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Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy Burning, numb feet years after cancer treatment, and how a pain physician looks for the source
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is nerve damage that some cancer medicines can cause, most often felt as burning, tingling, numbness or pain in the feet and hands. For many people it improves in the months after treatment ends, but for some it lasts for years. Numb, burning feet can also come from diabetes, low vitamin B12, thyroid problems, a pinched nerve in the back and other causes, so a physician examines you and may order blood work or nerve tests such as EMG/NCV. Treatment aims to calm nerve pain, protect your feet and keep you steady on your feet, and physical therapy is often part of the plan.
In the video, a patient who beat cervical cancer about 20 years ago describes living with constant burning, numbness and pain in both feet ever since chemotherapy. Earlier treatment only helped for a while. At Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance, our pain physicians, Ashley Marcus, MD in Brooklyn, Jake Stephen, DO on Staten Island and Yuri Gordin, MD in Manhattan see patients like her for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and other long-lasting nerve pain, starting with a careful look at where the symptoms are coming from.
What chemotherapy-induced neuropathy feels like
- Burning, pins and needles or electric-shock pain, usually starting in the toes and feet and sometimes the fingers
- Numbness, so it is hard to feel the floor, a pebble in your shoe or hot water
- Pain or sensitivity at night or to light touch, such as bed sheets
- Poor balance or tripping, because the feet send less information to the brain
- Trouble with buttons, writing or picking up small objects when the hands are involved; see numbness and tingling in hands
Possible causes of burning, numb feet
Some chemotherapy drugs can injure the long nerves to the hands and feet. But a history of chemotherapy does not mean every symptom comes from it. Numbness and burning can also be linked to diabetes, low vitamin B12, thyroid or kidney problems, alcohol use, a pinched nerve in the lower back, or a nerve trapped at the ankle. More than one cause can be present at the same time. That is why an exam comes first; see finding the cause of chronic pain.
How a pain physician finds the source
Your physician asks when the symptoms started, what makes them better or worse, and what you have already tried, then checks strength, reflexes, sensation and balance. When the exam suggests it would help, they order blood tests, imaging of the spine, or EMG/NCV nerve testing, which measures how well the nerves carry signals and helps tell nerve damage in the feet apart from a pinched nerve higher up. EMG/NCV is available at all three of our offices; see what to expect at an EMG test.
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy treatment options
There is no single cure, so the plan is built around your symptoms and goals and coordinated with your oncology team. Depending on the cause found, it may include:
- Medication review: some medicines used for nerve pain can lower burning and shooting pain for some people; your physician explains the benefits and side effects
- Physical therapy: balance, gait and strength work to lower fall risk; see balance exercises
- Foot protection: checking your feet daily, well-fitting shoes, and testing bath water with your elbow
- Other pain management options when nerve pain stays severe, which your physician discusses with you
Our pain physicians also treat painful diabetic neuropathy and other long-term nerve pain; see chronic pain management. Pain procedures are performed at all three offices, and your physician explains where and when yours will be scheduled.
When to call a doctor right away
See a doctor promptly if numbness spreads quickly, you develop weakness, trouble walking or a foot wound that is not healing, or you have new loss of bladder or bowel control, which needs emergency care.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
Neuropathy pain doctor near you
Looking for a neuropathy pain doctor near me? Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance evaluates nerve pain at three offices. In Brooklyn, Ashley Marcus, MD sees patients at our Shell Rd office, convenient to Bensonhurst, Marine Park and Midwood. On Staten Island, Jake Stephen, DO practices at our Richmond Rd office, serving New Dorp, Todt Hill and Great Kills.
In Manhattan, Yuri Gordin, MD sees patients at the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown East, near Turtle Bay and the Upper East Side and a direct ride from Spanish Harlem. EMG/NCV testing is available at all three offices, and balance-focused physical therapy is offered in Brooklyn and Staten Island. Request an appointment or call the office closest to you.
150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022
(212) 840-0135
Questions patients ask
Can neuropathy from chemotherapy last for years?
It can. Many people improve in the months after treatment ends, but for some the burning or numbness lasts for years. A physician can check whether another cause is adding to it.
Is every case of numb feet after cancer treatment caused by chemotherapy?
No. Diabetes, low vitamin B12, thyroid or kidney problems, or a pinched nerve in the back can cause similar symptoms, sometimes at the same time. An exam and, when needed, blood work or nerve tests help sort this out.
Do I need an EMG/NCV test for neuropathy?
Not always. Your physician orders it when the exam suggests it will help, for example to measure nerve damage or check for a pinched nerve.
Can physical therapy help with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy?
Physical therapy cannot regrow nerves, but balance, gait and strength training can make walking steadier and lower the risk of falls.
Should I tell my oncologist before starting pain treatment?
Yes. We coordinate with your oncology team, especially if you are still in treatment or follow-up, so the plan fits your overall care.
Where can I see a neuropathy pain doctor near me?
Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance evaluates nerve pain at three offices:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
- Staten Island1630 Richmond Rd, Suite 101, Staten Island, NY 10304(718) 339-7100 · Get directions
- Midtown Manhattan150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022(212) 840-0135 · Get directions
EMG/NCV testing is available at all three offices.
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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