Healing Chemo, Radiation-induced Nerve Damage

Both Radiation-induced Lumbo-Sacral Plexopathy (RILP) and Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) are painful and debilitating long-term and late stage side effects caused by conventional oncological therapies.

I consider wikipedia’s definitions linked below of these two side effects to be fairly comprehensive. My only edit would be the percentage of cancer survivors who are affected with nerve damage. Nerve damage, from chemo or radiation, isn’t yes or no.

My diagnosis of multiple myeloma in early ’94 led to local radiation, induction chemotherapy, stem cell mobilization and an autologous stem cell transplant all in 1995.

The yes or no comes into play for one reason only. Yes, chemotherapy and radiation cause nerve damage. How much damage and how to heal that damage is the issue.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Radiation-induced lumbosacral plexopathy-nerve damage

I believe that most all long-term cancer survivors live with some degree of nerve damage. Survivors may notice their handwriting slowly deteriorate. Or they may experience occasional tingling in the hands or feet. Nerve conduction and re-growth slow as a normal part of aging. The long-term cancer survivor can’t be sure what is normal aging of nerves vs. CIPN or RILP.

While the survivor may or may not call their nerve damage a formal name is beside the point.

What is my point then? My point is that CIPN/RIPN survivors can decide to heal their nerve damage based on the degree of pain or the degree of functional loss that they experience. In other words, like your

brain,
nerve.
bone,
heart,
kidney,
bone marrow, etc.

you can choose to take steps, undergo therapies shown to improve function. I am not saying that we will ever be as good, as functional as we were when we were young. I am saying that there are dozens of evidence-based, non-toxic, non-conventional therapies shown to heal your deficits.

Let me state at the outset that I don’t think cancer patients die from either CIPN or RILP. These two debilitating side effects are all about quality-of-life- QOL. The blog posts linked below document many challenges as well as therapies of living with these late stage side effects.

Benefit of chemotherapy? Benefit of Radiation?

When I write about my long-term side effects such as CIPN, RILP, Dysphagia, Xerostomia, CIC, DVT, Afib, Chemobrain and my ASCT, the issue is not about conventional cancer therapies- yes or no, but the over-treatment, the aggressive use of these toxic therapies in cancer care that are the issue.

My personal experience coupled with dozens of studies cite how conventional oncology could use a lower doses, could use less toxicity to manage their patients. Not only would the patients live longer, in my opinion anyway, those patients would live a much higher quality-of-life. Better, longer lives.

Integrative therapies to reduce the severity of CIPN and/or RILP-

The basic definition of integrative therapy, at least where cancer is concerned, is the idea that a non-toxic nutritional supplement could be combined with the toxic chemotherapy regimen enhancing the efficacy of the chemo while reducing the toxicity of that chemo regimen at the same time.

The same idea holds for radiation therapy. Research as shown the resveratrol, for example, protects tissue from the damaging effects of radiation.

If you are a cancer patient who is experiencing minor numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, one of three things may happen to you-

Your early CIPN/RILP may go away once all therapy ceases.
Your early CIPN/RILP will become a little worse but may never amount to serious pain.
Your early CIPN/RILP may become serious- pain and or loss of function.

Conventional FDA approved SOC conventional oncology offers few if any solutions to serious CIPN/RILP. I have come to believe that real relief of this debilitating, painful long-term side effect lies in evidence-based, non-conventional therapies.

Thank you,

David Emerson

Cancer Survivor
Cancer Coach
Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Recommended Reading:

Multiple Myeloma, Chronic Pain and Cure vs. Control

“Chronic pain is a major public health issue in the United States right now. And it’s the most common side effect of cancer treatment..”

Multiple Myeloma Side Effects- Prevention of Nerve Damage

“Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy is often under-recognized and probably under-reported…”

Managing Myeloma Nerve Pain-

“Nerve pain affects many people worldwide, and many now turn to cannabis for neuropathic pain relief. Here is a brief outline of neuropathic pain and a list of the best cannabis strains for nerve pain.”

Multiple Myeloma Side Effects- Radiation Damage, Melatonin-

“Melatonin as a potent antioxidant has shown appropriate immune regulatory properties that may ameliorate toxicity induced by radiation in various organs...”

Multiple Myeloma Side Effects- CIPN, RILP

“What are the best remedies for neuropathy from chemo?”

Multiple Myeloma Side Effect- Chemotherapy-Induced Nerve Pain (CIPN)

“Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) may negatively influence multiple myeloma (MM) patients’ health-related quality of life.”

Multiple Myeloma Side Effects- Radiation-Induced Lumbosacral Plexopathy

“Physical-

I rely on ankle-foot orthotics (AFO) to walk-
I rely on the use of walking sticks (two)-
I use hand controls to drive my car-
I exercise my lower body moderately (30 min.), 7 times per week- physical therapy holds off a wheelchair-based life-

Mental-

RILP stinks but it could be a lot worse- my pain is manageable-
I miss all forms of leg-based sports- all the more reason to get on an elliptical-
AFO’s allow me to walk, therefore AFO’s mean independence-
I installed and gained certification for a hand-controlled accelerator/brake system- driving is independence as well as walking-

Radiation-induced Myelopathy, Brown-Seguard Syndrome

“After radiation therapy for tumors near the spine, late-delayed myelopathy may develop. This disorder causes weakness, loss of sensation, and sometimes the Brown-Séquard syndrome..”

Sandra de Quant says a couple of months ago

I have late stage CIPN & RILP
I had Anal Cancer in 2000 & around 2017 I started getting symptoms & almost a year later they diagnosed me with RILP
It has progressed from drop foot in both feet to nerve damage & I am now using a walker with braces. I was over-treated with chemo & radiation and became neutropenic and spent 10 days in ICU.
These side affects are so devastating and there must be ways or studies to help
counteract the outcome of Chemotherapy & Radiation.
These were never discussed with me & I had no idea I would be plagued by side effects so late in life. I am now 71 & my quality of life is terrifying.

David Emerson says a couple of months ago

Hi Sandra-

I am sorry to learn of your nerve damage. I have learned that oncology rarely if ever warns patients about long-term and late stage side effects of conventional therapies. Possible therapies for nerve damage are not well researched but I will list those that I know of- and do myself.

I too wear ankle foot orthotics and use a walker. I am hoping to stay out of a wheelchair.

I take ALA alpha lipoic acid daily. I went through a period of about 3 months of weekly (2010 ish) hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I believe that HBOT can heal radiation fibrosis but must be done before the nerve damage sets in. I felt great for a day or two post HBOT but never experienced any long-term benefit.

Lastly, I exercise as much as I can daily. I have learned specific exercises from my physical therapist that I think help…a little.

I believe there are conventional meds for nerve damage but they come with serious side effects.

I’m sorry that I can’t offer more therapies. Hang in there,

David Emerson

James Person says last year

My wife received radiation for thyroid issues. It has Carson’s long lasting side affects. One being losing feeling in parts of the body. Is there a way to heal the nerves connected to those areas?

David Emerson says last year

Hi James-

I am sorry to read of your wife’s radiation side effects. Two therapies that I have done myself and have read studies about. HBOT has been shown to heal radiation damage though the sooner the patient undergoes HBOT the better the results. And two, acupuncture. Keep in mind that this therapy is slow aka takes many sessions to make a difference.

For example, approx. 3 months of weekly appts. helped my xerostomia but I’ve been undergoing weekly acupuncture for joint necrosis for over a year now. Shoulder pain has improved but I’m having to work at it.

I would also encourage PT though I don’t know what nerves/muscles are a problem.

Let me know if you have any questions.

David Emerson

Jim Neilly says a couple of years ago

David,
My name is Jim Neilly and I was diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma in my left arm five years ago. My cancer recovery is going well, sounds like yours is too. My treatment included tumor resection, chemotherapy, and radiation. About a year after radiation ended I experienced drop wrist syndrome, which was treated with hand therapy and eventually scar tissue surgery. Over the next year I regained about 75% usage in my left arm and hand, and I would describe my current state as dealing with daily stiffness rather than pain. My major concern is that my neuropathy does not worsen and what steps I can take to possibly improve my situation (I have plateaued with hand therapy/exercises).
Thank you for your very informative video!
Jim

David Emerson says a couple of years ago

Hi Jim-

Thanks for your question. I did some research and wrote a blog post to answer your question- hope it helps. I anonymize all patients…

https://peoplebeatingcancer.org/soft-tissue-sarcoma-wrist-drop-syndrome/

David Emerson

Adrienne Jackson says 3 years ago

So what do we do about chemo induced peripheral neuropathy

David Emerson says 3 years ago

Hi Adrienne-

I will reply to your question directly via email. Thanks.

David Emerson

Diagnosed with Cancer? Your two greatest challenges are understanding cancer and understanding possible side effects from chemo and radiation. Knowledge is Power!

Healing Chemo, Radiation-induced Nerve Damage

Both Radiation-induced Lumbo-Sacral Plexopathy (RILP) and Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) are painful and debilitating long-term and late stage side effects caused by conventional oncological therapies.

Recommended Reading:

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