MS or B12?

Hello my name is kevin and im 26yrs old. I have had very disturbing symptoms for the past 12 months.(they actually started 3yrs ago but they whent away for about a yr) Included are numbness and tingling in the extremities, especially at night and burning sensation on top of the head sometimes. Muscle weakness( i get shaky when i try to do lift my self from the bed etc..that type of force). I also get episodes of fatigue that can last for weeks and then they get a litle better where i feel somewhat better but never 100%. I also notice tingling around my face but just latlety. My tinglin has gotten worse during the past two weeks and i have gone to the MD to get lab work done 3 times. Just recently my second MD saw by B12 level at 333 and thought this to be normal but low. This is actually my second test as my first MD had it at 375 but didnt even mention it. I have done some reserarch on this but its just way confusing. i got my first b12 injectin yesterday and everything felt the same.

Dont know what to do and scared i might have MS and not B12 def... I just whant my life back so i can help others as im a soon to be Chiropractor and health is a way of living for us and our primary mission..To spread Health!
I lived in GA for 3yrs but before i lived in Puerto Rico for 23yrs. I also have a sister with RA and a cousin with Lupus.Dont know if this helps.

[watson01]

Hi khasel!
  
Thanks for come to the forum.  I just joined here this week also and you can see some of my story if you go to my profile and see my post titled "Is it MS, CFS, or both?".  You do have symptoms that could be explained by multiple sclerosis however there are many, many other diseases that could also explain your general weakness, fatigue and altered sensation and these need to be ruled out first.  I would highly recommend that you good to an endocrinologist to get a fully battery of blood tests......hormone pannel, vitamine levels, insuline levels, thyroids and adrenal tests, liver function tests because abnormalities in these glands may causing some of your symptoms.  I would also tell you to find the best neurologist you can find in your area and get a full neurological exam ASAP.  You can go to rateMDs.com and see how various doctors in your area are rated by their patients and hopefully you will find a good one.  Good luck to you and keep me posted on your health status.
  

[Deb61]

Hi Kevin!  I'm glad that you found this forum.  It's a great place for learning about MS and getting support from knowledgeable, experienced, and caring people.  Although we can't tell you what you're experiencing is or is not MS, we may be able to give you some ideas as to whether or not it sounds like MS, give you some tips as to what to do next, and give you support.  

I'd look around on this page.  See the upper right hand corner and click on Health Pages.  You will see an article that says MS Mimics.  There's more than one page of these mimics.  I believe B12 deficiency is talked about there.  Have a B12 deficiency will definitely cause some neurological symptoms.  Give yourself a few months at least before getting too worried.  Did you ask the doctor as to when the you will see results?  Unfortunately, I don't know how long it usually takes.  

Because of your family history, it's also possible you may have another autoimmune disease--symptoms for many of these diseases overlap.  You may want to ask your doctor to do an arthritis profile, testing for lupus, RA, Sjogren's, and HLA-B27 (for AS).  Also, you may want your doctor to check for diabetes and thyroid problems.  You can get more ideas from the Health Pages.  A rheumatologist may be the person to see to rule out these posibilities.   However, if your neurological problems do persist, a neurologist would be the best person to see for figuring out what's going on.  

Please don't worry yourself too much.  If it is MS, most of us live a normal life span and never end up in wheelchairs.  It is pretty inconvenient at times, however.  But with new medicines, it may just very well be just a bump in the road.  

Keep us posted.  Hopefully it's a vitamin deficiency that will clear itself up with the injections within the next couple of months.  Talk with the doctor to find out when he thinks these injections will begin to help you.  

Deb

  

[Rena705]

Hey Kevin and welcome to the MS Forum!  Sounds like you have been having troubles for a while and although we are not doctors here I think you may have come to the right place as we may be able to help you through the combined experiences of our members.

Personally I don't know that much about b12 deficiencies but I am sure someone will pop in here with there knowledge on the subject.  In the meantime have you had a chance to look at the Health Pages in the upper right hand corner of this page.  There is a plethora of information on MS Diagnosis, testing, MRI's, LP's, the Macdonald Criteria and all sorts of other stuff that you would be best to read up on.  One thing you need to know about a possible MS diagnosis is that during the search you are your own best advocate so the more information that you have the better off you will be.  So, with that said, I would wait until someone pops in about the b12 deficiency an then take it from there ok?  While some of your symptoms do sound like they may be related to MS I am not sure if they could be related to b12 and those levels of 333 and 375...if the doctor thought the 333 to be low/normal I would assume that 375 would be more in the normal/normal range...not a deficiency at all.

There are several mimics of MS out there as well and usually they are tested for using spinal fluid obtained though a Lumbar Puncture (LP) which is also done when testing for possible MS.  If you read the article "My family doctor thinks I may have MS...what do I do now?" it will give you the steps that should be taken when searching for a possible MS diagnosis.  

Please know that we are here for you 24/7 and that although the weekends can be a little slow, we will get back to you if you have questions ok?  The people here are a wonderful group and if you want to rant, rave, laugh or cry, we are here for you!  There are people here that are in limbo land, diagnosed and being treated, diagnosed and being denied treatment and even some that have been diagnosed with a different disease but have remained with us because they have made some wonderful friends.  I hope that you will stay around and let us know what your next move will be after reading up on MS...we are here to answer any questions you may have ok?

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[Sarahsmom46]

Welcome to the MS forum.  I became a member in July and do not yet have a diagnosis of MS.  I do, however, have a low B12 like yourself.  My test came back as 205, normal range, but low.  I am not an expert on B12, but was told by my doctor that you can have symptoms even if your numbers are in the low range like yours and mine are.  I took the nasal B12 supplement for 6 weeks and my blood work came back with only a minimal increase, so my doctor agreed to injections.  I have only had one so far, about 2 weeks ago, and I don't feel much yet either.  Maybe it takes a few more before we will notice a difference.  

Has your doctor ordered any other testing?  Is the MD you are seeing a neurologist?  If not, that's who you need to see as it sounds like your symptoms are neurological. I hope this was helpful.  

Again, Welcome.

Julie

[Lulu54]

Hi Kevin,
Welcome! You have some good advice from the previous answers.  I hope you will follow their suggestions.  

How far are you in chiropractic school?  I know your medical philosophy is to spread health but you have to start from a healthy position.  Your symptoms sound like they need to be evaluated by a neurologist.  

If it does turn out to be MS, know that treatments today are good and can greatly improve your quality of life.

Stay in touch and be sure and ask your questions here - someone will help point you in the right direction.

Feel better,
Laura

[khasel]

Hi there. sorry for the late response but i was on vacations. Ive been in school for 3 yrs and almost about to graduate. I will finish my b12 treatment and then consult a neurologist.

thanks again..

[khasel]

Sorry for the late reply. Im realy thankfull for everybodies help.I was wondering since you mentionshioned a L.P as a posible diagnosis tool if you knew more about it. Can i just get it for a general diagnosis (in other words if i do it for m.s can i get other posssible answers?). I have been feeling about the same but  I will finish my b12 treatment and then consult a neurologist.

Not having eye problems or balance problems is that good enough to not be thinking M.S? thanksa againg you have all been great.

[Lulu54]

The LP allows a sample of your spinal fluid to be tested for a variety of disorders including cancer, infections and autoimmunie disorders in the central nervous system.  MS is only one of the many problems that can be looked at by analyzing your CSF - and the LP alone won't confirm a dx of MS.  

I would research more to learn all you can about this diagnostic tool.

Be well,
Lulu (AKA Laura)