Hello, I am a new member and have just been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy. I've had cancer twice, the second time being last year and after treatments were finished I continued to have problems like falling, knowing to walk one way but walking another way, numbness, intestinal problems. Finally Doc and I figured out it is PN from the Cancer treatments.
Doc told me to use a cane so doing that. Also do alot of wall walking, grabbing chair backs etc.,.

I am on Neurontin and Cymbalta. I've just ordered a book to see if I can try the tai chi as I cannot get down to physical therapy, too far to drive several times a week.

Thank you all for being here, nice forum

In researching PN is see information on the clinic in Cleveland and a neuro clinic in Denver, Co. Does anyone have any experience with either of these two medical centers? I

My husband ended up PN from chemo and drugs. We did alot with nutrients. If you spend some time reading the stickies, you'll find many natural protocols that may be helpful. For John R-lipoic acid, ALC and B vitamins were very helpful.

In the early stages, his pain level was 7-9. He's now down to about a 1 -2. He also used the Rebuilder, saw chiropractor and gets foot reflexology. All have been very helpful in healing.

PN from chemo &/or radiation is common.
My Aunt, who passed from CA, wound up with PN for the
last few years of her life.
I was never sure whether hers was more severe than mine,
as her fight was with CA and the PN problems seemed
farther down on her list of priorities.
She developed PN after many rounds of chemo, and 3 surgeries.
But we used to 'compare notes' on our PN symptoms.
She was on chemo up until just before the very last.
She just accepted the PN as part of the complex sx that were
affecting her, and unjustly interfering with her love of life.

Thank you all for your replies. After my second bout w/breast cancer last year I continued to have problems that were affecting my life in a big way and after scans, tests, research on my own we finally decided it was PN. I was so relieved to atleast have an answer and then could be treated for this problem. The complications were becoming very disturbing and I have been so sick. Falling and my brain not connecting to what I was doing this all scared me and then I had to decide not drive because I was doing things I shouldn't have been doing, that was very hard to do but I knew something was wrong and was going to push to find out.


Thanks again,

PN IS VERY common with many radiation and chemo therapies...even the follow up meds!
One thing to keep in mind is that you have a ocon who is really AWARE of how PN hurts and affects life quality you are likely to get medical treatments such as neurontin, lyrica and cymbalta. Docs who aren't aware usually just say 'side effect' ..live with it. I would LOOVE to have them 'live with it' for just a week and then see what their attitude is! Bet it would be much more 'receptive'.
OK Chemo Rads and F/U therapies are what fall into the 'toxic' neuropathy categories. That ideally means that once the 'toxin' is removed, nerve re-growth might occur under all the right circumstances. Not a guarantee tho, by any means.
In my own case the neuropathy[now diagnosed as an 'autoimmune' one] preceded the discovery of BC by 3 years. That does not eliminate the possiblity that the neuropathy was what is called 'paraneoplastic'. It's not provable tho as I am not a lab rat, and tests for potential cancers were not done for that initial first 3 years, simply because there seemed no reason to. Hindsight is wonderful, but it doesn't get you anywhere.
Luvbooks: You sound like you are on the rite track about exercise and stretching and working on balance and all. I had found w/the PN only that going to PT only once/twice a week WITH doc's instructions to develop a home program that you can keep up safely is key to getting the most out of PT and improving things. Maybe a short home program mite be workable? Worth a try to ask...nothing ventured, nothing gained....
Leslie: This is the resource to start looking for a good teaching hospital: http://www.usnews.com/directories/ho...e+/detail+less Do keep in mind that the neurology field is very large.... far larger than what even NeuroTalk covers; stroke, trauma and a whole slew of other issues not covered here. While Ideally, one would like to have a doc 'familiar' with PN...one familiar with MS or Multifocal muscular diseases can be astute in diagnosis and treatments as well, as they are familiar with demelyelination issues - a problem key with PN. There are many other exceptional institutions that are NOT on this or other lists. As a fact, I got my diagnosis from one of those that used to be on this list, but they'd [the US news folks] changed their 'criteria'. Humm, key staff hadn't changed since, I got a good and thorough work up and a valid diagnosis.
Luvbooks Back to the chemo thing? I've been on an AI for 2+ years, this winter I FINALLY convinced my ocon to take a vacation and found that w/in 4 DAYS my balance and pain levels had improved far more than I'd ever anticipated. By about 20%, which for some isn't a lot, but I'll take any relief I can get.
Many supplements such as the omegas, lipoics and the B-12's can help a great deal. I suggest you go further up on the NT menu to the 'vitamins minerals' forum and just read! Theres a heap of info there and it's a LOT to take in all at once. Once you grasp the basics of it all, it's easier and such things DO help you get into a position to help your body heal better, faster and properly.
Hope this helps you both and HUGS to you all! - j