Advice needed for preventing neuropathy & nail care.

Gretta

Advice needed for preventing neuropathy & nail care.

Gretta

Hi Girls, I'm doing weekly taxol, just had my 7th lot.  Just starting to suffer the neuropathy any suggestions for preventing it getting worse.  Also nails starting to get brittle need some advice.

Cheers

 

 

softness1

Gretta,

I experienced nueropathy during chemo & occasionally still do a yr later. My nurses suggested vitamin B6. It actually helps me a lot.

Robyn_S

Hi Gretta, I used Acetyl L Carnitine to prevent neuropathy while having taxotere. I took 1 gram three times a day over my treatment course and never had any neuropathy at all ( nails were fine as well). There have been quite a few clinical trials investigating Acetyl L Carnitine (which is a naturally occurring amino acid ) in the prevention  and treatment of peripheral neuropathy. 

I decided to combine this amino acid supplement with fasting pre and post chemo and credit this regimen with emerging from treatment with no lasting ill effects at all. I hope this helps ((( hugs)))

geewhiz

Gretta, there are quite a few threads around here about this, but just in case you hadn't come across it...use a bag of frozen peas on your toes DURING the taxol part of your infusion, and a cups of ice water for your fingers. The cold keeps them from chemo uptake. I still get neuropathy in my feet, and I really wish I had iced better, maybe a bit longer? Take care of your self now, so it doesn't nag you later.

DEbeachgirl

I discovered an awesome nail oil called Bliss Kiss. It's all natural. I had white spots on my toenails and they were getting weird bc I was on Xeloda. I initially bought it for my fingernails and then happened to try it on my toes. It has faded the spots and my nails look and feel more normal. Www.nailcarehq.com

april25

Hmmm... I'm getting white spots on my nails. I might have to check that out!

dimccleland

Hi all ... I'm only on my 3rd dose of Taxol (today) and am already experiencing neuropathy ... both my big toes are numb already ... my MO is a little concerned - she says it's very early for it to be starting ... she's prescribed some Neurobian to try and help so fingers crossed

april25

I had foot cramps and arms falling asleep and other neuopathy symptoms right from the start!

My finger tips feel a little numb.

I'm just glad I'm not having any pain!

(I'm taking L. Glutamine, prescribed but MO but for something else... also taking B-complex because the infusion nurse said it might help. Neither seems to be making a difference, though!)

dimccleland -- Good luck with the prescription! I hope it helps. I hadn't heard of Neurobian before. Do people take it for diabetic nerve pain? I think some people are taking such medications for chemo-induced neuropathy...

dimccleland

April25, I'm not sure what else Neurobian is used for but I've been taking it for a week now - no improvement to the neuropathy but it hasn't got worse either

april25

Googled Neurobian... seems to be some kind of B vitamin thing. B-complex vitamins were mentioned as helping neuropathy, so it makes sense. Not sure what makes Neurobian different from the typical vitamins, though.

Well... Hopefully the Neurobian will at least make things not get any worse! Hopefully there will be improvement... And I think most people say that the neuropathy gradually goes away after chemo, so that's something to look forward to!