COVID vaccines and neuropathy

I had a MRI of the Lumbar Spine and a Nerve Study test done yesterday. I don't know what the outcome is yet since no one called me. The Nerve Study test was not painful for me, but I have a high tolerance. They kept asking if everything was ok. Very professional. I have had this done before. To me, I don't feel the pain was bad. It was like using a TENS unit but a higher frequency.

I’ve had 2 EMG’s. One was very painful and the other not. The doctor I saw where I had no pain said they shouldn’t be painful and if I feel pain tell him and he’ll stop immediately and that he was there to serve me. How often does that happen? So I think it depends on the doctor administering. The good doc said he could always find a different way to get the info if one particular way was too painful.

@kimas, I’m sorry to report that EMG was very uncomfortable for me. I’m not sure if my state of high anxiety may have made it worse. It’s the ultimate irony when a physician is telling you to relax while he is sticking needles into your nerves. However from what I’ve read, everyone does not find it to be as bad as I did. Hopefully you’ll be one of those! They tested upper and lower extremities on both sides and several places around my spine, to the best of my memory. Was trying to block it all out. I, too, have run the gamut of testing. Have had 2 MRI’s which show many degenerative changes in both my lumbar and cervical spine. None of these should have caused my symptoms to start up overnight, however. Currently, I have good days where things are on a very low simmer - just occasional burning or other mild sensations, and not much twitching. And then there are days like yesterday, when it feels like some kind of storm is taking place in my body. It has caused me no end of emotional distress. I now have severe health anxiety - something I never had before. People who say the risks of the vaccine are much worse than any possible side effects - maybe they are right, but they just don’t know what it’s like to have their lives changed overnight. I am not anti-vaccine. On the contrary, I might even get a booster if needed. All this happened to me after the first dose. My neuro advised me that “reactions like this” (whatever that means) are so very rare and quite unlikely to happen again. So I got the 2nd dose and thankfully there was no worsening. As for reporting, I have not yet, but fully intend to very soon. My reason for holding off has mainly been to get consensus from the docs. I wish you the best with your testing and search for answers.

Wow - Lot's of room for chatting here.
As for the EMG, when I had my first one, many years ago, it was done by a tech who was also a nun - she could have been my mean old Latin teacher! She kept telling me "Don't be a baby" "This doesn't hurt" "Offer it up" (if you're an old Catholic school kid you've heard it before). I avoided them like the plague for years - then the next tech was so gentle and reassuring it was amazing - and the pain was much less!

Then there is the matter of the symptoms starting up suddenly - in the world of inflammation, there is a strong theory that any "jolt" to your immune system can cause a reaction to which you are predisposed to suddenly flare up. For example, in addition to vaccines, inflammatory reactions can occur after a virus or infection, surgery, or an unrelated injury.

I believe, from what I have read here on Connect, both about vaccine reactions and neuropathy and PMR, that the exact "cause" may never be known, but symptoms can appear in a similar way. For example, people often first experience neuropathy symptoms after their bodies are stressed by surgery. It sounds like your docs may be thinking this too.

If the only place I ever read about the Covid vaccines was here on Connect, I would be afraid because of so many symptoms being reported here. But like your neuro, I believe the reactions are very rare. For example, over 300,000,000 doses of vaccine have been given in this country, but there are only 428,000 reports of reactions in VAER, and about 75,000 are considered serious. That's a VERY low percentage - it's just that people with reactions come to Connect looking for answers. In fact, in the Covid-19 group, there are about 1000 people, our of 100,000+ Connect members. Of course, symptoms and illnesses don't feel rare when they affect us!

Finally, please get your doc to report this to VAERS - don't waut for a consensus. The more data they have, the better we will all know the vaccines.

I hope your symptoms subside! Please let me know in a few weeks how you are doing.
Sue

I had a MRI of the Lumbar Spine and a Nerve Study test done yesterday. I don't know what the outcome is yet since no one called me. The Nerve Study test was not painful for me, but I have a high tolerance. They kept asking if everything was ok. Very professional. I have had this done before. To me, I don't feel the pain was bad. It was like using a TENS unit but a higher frequency.

Finally was able to see a neurologist yesterday for my neuropathy. Was a short appointment. He listened to my symptoms and concerns. Would not in any way confirm or suggest that this was, or even maybe was, a reaction to the vaccine or having Covid. He says neuropathy can start at any time and I can’t try to pinpoint why? I’m not swayed or convinced otherwise . I’m 53, very healthy with no underlying health issues or trauma. This all started within a week of 2nd vaccine injection. All blood work is normal. Anyway….. the old standby, take more gabapentin, have an EMG nerve study to make sure it is indeed neuropathy….. he also said very unlikely that it will resolve or get better. I’ve decided to, for now, skip the nerve study and not put myself thru the pain and anxiety and expense, as it sounds like treatment plan won’t change. I’m not in a lot of pain, and most of burning is at night. I purchased CBD from a CBD store, came in a roll on liquid mixed with different oils. It’s very cooling upon application. Seems to relieve the burning enough for me to fall asleep, so I’ll stick with that until it no longer works. I’m lucky my husband is an MD, and very much into holistic and natural remedies. I also have a brother who is a PT and has given me lots of advice. Says to not give up yet, that nerves can heal, it’s just a very slow process, stay active. I have started to exercise in my pool and do find relief in this . Again, not in a lot of pain, just more of being irritated. Lucky I guess. I am very pro vaccine, but I don’t think I will be getting a booster shot. Having Covid last winter was not pleasant, but this sucks too.

@dablues I’m wondering if what you had was a nerve conduction velocity study (NCVS). I have had that as well as EMG. NCVS was not painful and as you said, felt like very mild electrical shocks. EMG on the other hand was a whole different ballgame, extremely painful and there was blood involved. 😬