Hi Andy...great news that your feeling fine after your treatment apart from the numbness..my hubby had stage 4 throat cancer last year and got the all clear in September and is back to work full time but he still suffers with the numbness in his fingers and toes which is nerve damage caused by the chemo..my hubby used the sports hand grips also stress balls which really did help..he used them numerous times a day and now he hardly suffers with his hands (only his toes) 

all the best

Tina

Hey Andy

I'm so happy that you've completed your chemo, you're so strong! 

But yeah, I dont have chemo related numbness, but I have a rare genetic basic disorder that means I get numbness in my toes/feet 24/7, and the numbness in my hands. As Tina said, a stress ball is super helpful for getting the nerves feeling and reacting/responding again. I also found that battery operated warning gloves help alot, you can buy them from even Amazon. Just wearing them for me helps, and I wear them once a day for half hour or so. I hope this helps and you get some more help on how to sort your numbness out, so you can go back to the job that you adore. 

Well done for kicking chemos butt, lots of love, 

Alexia x

Hi Tina, glad your hubby is feeling well and back to work, many thanks for your reply, I will try the hand grips method and see how it goes

Best, Andy

Hi Alexia, thanks for the suggestions, will be trying the exercises and the gloves soiund like a good idea too.Stay strong!

Andy

Waow Andy, what an awesome job you have!  I am so jealous.

I had a different form or neuropathy during chemo.  My feet turned completely inwards, which was hilarious at times, but made getting around awkward, and sometimes my legs just wouldn't hold me at all.  I realise we're all different but just want to say that I was back to 'normal' around 6-8 weeks after my last chemo.  I say normal as I didn't have my full strength for a while obviously and if I did long walks after a while my legs would revert back to having issues.  But 4 months on now and I am most definitely completely normal again, all my strength has returned and I am training for a 10k run.

I am not up on supplements for neuropathy, and to be honest I do think largely that market is just a money-making scheme, but I'll see if I can find any promising scientific studies into supplements or dietary changes for neuropathy.

I really hope yours does improve on its own naturally, I believe most cases do so fingers crossed.

LJ

Doing a basic search alpha-lipoic acid is one that seems to be being studied in this regard.  However, like all supplements it can be dangerous if taken in the wrong dose, manner etc. and I have no idea what its possible effects on a cancer might be.  It would be worth asking your oncologist about it and whether they think it is safe for you to take it, if they think it would help etc.?  Most that I've spoken to so far are very happy to discuss complementary medicine with their patients.  I play safe and stick to the rule of not take anything without checking with my oncologist or nurse first.

Hi LJ thanks for your helpful reply, you are doing a 10k run, wow, power to your elbow! I think the general consesus is the neuropathy will get better on its's own eventually so I will give it a couple of months and see how it goes and then explore alternatives if there is no improvement.

Wishing you all the best

Andy