COVID vaccines and neuropathy
I am 85 with small fiber neuropathy that is getting worse. My neurologist thought it would be a good idea for me to wait with the covid vaccine and not be first in line to see how it affected other people with neuropathy. Probably because it is a new technology. Has anyone had a problem with neuropathy after receiving the vaccine? If so, which vaccine?
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@amyd67 i developed neuropathy right after my first Pfizer vaccine back in Dec. The symptoms in my feet sound a lot like yours. I’ve never had peripheral neuropathy until I received the vaccine. I did get the 2nd shot with no worsening. Overall, almost 6 months out now, I’m still having symptoms but they are possibly a little less. severe.
Hello @amyd67 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that Sue responded to you with some thoughts on reporting and when to see a neurologist so will let you respond to her first.
I too never had neuropathy until I took the first Moderna vaccine over 13 weeks ago. Within a week I was suffering from terrible pain and numbness and tingling in all of my extremities. I landed up in the Emergency Room, and have been to my pcp, neurologist, cardiologist. I was diagnosed with vaccine induced peripheral neuropathy, as well as tinnitus, and bulging veins in my arms and legs. I went from a happy and healthy individual before I took the vaccine to someone who now has constant pain in my extremities with a Constant ringing in my ears and veins that I never saw before and look twice the size of the ones I had before. It’s been a nightmare that I have not been given any clue as to when it will end.
I developed small Fiber Neuropathy three months after my second Moderna shot, with cold feet and legs, numbing, etc. I am wondering if that is the cause as a 75 year old I never had anything like this.
Absolutely.
Very well said.
I totally support you, am sorry for what you are experiencing, and understand your feelings. I posted early on and since then have read post after post about those of us with similar experiences. We might differ in exact symptoms or history but we are the same - we had the vaccine and then we had neuropathy - either a flare or a new experience altogether. My symptoms subsided after two months, but then resurfaced and have continued on and off since then. I have received no acknowledgement that this is vaccine related and even though I begged - I couldn't get a round of steroids just to see if it would help. i want to believe that in the future there will be full acknowledgement of this adverse effect but more importantly there will be help for us that are affected. Surely, a protocol can be developed. If there was something more I could do to further this cause, other than report it, I would. In the meanwhile, we need to recognize and support each other in any way possible. If it wasn't for the posts here, I would have thought I was totally alone.
Sorry you are a member of the Covid vaccine/neuropathy club, thank you for kind words and support. It is a shame that since we do not fit the current narrative we are silenced. However, more and more people including doctors are coming forward daily to report that either themselves or their patients have gotten neuropathy after getting the vaccines. Stay strong, keep the faith that truth will prevail.
It may go away over time since yours was drug induced. My son developed neuropathy after being injected with Humira to treat his psoriasis. He was given three rounds of IVIg, and over about 2 years, his has since gone away.
I too posted early in this discussion. I have remained saddened and disheartened as I read the continuing posts going on four months now. And, still so little response from the medical world. As I’ve said numerous times, I am an advocate for the vaccine and it’s obvious impact in helping us conquer this devastating pandemic.
All I’m asking for are answers about why so many of us were impacted with new or increased neuropathy, research as to what might lead to a treatment for our symptoms, and a warning to others that neuropathy may be a side effect of the vaccine.