It lasted about an hour and a quarter, which was enough for Docetaxal. The oncology staff put it in their freezer whilst giving me the steroids, going first saline flush etc. I didn’t have nail problems or peripheral neuropathy. 

You can always take a freezer bags with spare icepacks and picnic blocks to keep them frozen.  I had minimal neuropathy from paclitaxel using ice blocks. You need about one freezer pack per hour. You have to tuck your thumb into your palm a little to make sure it also gets the benefit of the cold treatment. good luck with your chemo. Paclitaxel makes your nails sensitive to damage from sunlight, so nail strengthener and dark nail polish are a good idea. And lots of moisturiser to the nails beds each day, or polybalm.

Hiya Darbydoo,

I bought socks but never used them as seemed too much faff.

I was fine till 6th infusion of pax then got some mild neuropathy in my feet. They dropped the dose for me slightly and it never got worse. Physio thinks feeling will come back if I am patient and keep stimulating the area. Used a neuropathy oil with frankincense and myrrh in it.

1. polybalm is wonderful. Created by a British oncologist and has studies backing its use. No nail loss and I did have a couple cheeky spa days in there - hot tub threatened to lift them off but polybalm kept them on.

Ignore my formatting above. Typing quickly on my mobile between appointments and did that accidentally. Not sure how to turn off!