For many cancer survivors, finishing chemotherapy marks the start of a new challenge: living with feet that feel numb, tingling, or like they’re perpetually “asleep.” This condition, known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), affects a significant number of patients treated with common chemotherapy agents, and for many, it doesn’t fully resolve once treatment ends.
At Millennium Podiatry in New York City, we specialize in helping cancer survivors reclaim sensation, balance, and comfort in their feet. One of the most promising tools in our approach is prolotherapy, a regenerative injection therapy that supports the body’s own capacity to repair damaged nerve tissue. Below, we break down how it works, what makes it effective for post-chemotherapy neuropathy treatment, and what patients can expect.
Chemotherapy drugs are designed to attack rapidly dividing cancer cells, but several classes of these medications, including taxanes, platinum-based agents, and vinca alkaloids, can also damage peripheral nerves along the way. Because the nerves that travel to the feet are among the longest in the body, they’re often the first and most severely affected.
Patients typically describe symptoms such as:
These symptoms can range from mildly bothersome to significantly disruptive, affecting everything from walking and exercise to simple daily tasks like buttoning a shirt or feeling a step underfoot. For some patients, neuropathy improves gradually after chemotherapy ends. For others, it lingers for months or years, sometimes permanently, without proper intervention.
Peripheral nerves have some capacity to regenerate, but that process is slow and easily disrupted. Chemotherapy can damage the small blood vessels that nourish nerve fibers, impair the mitochondria that power nerve cells, and trigger ongoing inflammation around nerve tissue. Left unaddressed, this creates an environment where nerves struggle to repair themselves, and symptoms can become chronic.
This is where prolotherapy comes in. Rather than simply masking pain or numbness, prolotherapy is designed to address the underlying tissue environment so that nerves have a better chance of recovering.
Prolotherapy (short for “proliferation therapy”) is a regenerative injection technique that has been used for decades to treat damaged ligaments, tendons, and joints. In recent years, podiatrists and pain specialists have applied the same principles to peripheral nerve damage, including CIPN.
The treatment involves injecting a solution – typically a dextrose-based solution, sometimes combined with other supportive agents – directly into or around the affected tissue. This triggers a mild, controlled inflammatory response, which signals the body to increase blood flow, recruit healing cells, and stimulate tissue repair in the targeted area.
For patients with chemo-related nerve damage in the feet, this means:
Prolotherapy is minimally invasive, performed in-office, and does not require surgery or extended downtime — an important consideration for patients who have already been through the rigors of cancer treatment.
At Millennium Podiatry, we often pair prolotherapy with advanced laser therapy as part of a comprehensive post-chemotherapy neuropathy treatment plan. While prolotherapy stimulates tissue repair at the injection site, low-level laser therapy penetrates the skin to increase cellular energy production, reduce inflammation, and support nerve signaling, all without needles or downtime.
Used together, these therapies target chemotherapy-induced neuropathy from multiple angles: reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, and providing damaged nerve fibers with the support they need to heal. Many patients find that this combination approach offers more meaningful, lasting relief than either treatment alone.
Every patient’s neuropathy is different, which is why treatment at our practice begins with a thorough evaluation. We assess the location and severity of numbness or tingling, review chemotherapy history, and often use diagnostic tools to map out nerve function in the feet.
From there, a typical prolotherapy session involves:
Results vary from patient to patient. Some notice improvement in sensation and reduced tingling within a few weeks; for others, especially with longer-standing neuropathy, the process is more gradual. Because prolotherapy works with the body’s own healing response, consistency across the recommended treatment series matters.
The sooner nerve damage is addressed, the better the potential outcome. Chronic, untreated neuropathy can lead to secondary complications, including falls, foot injuries that go unnoticed due to numbness, and long-term mobility issues. Cancer survivors are often focused on recovery in the months following treatment, and foot health can understandably fall down the priority list. But addressing numbness and tingling early gives nerves the best chance to respond to regenerative therapies like prolotherapy.
If you’ve completed chemotherapy and are living with numbness, tingling, or burning in your feet, you don’t have to simply wait it out. Podiatric care that specifically targets nerve health can make a meaningful difference in comfort, safety, and quality of life.
Yes. It’s a well-established, minimally invasive treatment, and our team reviews your full oncology history and coordinates with your care team as needed before beginning.
Nerve tissue heals gradually, so prolotherapy is typically given as a series of sessions spaced several weeks apart. The exact number depends on the severity and duration of your symptoms.
Every patient’s response is different, depending on factors like which chemotherapy drugs were used and how long symptoms have been present. Many patients see meaningful improvement in sensation, tingling, and balance, though results vary.
Coverage varies by plan. Our office offers insurance verification support to help you understand your benefits before starting.
Living with numb, tingling, or painful feet after chemotherapy can feel isolating, especially when the rest of your medical team is focused on cancer surveillance rather than lingering side effects. But foot health plays a central role in overall quality of life — affecting everything from your ability to exercise and travel to something as basic as feeling secure on your own two feet.
Prolotherapy offers a science-backed, non-surgical option for patients ready to actively address their neuropathy rather than simply managing symptoms. Combined with our advanced laser therapy and a personalized care plan, it represents one of the more promising paths forward for cancer survivors dealing with this frustrating and often under-treated side effect.
Every case of chemo-induced neuropathy is different, which is why Dr. Jonathan Shalot at Millennium Podiatry creates individualized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s symptoms, chemotherapy history, and goals. Our Park Avenue office combines advanced regenerative treatments with attentive care for cancer survivors navigating this often-overlooked side effect.
If numbness or tingling in your feet is affecting your daily life after chemotherapy, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our team. Restoring sensation and confidence in your steps is possible — and we’re here to help you get there.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with a podiatrist to determine the best treatment plan for your individual condition.
About the Author
Dr. Suzanne Levine
Named one of America’s Top Podiatrists and is one of the most internationally acclaimed podiatrists in the industry.
August 21, 2026
