Numbness is often accompanied by tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling. It may affect patients across cancer types. This partial or complete lack of sensation may develop in one or more body parts, especially the hands, feet, arms or legs.
Cancers that may lead to numbness include:
Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological side effect of cancer and its treatment, especially chemotherapy and other anti-cancer drugs. The condition often causes numbness, particularly in the extremities.
Peripheral neuropathy affects around 10 percent to 20 percent of people with cancer, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Several supportive care therapies target extremity numbness and related complications to improve quality of life and help patients avoid treatment delays or interruptions.
The supportive care services that may be recommended include:
Licensed chiropractic physicians may be able to reduce musculoskeletal sources of pressure on nerves, which may cause numbness. Those suffering from pain caused by peripheral neuropathy, typically concentrated in the hands and feet, may also find relief through hands-on adjustment, massage, stretching, electrical muscle stimulation, heat, ice or traction techniques. Our chiropractors at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) work closely with the patient’s oncologist to determine if and what chiropractic treatments may be appropriate and beneficial.
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Oncology rehabilitation therapists use physical and occupational therapies in an effort to sensitize nerve endings by retraining them to respond normally to stimulation. These clinicians also educate patients about safety and awareness of numb body parts to help them avoid injuries while completing everyday tasks. Recommendations for adaptive equipment, such as a walker, cane or shower chair, may also help reduce patients’ fall risk if their feet are numb.
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Pain management physicians may recommend over-the-counter medications for mild pain-related numbness, while more severe neuropathic pain may require prescribed painkillers and/or topical treatments. Nerve blocks or implanted pain pumps may also help address the underlying issues that cause numbness. The trained doctors who staff the pain management team at CTCA® work with other supportive care clinicians to develop a detailed treatment plan personalized for each patient.