I will try to keep this brief. I was a 35 athletic (karate, backpacking, golf, weight lifting, arobics) female until around JUne. My symptoms started way back in 1996.
1. 1996 just didn't have the same stamina (ck low normal)
2. 1997 complained of not sleeping also had a parastesis on my left side from the top of my head to my toes for over 24 hours. My body was split in half by this feeling. CT negative.
3. 1998 real fatigued. working out, but had to sleep now
4. Oct 1998 hips began hurting....real painful to drive. Fatigue continues. Sleep when shouldn't be sleeping.
5. Jan 1999 hip pain from tight IT band. PT fixed it.
Also partial lateral meniscus surgery
6. May 1999 not recovering.muscles to tired lift weights
7. June 1999 hurt low back really bad playing golf
8. July 1999 lots of painless muscle spasms everywhere except abs (this includes face and neck all the way to feet). Also had lots of heat sensations. Later in the month, I began experiencing real pain in my hips and across shoulder blades. PT found lots of tight muscles all over my body. There seemed to be shortening causing patella tendonitis among other things. Their neurological exam was normal. Stretching program did no good. Fatigue unrelenting.
9. Aug 99 I began having tremors (all over)and lots of muscle pain. Couldn't be up for more than 20 minutes at a time. This lasted 2-3 weeks. Had to sit down or fall down. Thyroid, lupus , lyme, ANA, RA etc showed nothing. Neck real tight. Have feeling that I can't swallow. It feels like lymph node pain, but lymph nodes not swollen. Painful muscle spasms.
10. Began taking B comlex and a multivitamin
11. Symptoms began to subside somewhat. Stopped taking B complex. Sleep study normal.
12. Symtoms came back 2-3 weeks later. Began B complex again..symptoms subsided.
13. Went off it for 5 days and had a B12 level. result 324.
14. Took it again consistently. Other symtoms include parasthesis (pins and needles, knives and daggers). Lots of muscle pain and tightness so as to restrict flexibility. Began feeling better...so attempted to swim. After day 3 of swimming, I couldn't go anymore. It is like the muscles wouldn't work. Fatigue appears to be cumulative. The muscle fatigue doesn't feel like fatigue, it is more like they just don't work. Stairs are a real bear when I am like this, although I am not breathing hard.
15. Nov..asked GP for B12 shots. She complied, but wanted me to only take it once a month since my level was normal. Doctors said not to get my hopes up, that there are many muscle things we know nothing about and B12 is a wonderful thing.
16. Nov 2..began taking Shots tiwce a week (against my doctors wishes). Within 2 days, I was dreaming again. Within a week, the parasthesis went away. Within 2 weeks, the pain started diminishing. Now my muscles feel like they are loosening up and I am gaining my flexibility back. Still not exercising, but feel like I can maybe next week. The parasthesis comes sometimes, but seems to be coming from my back which is still weak. It goes away when I move. I have had 7 shots in 3 1/2 weeks.
I guess my question is,, do you believe A low normal B12 can do all this? The literature seems to say yes, but my doctors still say no. They still want me to go through the MRI, EMG etc. I want to take the wait and see attitude. Of course, the right thing to have done, in hindsight, was get a B12 level at the start, but can't go back now. Of course, I am somewhat concerned that the B12 just helped fix a demylinization problem caused by an MS episode. (I have a second cousin with MS). I wouldn't know if I am more clumsy, because I haver always been clumsey. I don't think it is fibromyalgia because my pain has been different. What do you think?
Thanks for your time. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.