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paresthesia--vitamin B12 deficiency or MS?
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
Has the Dr. responded to your original question? I was interested to hear his answer,
No answer yet. I hope it hasn't been skipped by accident.
The doc treating me for B12 deficiency is my primary care physician. The reason she tested me for it may be that I asked her to--I had done research before my appointment and knew I needed testing for celiac and B12 def. I'm not sure whether she would have pursued that path had I not asked.
I've also learned since my first post here that she was mistaken about B12 symptoms not moving out of the extremities; they do advance into the trunk at times (this is according to a Mayo Clinic article I read, also a very knowledgable patient at Brain Talk). But what B12 deficiency does not do, as far as I can learn, is produce symptoms that vanish for a while the way mine did after the first attack in November. The symptoms stay the same or worsen until you replenish the vitamin.
That means B12 might not be my problem after all, and that's one reason I'm so anxious for my question here to be addressed. I had an MRI today, so the results of that may provide additional information.
Have also done some fascinating reading on how chronic Lyme disease can mimic MS even in the appearance of lesions on an MRI. There are a number of overlapping symptoms as well. And Lyme can produce symptoms that come and go, again like MS. Since I live in Lyme territory and even had a dog who died of Lyme a couple of years ago, I'm very curious about this possibility. As many as half of Lyme sufferers have no recollection of a tick bite or the characteristic rash, supposedly. So many people who don't think they could have Lyme could.
The doc treating me for B12 deficiency is my primary care physician. The reason she tested me for it may be that I asked her to--I had done research before my appointment and knew I needed testing for celiac and B12 def. I'm not sure whether she would have pursued that path had I not asked.
I've also learned since my first post here that she was mistaken about B12 symptoms not moving out of the extremities; they do advance into the trunk at times (this is according to a Mayo Clinic article I read, also a very knowledgable patient at Brain Talk). But what B12 deficiency does not do, as far as I can learn, is produce symptoms that vanish for a while the way mine did after the first attack in November. The symptoms stay the same or worsen until you replenish the vitamin.
That means B12 might not be my problem after all, and that's one reason I'm so anxious for my question here to be addressed. I had an MRI today, so the results of that may provide additional information.
Have also done some fascinating reading on how chronic Lyme disease can mimic MS even in the appearance of lesions on an MRI. There are a number of overlapping symptoms as well. And Lyme can produce symptoms that come and go, again like MS. Since I live in Lyme territory and even had a dog who died of Lyme a couple of years ago, I'm very curious about this possibility. As many as half of Lyme sufferers have no recollection of a tick bite or the characteristic rash, supposedly. So many people who don't think they could have Lyme could.
Hi,
I have read that magnesium helps with muscle spasms considerably,& they should subside after 3-4 days with a high dose. I am just not certain of the dosage though. Normally the recommended dosage on most vitamins, is typically a low dose. I also know that as far as B12 is concerned even people who test within a normal range, or even high can suffer neurological illness due to the B12 not being transported from the blood to the tissues. So your blood can test high for B12, but your tissues are deficient due to a lack of intrinsic factor in the gut.
I have read that magnesium helps with muscle spasms considerably,& they should subside after 3-4 days with a high dose. I am just not certain of the dosage though. Normally the recommended dosage on most vitamins, is typically a low dose. I also know that as far as B12 is concerned even people who test within a normal range, or even high can suffer neurological illness due to the B12 not being transported from the blood to the tissues. So your blood can test high for B12, but your tissues are deficient due to a lack of intrinsic factor in the gut.
Thank you both for the insight i will def look into this. I wasnt sure about b12 just new i was extremely low. I hope your mri come back normal and you start to feel better. Thank you again.
Definetly 194 is too low! At that level you will most likely have neurological sysmtons. If you see bottom of lab report, it will probably state that.
After starting ionjections, I felt better fairly quickly. I got so I could tell when time for shot. Unfortunately with all thge other medical issues I am dealing with, that doesn't happen. But then again, my level was only at 224 last time tested.
I made my elderly mother and father be tested for B12 and both were low. Now my mother is getting injections every 2 weeks which hopefully will go to once a month. Unfortunately my father passed away 1 1/2 years ago and I don't think that played a part. I read somewhere that it could be genetic but I can't find it now.
I feel so much better that I am not alone with this craziness although I am sorry that ALL of us have to deal with this at all. It is so frustrating and so intangible. Will be waiting to hear more info from anyone.
LindaS
After starting ionjections, I felt better fairly quickly. I got so I could tell when time for shot. Unfortunately with all thge other medical issues I am dealing with, that doesn't happen. But then again, my level was only at 224 last time tested.
I made my elderly mother and father be tested for B12 and both were low. Now my mother is getting injections every 2 weeks which hopefully will go to once a month. Unfortunately my father passed away 1 1/2 years ago and I don't think that played a part. I read somewhere that it could be genetic but I can't find it now.
I feel so much better that I am not alone with this craziness although I am sorry that ALL of us have to deal with this at all. It is so frustrating and so intangible. Will be waiting to hear more info from anyone.
LindaS
I'm not on Messenger, srry :) But I'll be checking here a lot. My B12 level was 322, not a definitive low diagnosis. That's partly why I'm having an MRI. I have some muscle aches/feelings of weakness, but not a lot. I have read though that aches and tremors are very common with B12 def. Keep in mind that you aren't alone, OK? Take care.
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