Several years ago Sarah, who was in her late 30’s developed numbness and an intolerable burning, needle like pains in her feet as a result of a series of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. The pain had progressed to the point where the most she could walk was just 3 blocks. Unfortunately, the only thing her doctor could recommend was Duloxetine a medication typically used to treat depression. Not only did this medication not work but it gave her headaches and insomnia. Out of desperation she wanted to know what alternative medicine had to offer.
What Sarah was experiencing was chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). This is a common side effect of cancer treatment that causes nerve damage leading to symptoms of numbness, tingling, and pain, most often in the hands and feet. Unfortunately, this is a common side effect, affecting 30%-40% of patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Sometimes described as “chemo feet” and “chemo hands,” it usually has a sock-and-glove pattern of numbness, tingling, burning or a pins-and-needles sensation. For some it can even affect fine motor skills that make it difficult to pick up small objects like a button or needle.
The chemo drugs that commonly have this side effect are platinum-base (like oxaliplatin), taxanes (like docetaxel), and vinca alkaloids (like vincristine).
I explained to Sarah that the chemo therapy had damaged the small blood vessels of her nerves. This in turn resulted in disruption of the surrounding sheaths that protects the nerves. I told Sarah that there was a natural intravenous therapy that I have used successfully for not only CIPN but also other similar neuropathies. The therapy was Alpha Lipoic acid –ALA—an amazing substance that the medical communities had ignored for decades.
ALA has virtually no side effects when administered correctly. Because it has so many beneficial and incontestable influences on cellular function it is helpful in treating not only CIPN but also liver disease, diabetes, psoriasis, eczema, multiple sclerosis, cataract, and other eye diseases, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, and other autoimmune diseases.
After just 3 intravenous treatments with alpha lipoic acid Sarah’s debilitating symptoms resolved completely.
Why didn’t her doctor recommend this therapy? There are many reasons but one I see a lot is the limitation insurance companies place on doctors. Doctors today are often called “providers” or “gatekeepers” with insurance companies dictating how they can treat rather than giving them autonomy to learn and think outside the box. For if they did they would be ostracized for not using the ‘standard of care’.
For all chronic diseases it is always in the best interest of patients to seek out physicians that have dedicated their lives to improving the health of their patients using natural therapies that can actually cure.
Terry Pfau DO, HMD