COVID vaccines and neuropathy

this thread is really only for people with neuropathy

Ha ha, I only knew of them from a woman who posted on FB that swears by them and thought I’d pass it along, that does sound like a lot to pay for insoles! Helen

@lacy2 Hello again Lacy. I wrote you a long response to your questions this a.m. but LOST it just as I was finishing! I'm only working with the limitations of a cell phone since my computer died a while ago. So frustrating sometimes.
Anyway, I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The first vaccine administered here at my Assisted Living seniors' residence was Moderna.
In British Columbia, the decision has come down from The Powers That Be that we are scheduled for the 2nd dose 16 weeks from the first dose. Troubling, but hopefully the scientists are correct in this decision.

@ess77 I personally think you're spot on with your non-medical assessment, Elizabeth! That after effect you experienced was a good thing, according to "them what know". You've made scads of antibodies and should be in good shape to fight any Covid-19 virus that dares to come your way. That's how I understand the reading material anyway. Good for you. I'm looking forward to my second shot---with dread!! 😆

@joybringer1 You are perfectly correct! It's what I attempted to post this morning, and lost into the @%$#!!! ethers!
P.S. I have most of the diseases listed on Mayo Clinic Connect site, including Neuropathy, GCA, Diabetes, IBD, heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes (smallish), blood clot issues, inoperable brainstem AVM, ummm,
You'd think if anyone was going to have a bad reaction to the Covid vaccine it would me me! 😆

Joey, etc. etc. I Don’t know if there is any connection but I think I read that gabapentin makes your body more vulnerable to viruses and since the vacs utilize RNA to trick the body into thinking you have the virus it causes an immune response such as we are experiencing as a worsening of our symptoms. It’s hard for me to know if I am just having a normal progression but don’t usually believe in coincidences. Helen

@avmcbellar There are a couple of reasons for considering a pump, the primary one being replacing oral medications with more effective intrathecal delivery. The research I've done has indicated that the pump requires as little as 10% of the oral dose. Of course, there's not a lot of certainty in any medical treatment, as no two people are the same. My neurologist mentioned to me this morning to ask about the possibility of a bolus delivery option to treat breakthrough pain. I understand that once the therapeutic dosage is determined, it works automatically, and is a safer treatment in terms of abuse or overdose.

My wife and I are scheduled to get the vaccine on the 30th. I'm more than a little concerned about the impact it might have on my neuropathy. I don't know which one is being offered here, and I need to schedule an appointment for the 2nd shot.

I've never had any reaction to vaccines until the 2nd shingles vaccine a month ago. The injection site is still sore if I lie on my left side, though I didn't have any immediate reaction. I'm hopeful that the covid vaccine will be effective but benign.

You wrote in the past about eye exercises. I asked my neurologist about that, as well, and he put in his notes to consider it, whenever I'm ready. Prisms corrected the double vision for a month or so, but it returned, and sometimes I see 3 images. When I asked the ophthalmologist what else can be done, he said get used to it. Not a very helpful response. Perhaps you could recommend some research on the subject. Preferably in layman's language.

Jim

@busch In my opinion, we should all be taking the advice of our personal neurologist, or other specialists involved with our individual case.

I often lose long messages just when I'm almost done, too, @artist01 . I also think of questions to ask my doctor after the appointment. Today I should have brought up the covid questions with my neurologist...and I should have asked about the prednisone I take, which is an immuno suppressant. I wonder if Renee @faithwalker007 would have insight into that. I had to stop taking it before a surgery. So many questions, so many conflicting answers, if any. I can send him those questions through his patient portal.

I'm really hoping that the vaccine won't make my very painful idiopathic small fiber sensory peripheral polyneuropathy and autonomic neuropathy.

Jim

@jimhd Hello Jim
Nice to meet someone else who loses almost-typed messages on Mayo Clinic Connect site! I checked it out with my server and was told it was the fault of my phone, and no help was provided through them. I've learned my own devious method of retrieving my unfinished message, as follows:
1. Click on the three small vertical lines at bottom left of screen;
2. Three or more smaller screens you've previously worked on appear;
3. Scroll sideways to locate your "lost"
screen;
4. Click on that screen, and Voila!
You're back where you can finish!
Good luck, Jim. Let me know if this works for you. My best, Laurie