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COVID vaccines and neuropathy

Neuropathy | Last Active: Nov 7 12:50pm | Replies (2237)

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@sdf2000

Unfortunately, the 1st shot of the Pfizer definitely inflamed a pre-existing though mild neuropathy in the feet. By mild, I mean virtually no pain, no problems sleeping, able to walk, run, exercise, lift weights, squat and deadlift without impediment. It has been chronic but stable condition for almost 20 years. it had actually improved a bit over the years with consistent diet, exercise and ALA/B12 supplementation.

Within 30 minutes of the shot, an annoying paresthesia developed in the injection arm. The next day it spread to the other arm. Annoying, not alarming. However, 36 hours later, that mild neuropathy in the feet was no longer so mild. Increased numbness in the toes and balls of the feet(for both feet). Sensory loss spread to the ankles. An intermittent weakness developed in the back of the legs. Not a muscular weakness. No loss of balance or strength(I lift weights every day). 4 days later, it became alarming enough that I began to call around for treatment options. Unfortunately(or fortunately, I suppose), because of my general good health, I have no existing patient relationship with a specialist, or even a GP for that matter(although I do have an anti-aging doc). I'm virtually locked out from seeking immediate treatment from a medical specialist. Urgent Care can't treat this sort of thing. And they don't give referrals. So, self-treatment it is. This is almost certainly an adverse immune response to the inflammation from the shot. My understanding was that the extended soreness in the arm was supposed to come on the 2nd shot. But I experienced it with the first shot(5 days for the soreness to fully subside). So, around day 5, I undertook an extended 3 day fast as a crash course to reduce the inflammation. That mitigated the symptoms, but the severity returned the next day after breaking the fast. I did another 28 hour fast, but I'm fasted out for the time being. I lost about 10 lbs, and I don't want to get any thinner. I was already pretty lean to begin with. I've ordered up some specialty lab work to check for any irregularities(the usual lab work for lipids, thyroid,CBC, CMP are always normal). I'm not diabetic. Overnight blood glucose with the meter is always around low 90s(mg/DL), and it rarely rises above 120 even after a full meal. However, it takes 36+ hours of fasting to get it below 90 and 50+ hours to get it into the 70s. I'm not sure that is exactly healthy normal. More often than not, blood glucose irregularities are ultimately at the root of most neuropathies.

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Replies to "Unfortunately, the 1st shot of the Pfizer definitely inflamed a pre-existing though mild neuropathy in the..."

@sdf2000- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It looks as if you have chosen not to become part of the health system in the US. You said that you have an anti-aging doctor. Can he help with recommendations to specialists for help with your symptoms?

I'm interested to understand why you included fasting in your attempt to lessen your neuropathy. It has always been my understanding that eating lessens pain especially eating foods that help reduce inflammation. Was this your goal?

You are right in connecting chronically high blood sugar levels to neuropathy because it can cause damage to the blood vessels that supply your nerves with nutrients. They can damage your nerve fibers as well. This damage results in nerves that don't function correctly, a condition known as peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy can either be inherited, or develop due to injury or illness. For instance, a disease may cause nerve endings to become sensitized and signal pain without an obvious cause. Or the nerve cell outer sheath, the myelin coating, could degenerate and disrupt the normal transmission of nerve signals. And there are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy each with its own symptoms and prognosis. Symptoms vary depending on the type of nerves—motor, sensory, or autonomic—that are damaged.

Your neuropathy sounds very painful. Are you now thinking about getting a PCP and then a specialist?