Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy & Foot Care — Supporting Cancer Patients in Michigan

Quick answer: Chemotherapy Neuropathy Foot Care Michigan affects roughly 1 in 4 adults in our practice. Effective treatment starts with a targeted diagnosis, conservative-first treatment, and escalation only when needed. We treat this regularly at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills practices. Call (810) 206-1402.

Related Conditions

Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy & Foot Care — Supporting Cancer Patients in Michigan

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When Cancer Treatment Affects Your Feet

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common and distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Taxanes, platinums, and vincristine damage the peripheral nerves serving the feet, causing pain and disability that can outlast cancer treatment itself. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we provide specialized foot care for Michigan cancer patients experiencing CIPN.

Symptoms of CIPN in the Feet

Burning or shooting pain in both feet, numbness and tingling (often “walking on pins”), extreme sensitivity to light touch or temperature, balance problems from impaired sole sensation, weakness in intrinsic foot muscles, and difficulty with movement requiring fine foot coordination.

Foot Safety During Chemotherapy

CIPN numbness means patients may not feel injuries — requiring the same protective approach used for diabetic neuropathy: regular foot inspection, protective footwear, cushioned orthotics for numb soles, and avoidance of bare-foot walking.

MLS Laser and EMTT for CIPN

Emerging evidence supports MLS laser therapy for neuropathic pain reduction and nerve healing support. EMTT provides complementary deep electromagnetic nerve stimulation. Both therapies can significantly improve quality of life and symptom management during and after treatment, even when they can’t reverse nerve damage.

We work with oncology teams across Michigan. Call (810) 206-1402. Howell and Bloomfield Hills offices.

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Foot Care for Michigan Cancer Patients

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects 30–40% of patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy agents — including platinum compounds (oxaliplatin, cisplatin), taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel), vinca alkaloids (vincristine), and bortezomib — and represents one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. CIPN manifests in the feet as burning pain, tingling, numbness, cold sensitivity, and impaired proprioception that reduces balance and increases fall risk. The severity ranges from mild paresthesia that does not limit function to severe sensory loss that impairs gait and requires dose reduction or discontinuation of chemotherapy. Balance Foot & Ankle provides specialized foot care for Michigan cancer patients experiencing CIPN, working in coordination with oncology teams to optimize foot health during and after chemotherapy.

The podiatric management of CIPN focuses on symptom management and complication prevention rather than cure — CIPN cannot be reversed by podiatric intervention, but its consequences can be significantly mitigated. Key interventions include: comprehensive sensory testing to quantify the degree of protective sensation loss and document change over time; fall risk assessment and footwear recommendations that improve stability for patients with compromised proprioception; skin and wound management protocols for patients with anesthetic feet who cannot detect traumatic injuries; and MLS laser therapy, which emerging evidence supports for partial improvement of CIPN symptoms through its effects on neural mitochondrial function. Michigan oncology patients experiencing foot neuropathy symptoms should discuss podiatric referral with their oncologist, or call Balance Foot & Ankle directly at (810) 206-1402 to schedule a CIPN foot evaluation at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.

Michigan cancer patients experiencing CIPN who are struggling with balance, falls, or the inability to feel the ground beneath their feet should receive both oncological co-management and podiatric care. The fall risk from CIPN is significant and often underappreciated: loss of proprioception (position sense) in the feet is more dangerous for balance than loss of pain sensation, and CIPN-related falls in cancer patients can cause serious injuries that complicate cancer treatment and recovery. At Balance Foot & Ankle, we assess proprioceptive function in cancer patients and recommend specific footwear modifications — rocker soles, wider heel counters, textured insoles that improve tactile feedback — that partially compensate for proprioceptive loss. Michigan oncology patients with CIPN foot symptoms are encouraged to call (810) 206-1402 for a specialized evaluation that addresses both symptom management and fall prevention.

Related Treatment Guides

• Diabetic Foot Care & Neuropathy
• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment

Michigan patients experiencing these symptoms are encouraged to call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to schedule an evaluation at our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River or our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208. Same-week appointments are available for most conditions, and our clinical team brings the diagnostic expertise and treatment options needed to address complex foot and ankle presentations that have not responded to prior care. Don’t continue to defer treatment — early evaluation leads to earlier resolution and prevents the complications that years of untreated conditions can cause.

Medical References & Sources

• NIH NINDS — Peripheral Neuropathy
• American Diabetes Association — Neuropathy
• PubMed Research — Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

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Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM, FACFAS

Board-certified foot & ankle surgeon · 3,000+ surgeries · @MichiganFootDoctors (950K+ subscribers)

Last reviewed May 11, 2026 · (810) 206-1402

When to See a Podiatrist

One unnoticed blister on a neuropathic foot can become a limb-threatening ulcer in under 14 days. Medicare covers diabetic shoes (A5500) and comprehensive foot exams annually for most diabetic patients with neuropathy or circulation concerns. Balance Foot & Ankle runs a dedicated diabetic limb-preservation program — vascular screening, offloading, ulcer care, and shoe fitting — all in one visit. Schedule your annual diabetic foot exam today.

Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402  ·  Book online  ·  Offices in Howell & Bloomfield Hills

Visit Balance Foot & Ankle — Same-Day Appointments Available

Our podiatry team serves patients throughout Michigan including Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Hills. If you’re dealing with heel pain, ingrown toenails, or a foot injury, we have same-day appointment availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I see a podiatrist?

See a podiatrist if: foot or ankle pain has lasted more than 2–4 weeks without improvement, you’re changing your gait to avoid pain, you have an open wound or sore that isn’t healing, you notice nail discoloration or thickening, you have diabetes and any foot concern, or pain is severe enough to wake you at night. Most foot conditions are easier and cheaper to treat early — what starts as a minor issue can become a surgical problem with months of delay.

What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon?

Podiatrists (DPM — Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) specialize exclusively in the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Orthopedic surgeons (MD/DO) have broader musculoskeletal training but variable foot/ankle subspecialization. For foot and ankle-specific problems, a podiatrist often has more focused training and experience. For injuries involving the leg above the ankle, complex pediatric cases, or multi-level reconstruction, orthopedic consultation may be appropriate. We frequently co-manage patients with orthopedic colleagues.

How do I know if my foot pain is serious?

Signs that warrant same-day or next-day evaluation: severe pain that appeared suddenly without clear cause, swelling, redness, and warmth that appeared suddenly (possible gout, infection, or Charcot fracture), an open wound that looks infected (redness spreading, pus, warmth), inability to bear weight, or any foot problem in a diabetic patient. Pain that’s been present for weeks and is stable is important but not an emergency — schedule within 1–2 weeks.

Can foot problems cause back and knee pain?

Yes — this is a kinetic chain effect. Abnormal foot mechanics (overpronation, supination, leg length discrepancy) cause compensatory changes in knee, hip, and lumbar alignment. Roughly 30% of patients presenting to our clinic with knee pain have a treatable foot-level biomechanical cause. Correcting foot mechanics with orthotics or appropriate footwear often provides significant knee and back relief. If you have chronic knee or back pain and haven’t had your foot mechanics evaluated, it’s worth a consult.

Are orthotics worth it?

For the right conditions, yes — custom orthotics are among the most cost-effective interventions in podiatry. They’re most effective for: plantar fasciitis, flat feet with secondary knee/back pain, leg length discrepancy, metatarsalgia, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, and diabetic foot pressure management. Quality OTC orthotics ($35–60) resolve symptoms for 60% of patients with mild-to-moderate conditions. Custom orthotics are appropriate when OTC options have failed or when the biomechanical problem is complex. We cast custom orthotics in-office.

How do I choose the right running shoes?

Start with your foot type (flat, neutral, high arch) and running pattern (overpronator, neutral, supinator). Flat feet and overpronators do best in stability or motion-control shoes. Neutral feet do well in neutral-cushioned shoes. High arches need maximum cushioning with flexible soles. Always buy running shoes at the end of the day (foot swelling peaks then), get properly fitted by a specialist, and replace every 300–500 miles. If you’ve been injured repeatedly, a gait analysis can identify the mechanical flaw driving your injury pattern.

What is the difference between a sprain and a fracture?

A sprain is a ligament injury (the tissue connecting bones); a fracture is a break in the bone itself. Both can occur with the same trauma (ankle roll, fall). The old test — ‘if you can walk, it’s not broken’ — is wrong; many fractures are initially weight-bearable. Key differences: a fracture typically produces localized bone tenderness along the bone itself, while a sprain is tender over the ligament. X-ray is the standard to differentiate. High-grade sprains without proper treatment can be as disabling as fractures.

How do I prevent foot and ankle injuries?

The four most impactful prevention strategies: (1) Supportive, appropriately fitted footwear for your foot type and activity. (2) Gradual activity progression — the 10% rule (never increase weekly mileage or intensity by more than 10%). (3) Regular calf and ankle mobility work. (4) Strengthening the posterior tibial tendon, peroneals, and intrinsic foot muscles. Most overuse injuries are preventable; most acute injuries are not — but ankle sprain recurrence (60–70% without rehab) is prevented by balance and proprioception training.

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a board-certified foot & ankle surgeon (ABFAS & ABPM) at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has made him one of the most-followed foot & ankle educators on YouTube.