paresthesia--vitamin B12 deficiency or MS?

[Violet1717]

I was dxed at age 32 in October 2004 with adult-onset type 1 diabetes. Just days later, I began to feel a sensation like being stuck with a pin in fingers and toes. Location moved around at random & spread in days to include legs, arms, sides, face, mouth, scalp. Occurred most often in feet & hands. Problem was not constant & for many hours of the day I was pain-free. Endoc said I hadn

[lchelsemom]

Hi - just found another site for info on B12 - Mayo Clinic.  You need to search for pernicious anemia.

Linda

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

The paresthesias seem too rapid onset and offset and widespread to be related to a peripheral neuropathy like B12 or diabetic peripheral neuropahty - these conditions develop over years - even when taking no B12 it take several years to deplete the bodies supply. Just because your B12 is borderline, do not assume that that is the diagnosis. Other testing, for instance serum methylmalonic acid can help confirm. Also, you need to ask if the B12 is low, why? A cause needs to be looked for, for example, pericious anemia, bacterial overgrowth of the bowel, hypothyroidism etc

Other forms of diabetic nerve problems can occur more acutely, related to vascular compromise of the nerve, although not as widespread. The paresthesias could have another cause such as electrolyte disturbances, hypocapanea (low carbon dioxide), medications or viral. I cannot give you a specific or clinical diagnosis over the internet unfortunately so you will have to follow up with your doctor. Somatosensory evoked potentials is a good noninvasive cost efficient way of looking at the integrity of sensory pathways in the brain and spinal cord and could be a good test for you. An MRI is also good at picking up a strucutral lesion in the spinal cord or brain

EMG would not be a good test for B12, as it detects lower motor neuron problem best - B12 affects sensory responses of large nerve fibers (may be abnormal on sensory nerve conduction studies) or upper motor neuron tracts.

Good luck

[Violet1717]

Linda, thank you, that's very good advice about the MRI.

Clickerz, hi, I'm not an expert on any of this. If you start a new thread by posting a question you may receive an answer from a neurologist. In the meantime, good information on B12 deficiency can be found at the Brain Talk forums (see the link in my message a few above this one) or at these links, which are all articles written by medical professionals:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030301/979.html

http://www.emedicine.com/NEURO/topic439.htm

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/vitaminb12.html

Good luck to you!

[clickerz]

I dont know if what topic it may fall, from the last weeks i feel a flu like syndrome (got my temp and its normal 36.4  degree to 37),weakness of arms and knee esp. after moving a bowel. I also feels weak,exp. shortness of breathing from time to time and restlessness is it also a sign of b12 defeciency?? im male and have gone some emotional problems a month ago (feels nervous,angry etc.).

[lchelsemom]

Curious to know what type of Dr. is treating your B12 defiency?

[lchelsemom]

OH NO!  Not another possible cause of symptoms!I wish no one else had to go through this but at least I know that I am not alone with my confusion about MS, B12. It just bothers me that I can't get answers about B12 levels and what is causing my levels to go down and why my Dr. doesn't think it is significant.

Anyway, good luck with MRI.  One suggestion - when I first received diagnosis (MS) the Dr. gave me the report to read (that is how I found out).  Anyway, for about 20 years I envisioned my brain full of lesions based upon the report I read.  About 5 years ago I asked my Dr. if I could see MRI and I only have 2 lesion. I was really upset that so many years went by and none of the Drs. I saw (and there were plenty) thought to tell me that to help reduce my anxiety. Y0u might want to ask to see MRI.