What can patients do to cope with the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?
Understanding what causes PN symptoms can reduce feelings of fear and panic and help patients feel more in control, says Dr. Forman. In addition, some simple lifestyle changes can help patients deal with its effects on daily life. • Use a night-light to reduce the risk of stumbling in the dark. • Install grab bars in the shower or sit on a stool while showering. • Sleep with the head elevated 30 degrees to reduce dizziness on rising. • Use specially designed utensils to make it easier to eat with numb fingers. Tips from a Patient Audrey Youngelson hasn’t let either metastatic breast cancer or peripheral neuropathy slow her down. “I have cancer,” Audrey says, “but cancer doesn’t have me.” The 72-year-old travel agent from New City, New York, recently returned from a trip to Egypt, where she toured the pyramids on a motorized folding scooter. “It doesn’t matter where I am—I have neuropathy,” she says. “So why not enjoy life as much as I can?” Audrey developed PN symptoms after being trea
