Periphial neuropathy and MS

[limpingalong]

I have been dx with peripheral neuropathy due to a vitamin B-12 deficiency.  I take shots and a supplement.  But have not had much improvement. Do others have this and MS?  Can this be the start of MS?  After I started to have weakness in my arms and legs and creepy crawlies on my face and spots on my head I am wondering if i should go to the doctor for more tests.  

Can't decide if my mental confusion is old age (52) or something else.  I don't know if constantly not picking my left foot and almost tripping is old age or are theses signs of something else.  I find as I am typing this I am having considerable trouble coming up with the words and typing the wrong letters. I must stop or slow way down to get it right.

What do u all think?

[COBOB]

Just like having diabetes with MS, you can get diabetic peripheral neuropathy with MS.  You can also get other peripheral neuropathies with MS.  These are the cases where an Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) can be very useful.  Having an abnormal NCS in one limb or in the lower body is a good indication of peripheral nervous system disease and/or injury.  

Multiple concurrent conditions are a challenge for any heath care provider. They take skill to tease out and treat.  They can also require the patient to be educated and "force" the issue.  "Doctor, I know that MS can cause paraesthesias, but this seems different.  Is there anyway to test and make sure this is CNS based?  I'd really feel better if we could make sure this is not a peripheral nerve injury before we just assume it is the MS that is causing this."

Bob

[RedFlame]

I have MS and Polyneuropathy.  I do take shots off and on and now trying supplements.  

I think everyone is different.  But the two conditions can co-exist.  

Have you told them about your one foot?  You should definately let them know.

Red

[limpingalong]

Thanks so much for the info it helps greatly.  

[jujuminx]

Hummmm, Bob. Thanks for that response. Almost exactly what my neuro said when I asked him about the two.  Of course I couldn't articulate what he said to this forum the way you just did, so thanks.

Julie

[COBOB]

It comes down to something that is pretty simple.  MS is a immune disease of the central nervous system (Brian and Spinal Cord.)  Some research shows it may extend slightly into the spinal root nerves, but it is not a disease of the peripheral nervous system.  

B-12 deficiency can be related to the autoimmune disease pernicious anemia and can cause damage to both the peripheral and central nervous system.  That is about the end of the relationship between the two.  

Current research doesn't show B-12 deficiency having anything to do with the breakdown of the Blood Brain Barrier or the activation of the immune system against myelin.  Yes, low B-12 needs o be corrected because it can damage the nervous system, but the method of action is different than MS and more widespread.

Bob

[limpingalong]

My Doc won't let me take shots twice a month.  He says that I am already receiving the max dosage.  I do take sub-lingual B-12 daily.  But the doc doesn't know that. lol.
Limping

[beema36]

I have ms and b12 deficiency. Without my b12 shot each month I literally have no feeling in my limbs or hands. If you aren't seeing improvement with you r shots you might need twice monthly shots.
MS isn't caused by this deficiency nor does it cause it. But its not unusual to have both.
Beema

[limpingalong]

I have had the B-12 def. since the early 90's. I had the flu and couldn't get over the achy feeling in the muscle in my legs.  the doc did blood work and the B-12 in the only thing that showed up. I went to the doc in 2004 because of weakness in my legs and burning and tingling in my feet. The weakness went away but not the other symptoms.

[essdipity]

I am quite sure that low B12 doesn't cause MS, nor does MS cause low B12. The only connection is that they share some of the same symptoms. And of course, many people have both conditions since neither is rare. As far as I know, having one does not make one more likely to develop the other.

If symptoms have periods of remission, this is unlikely to be a B12 problem, which is one way to tell the difference.

Testing for B12 issues is pretty straightforward, so this can be ruled in or out without a lot of doubt, unlike MS.

ess

[limpingalong]

thanks for the replies. I don't have a lot of money and little insurance.  I can't afford to take a lot of test that after reading a lot of the posts here
won't tell me anything definitive.  Doesn't seem to me that a dx will make that much difference.  Is there any advantage to getting a dx

Thanks limpingalong

[Lulu54]

I have PN in my right leg, which is also the leg majorly affected by my MS.  My first EMG was so confusing to the neurologist that he ordered a second one to figure it out.  It came out the same as the first - peripheral neuropathy and eroded nerve signals like MS.   So yes, you can have both.

And this was all when I was 54 years old.  Funny, no one bothered to tell my MS that I was too old.

If I were you., I would be looking for a doctor to check these symptoms a bit more.  2004 was a long time ago and things can and do change

be well, Lulu  

[limpingalong]

My pcp sent me for a mri in 2004. It was clear and the neuro said that there was no evidence of MS or anything neurological. She said there was nothing she could do for me. I take gabapentine for the pain in my feet and hands.  I am also on prozac for depression.

[grannyhotwheels]

The mayo clinic told me that they where not sure if B12 deficiency is caused from MS or if it is a cause of MS... Hmmm...I would definetely ask for more testing...

My B12 was slightly low and to this day I take weekly B12 shots but I've never seen any improvement from them at all... I have been diagnosed with PPMS....

Also there are several on here who have been diagnosed with MS in their 50's and some older than that... How long have you experienced your symptoms?

If in fact you are seeing no difference since taking the B12 I would ask for an appointment with a Neurologist and go from there...

I'll be praying,
Carol