A message from Accessible Acupuncture:
Finally, a local doctor of acupuncture is helping cancer survivors find relief from the constant pain and suffering associated with peripheral neuropathy.
"Irreversible" is not a word anyone wants to hear from their doctor, yet it is commonly used when someone is diagnosed with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
Elliott S. of Edmonton survived testicular cancer, only to find himself living with relentless nerve pain. "It felt like I was walking on pins and needles," he recalls. "I was getting weaker every day and started worrying that I might end up in a wheelchair."
Nearly half of patients who undergo chemotherapy develop CIPN. While chemotherapy medications are effective at destroying cancer cells, they can also damage healthy nerves. Symptoms may begin within weeks of treatment and often worsen over time. For many patients, these symptoms can persist for months or even years after chemotherapy ends.
For Elliott, CIPN affected nearly every aspect of daily life. "It was difficult to walk up and down stairs or do the things we usually take for granted," he says.
Common symptoms of CIPN include pain, tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in the hands and feet, sharp or stabbing nerve pain, loss of touch sensation, clumsiness, balance problems, and an increased risk of falling.
While some nerves may recover on their own, many patients are told the damage is permanent. Elliott heard this repeatedly from doctors and specialists. His cancer was cured, but the nerve damage caused by treatment was considered untreatable.
Everything changed when Elliott contacted Dr. Melanie Morrill, Dr. Ac., founder of Accessible Acupuncture in Edmonton.
Melanie uses the time-tested science of acupuncture alongside advanced technology originally developed by NASA to help increase circulation and support nerve recovery and healing. This non-invasive approach has helped many patients experiencing the long-term effects of CIPN.
After a series of treatments, Elliott noticed a dramatic difference. "I started taking the stairs with ease," he says. "We live in a split-level house with lots of stairs. One morning, I walked downstairs, made breakfast, and realized I didn't even need the handrail. It was life-changing to have my mobility back."
Stories like Elliott's are not uncommon at Accessible Acupuncture. Melanie has spent over five years helping patients with CIPN and other forms of peripheral neuropathy, including diabetic neuropathy, often after they have been told nothing more can be done.
If you have beaten cancer but are still living with nerve pain, weakness, or numbness, or if peripheral neuropathy is limiting your life, help may be available.
Melanie is currently accepting new chemotherapy-induced neuropathy patients. Call 587-879-7122 to schedule your consultation today.