I have had this mainly in my feet for the past 5 months. They are trying to persuade me to get Pregabolin, but I need to find out first whether anyone has recovered from PN while taking the drug. My feet are freezing cold. Is it because of poor blood circulation or nerves. What can I do to get completely better - ie walking and cycling again?
Hi julietcb
Thank you for posting your question.
Peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect from some chemotherapy treatments. For some this can be mild but for others is can cause numbness and tingling and other symptoms that impact on their daily life. Peripheral neuropathy can continue for several months after finishing treatment for breast cancer, and it sounds like this may be the case for you.
Feeling cold in the feet and/or hands can be a symptom of neuropathy, but can also be caused by poor circulation, as you mention. Your treatment team or GP would be best placed to discuss with you the causes of the symptoms you have.
You mention the medication pregabalin. This is a type of pain killer used to treat neuropathic pain (pain related to the nerves) and is often helpful in managing the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. You may find it helpful to post in this section of the forum if you would like to hear other’s experiences of taking this medication. You can also search for treads about pregabalin using the search box at the top of the page.
Although it takes time for peripheral neuropathy to get better, there are some things that can help to manage the symptoms. You may find our Facebook Live about peripheral neuropathy helpful to watch. Recovery time will be different for everyone but gradually returning to exercise, such as walking and cycling is usually recommended. You can also talk to your treatment team about this, they may be able to refer you to a physiotherapist for further advice on returning to activity.
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