You made it through cancer treatment. But now your hands and feet won’t stop tingling. Your balance is off. You feel pain from a light touch. And your oncologist says this may just be something you have to live with.

You don’t have to accept that answer.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common and most disruptive side effects of cancer treatment. It affects up to 68% of patients during chemotherapy and can persist for months or years after treatment ends. For many survivors, it becomes a chronic condition that impacts quality of life just as significantly as the cancer itself.

At Nexus Neuro: Brain + Body in Carmel, Indiana, we work with patients who have been told there’s nothing more that can be done for their neuropathy symptoms. Our functional neurology approach focuses on identifying the underlying nerve damage and supporting the nervous system’s ability to heal and adapt.

What Is Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy refers to damage to the peripheral nerves, the vast network of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that carry signals to and from your hands, feet, organs, and skin.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) occurs when cancer-fighting drugs damage these nerves as a side effect of treatment. The peripheral nerves are particularly vulnerable because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, and the metabolic processes that keep nerve fibers healthy can be disrupted in the process.

CIPN most commonly affects the hands and feet in a glove-and-stocking pattern, but it can also involve other areas depending on which nerves are affected.

Which Chemotherapy Drugs Cause Neuropathy?

Not all chemotherapy drugs carry the same risk. The classes most commonly associated with CIPN include:

Platinum-based drugs such as oxaliplatin and cisplatin are among the most well-known causes of neuropathy. Oxaliplatin in particular is used widely in colorectal cancer treatment and is associated with both acute cold sensitivity and chronic sensory nerve damage.

Taxanes, including paclitaxel and docetaxel, are used for breast, ovarian, and lung cancers and frequently cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet.

Vinca alkaloids such as vincristine disrupt nerve fiber structure and are linked to both sensory and motor neuropathy.

Bortezomib, a drug used in multiple myeloma treatment, is also strongly associated with painful peripheral neuropathy.

The severity of CIPN depends on the type of drug, cumulative dose, treatment duration, and individual factors including age, pre-existing nerve conditions, and nutritional status.

Symptoms of Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

CIPN symptoms vary depending on which types of nerve fibers are affected. Most patients experience a combination of the following:

Sensory symptoms are the most common and include numbness, tingling, burning, or electric shock-like pain in the hands and feet. Many patients also experience hypersensitivity to touch, meaning that even light pressure or clothing contact can cause pain.

Motor symptoms involve muscle weakness, difficulty with fine motor tasks like buttoning a shirt or picking up small objects, and problems with coordination.

Autonomic symptoms can include changes in heart rate, blood pressure fluctuations, digestive issues, and difficulty regulating body temperature.

Balance and fall risk is a serious concern for many CIPN patients. When the sensory nerves in the feet are damaged, the brain loses critical feedback about body position, making it significantly harder to maintain stable footing.

Some patients experience symptoms only during treatment that resolve afterward. Others find that neuropathy continues to worsen even after chemotherapy ends before eventually stabilizing, a pattern called coasting. And for many, symptoms become a long-term reality.

Why Does CIPN Often Go Untreated?

Most oncology practices are focused on treating cancer. Neuropathy management is often secondary, and the standard options offered are limited to pain medications, antidepressants like duloxetine, or anticonvulsants like gabapentin. These drugs may reduce pain perception, but they do not address the underlying nerve damage or support nerve recovery.

When cancer treatment is complete and neuropathy persists, many patients are left without a clear treatment plan. They may be told that nerve damage is permanent or that symptom management is the best available option.

This is where functional neurology offers a fundamentally different approach.

How Functional Neurology Addresses Chemo-Induced Neuropathy

At Nexus Neuro, we start by assessing the extent and pattern of your nerve damage rather than simply managing your symptoms. Dr. Schulke uses advanced neurological testing, including the Toronto Clinical Scoring System and Nerve Express autonomic nervous system testing, to understand how your peripheral and autonomic nervous systems have been affected.

From there, we build a personalized care plan designed to support nerve repair and improve neurological function. Our approach is built around the understanding that nerves have a significant capacity for regeneration and adaptation when given the right conditions. The goal is not just to reduce pain but to restore function.

You Don’t Have to Accept Neuropathy as a Permanent Side Effect

Cancer survivorship should mean more than managing what treatment left behind. If you are living with tingling, numbness, pain, or balance problems that began during or after chemotherapy, there may be more options available than you have been told.

Nexus Neuro: Brain + Body serves patients throughout Carmel, Westfield, Zionsville, Fishers, Noblesville, and the greater Indianapolis metro area. We work with cancer survivors to develop individualized care plans that address neuropathy at the neurological level, not just the symptom level.

Call us at 317-884-8824 or visit nexusneurohealth.com to schedule a consultation with Dr. Schulke and find out whether our approach is right for you!