MS or B12

[Jewel6]

Hi everyone -- I posted a question under MRI Reports -- its in the 4th section.  I'm new to the site and found it by accident when I was looking for MS and B12 link.  If anyone knows the difference between the two, please go to my post. Thanks

Jewel6

[Lulu54]

Hi Jewel,
It stinks that you are facing the possibility of MS.  But you are doing exactly the right thing - educating yourself about this MiSerable disease.  Knowledge is power.

I hope you will take advantage of the wonderful health pages here (yellow icon, upper right side of this page) they were all written by MS patients and a few limbolanders in easy to understand language.

When you think of more you want to know, be sure to come back and ask.  This really is a great comunity of caring people.

be well,
Lulu

[Jewel6]

Thanks for the info.  I recently went to another doctor, and he believes that I more than likely have MS -- the symptoms are just too extreme.  Ironically, even though my b12 levels were "low" he doesn't believe that is the cause.  I am progressively getting worse, and it is happening very quickly.  Despite the massive injections, I am losing feeling in my limbs, and the joint pain is getting extreme.  I am going to the sites you recommened to educate myself about MS -- still hoping that it may be something else that can be fixed easily.  Again, thanks for the info.

Jewel

[sbr497]

A good link on MS. The doctor raises some fundamental points at the end when discussing about MS cure research:

http://www.pneuro.com/publications/ms/

[Karen99]

Hi.  I found this info on the "Health Pages" section (upper right hand  corner of this page - yellow icon)  Take a peek at the other topics too.  They are packed with great info.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple%20Sclerosis/MS-Mimics---Part-I/show/375?cid=36
"Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause demyelination, numbness and tingling of the hands and feet, fatigue, weakness, and in extreme cases, change in mental status. "There is a theory that vitamin B12 can actually produce more myelin, so people with MS may assume that they need more of it," Burks says. "But B12 is only beneficial if you have a deficit to begin with."

It's short, but gets to the point.  According to this doctor a deficiency in Vitamin b12 can cause demyelination and symptoms of MS. There are other factors that have to be considered in ruling out MS even if you are low on Vit b12. Being deficient in Vitamin b2 doesn't instantly exclude MS as a possibility.   Look at the McDonald Criteria (in the Health Pages) that is used by neurologists for more information on how a diagnosis is made.

Take care.