Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Support Through Neuroacupuncture and Moxibustion
Overview
A 62-year-old woman presented with long-standing peripheral neuropathy symptoms that she associated with prior oncology treatments. Her medical history included kidney cancer treated decades earlier and ovarian cancer treated in 2016 with chemotherapy and radiation. She arrived using a walker for support.
According to her self-report, neuropathic symptoms had persisted for nearly five years, including burning sensations, tingling, leg discomfort, and sleep disturbance. She also described lifelong digestive symptoms such as bloating, abdominal discomfort, constipation, and intermittent diarrhea, as well as chronic back discomfort. She was seeking a conservative, non-invasive approach to help manage symptoms and improve daily comfort.
Key challenges
The patient’s experience included:
- Longstanding peripheral neuropathy symptoms following oncology care.
- Burning, tingling, and leg pain reported over several years.
- Difficulty sleeping due to discomfort.
- Sensation of coldness in the legs.
- Overall physical weakness requiring gentle techniques.
- Chronic digestive discomfort and back pain.
- Emotional and physical fatigue related to persistent symptoms.
Treatment
A treatment plan was used, focusing on gentle modalities appropriate for her reduced physical strength.
The approach included:
- Neuroacupuncture, delivered with minimal needle use.
- Japanese-style moxibustion, applying low-intensity heat through a protective herbal medium.
These methods are traditionally used in clinical practice to support comfort, circulation, and symptom management.
Research has explored potential applications for nerve-related symptoms; however, responses vary and findings cannot be generalized.
Therapeutic goals included:
- Helping the patient manage neuropathic sensations.
- Encouraging circulation.
- Supporting comfort.
- Supporting sleep quality.
Course of Care (Patient-Reported Experience)
(All observations below reflect this individual’s account.)
- After the first session, she stated that her pain intensity had decreased and that she slept with less discomfort for two nights.
- Over subsequent treatments, she reported gradual reductions in burning and tingling sensations.
- After approximately six sessions, she described her pain levels as minimal (reported as 1–2 out of 10).
- She also noted subjective improvements in sleep, back discomfort, and digestive symptoms.
Outcomes
- Described reductions in neuropathic discomfort.
- Reported improved sleep compared to her baseline.
- Noted changes in digestive comfort.
- Reported decreased back discomfort.
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