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Vitamin B12 deficiency and small fiber neuropathy

Posted by mikeg0822 @mikeg0822, Sep 23, 2022

Hi everybody,
I was hoping to possibly connect or receive advice. Has anybody been diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency? I'm 28 years old and have always been healthy otherwise. I've never smoked, always maintained my fitness level, and have always had a relatively healthy diet. My B12 deficiency went unnoticed for 13 months, and I finally began getting treated for it about eight months ago. Doctors are hopeful I can recover but aren't sure. Does anybody have any experience with this? Any advice would be welcome. Thank you!

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shordae | @shordae | Nov 26 8:08pm
In reply to @michellemu1992 "I also had deficient in vitamin B 12 and have Neuropathy. I have numbness all over..." + (show)
@michellemu1992

I also had deficient in vitamin B 12 and have Neuropathy. I have numbness all over by body there is no feeling anywhere and is been 1 1/2 years ago and the numbness is still there. I took vitamin B12 under the tung how do you spell tongue, tongue, my tongue until it came up to normal. It didn’t work I was to far gone.
I’m sorry I hope it comes back for you.

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How long did you take the B12 for? Did you ever try injections?

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sharka | @sharka | Nov 27 4:44am
In reply to @rwinney "Hi @shordae, I'm sorry you're experiencing nerve issues . It's understandable that you're scared from feeling..." + (show)
@rwinney

Hi @shordae, I'm sorry you're experiencing nerve issues . It's understandable that you're scared from feeling odd symptoms through your body. I remember feeling the very same way when I started having nerve sensations
- numbness, electric shocks, tingles, skin burning. Fear is a natural response to something that you've never felt before and it's normal to have concern if you feel you are in harm. It's the good old fight or flight mode.

I was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy from a B12 deficiency so the first thing I did was begin B12 shots weekly and after a few months I was able to go to a oral supplement. Neuropathy can in some cases be slowed down or reversed by supplementing B12 but a neurologist would be the best to explain to you how long something like that would take or if it was reversible. I take nerve medication now and I'm doing better. Have you seen a neurologist yet?

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Hi Rachel
What nerve medication are you using please?

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1 reply
michaelsz | @michaelsz | Nov 27 7:13am

Greetings. In my life I have had two episodes of low B12, associated with symptoms, parasthesiae in limbs. Both times they were treated with oral B12 with improvement of symptoms and normalization of B12 levels. One episode was associated with PPI use and nutritional issues; the second episode was not clearly attributed to any cause. Now in later life, I have peripheral neuropathy: with subtle sensory changes in arms and decreased position sense and balance issues in my legs. I take B12; levels are normal. I exercise. Did my two episodes contribute to later life mild neuropathy? Perhaps?

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Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Nov 27 7:25am
In reply to @sharka "Hi Rachel What nerve medication are you using please?" + (show)
@sharka

Hi Rachel
What nerve medication are you using please?

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Pregabalin (Lyrica)

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mikeg0822 | @mikeg0822 | Nov 27 12:16pm
In reply to @shordae "How are you doing now? Any updates?" + (show)
@shordae

How are you doing now? Any updates?

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Hi @shordae ,
I am definitely doing better since I made the original post. I went through close to three horrible years with constant pain in my feet. Since getting my B12 up and taking medication, things are better, but they still go in flares. I have a few weeks where I feel like a normal person again. Then, I may have periods of time with constant pain again. I worry about getting tolerant to the medication. However, I really learned through this that I have to take things day by day and try not to think of the future too much. I hope things will improve for you as well.

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sharon44r | @sharon44r | Nov 28 12:38pm

I find foot massages help. Meds help a bit with pain but I don’t line all the meds. But they don’t help with weakness

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tomusic | @tomusic | Dec 1 5:24am

Hi Chris, how did you know that you had B12 deficiency? Tom.

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