COVID vaccines and neuropathy

Wow! That is fabulous information. Thank you. I’m a liver transplant recipient, but will not get a booster as my neuropathy definitely increased after receiving the initial Covid vaccinations. So, this research may offer some hope.

Hopefully. I am a previous GBS sufferer. My Doctor and neurologist told me not getting 2nd dose for now. So sad. I wanted to feel less scared of Covid and regain some freedom...
Good luck and stay safe!

You too. I’m fortunate to live in Vermont, but new cases are rising here. Plus, we have a lot of tourists. So, back to masking outdoors…

Thanks, Nance.
Here's the English version of the article you reference:
- Highly effective antibodies against the coronavirus were identified https://www.charite.de/en/service/press_reports/artikel/detail/covid_19_berlin_scientists_lay_basis_for_a_passive_vaccination/

Here is the original research paper:
- A Therapeutic Non-self-reactive SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Protects from Lung Pathology in a COVID-19 Hamster Model https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31246-0

I'm so glad I researched back to the original paper. It was only there that it was revealed that this is a study that was published in Nov 2020. It is very important to note that this research is very early and was conducted on hamsters. It has not yet been proven in human trials.

I wasn't able to find any update about their progress with human clinical trials. Were you?

I never had any type of Neuropathy symptoms prior to getting the Moderna shot on 3/29/21. Several days later I started experiencing the tingling in the feet and hands. I felt like the symptoms were subsiding and at the advice of my general doctor got the second shot on 4/26/21. Symptoms became more pronounced after the second shot with burning sensations in feet and hands and numbness in fingertips and toes. I went to see a neurologist and he diagnosed me with Small Fiber Neuropathy. I also found out at my appointment that I cannot feel cold temperatures in portions of my feet and ankles. This started out as annoying but has turned into slightly painful. However, it's not debilitating. I was hoping after four months it would go away or subside some. No luck. I chose not to medicate this as it is tolerable. However, I am very concerned on getting a booster shot when that need arises.

Has anyone been given a precautionary steroid dose PRIOR to either of their vaccinations? If so, how were the effects?

I know some people took steroids afterwards to deal with adverse effects - I'm talking as a preventative measure; a doctor has suggested taking a dose the day before as a way of limiting an overactive response from the body (which, in my case, already had a severe autoimmune response to the actual virus a year ago, causing my neuropathy).

However, from what I've read it seems that taking steroids close to the vaccination would also decrease the effectiveness of the shot in general (though it likely would still give more protection than no shot at all).

Please let me know if anyone has any insight to share - thanks!

Hello @jcc352, Welcome to Connect. Sorry to hear you now have neuropathy as a result of your Moderna COVID vaccine. Hopefully it's only temporary and you will get back to normal. Since you mentioned you chose not to take drugs to help with the pain symptoms of neuropathy, I thought you might find the following information on alternative treatments for neuropathy from the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy helpful.
-- https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/integrative-therapies/

Have you thought about alternative treatments to reduce the symptoms?

I went to Walgreens to get a prescription filled and ended up walking out with the 3rd dose of the phizer vaccine, the booster. I have also had neuropathy symptoms that started after I had received the first 2 vaccine doses, but I think they are a result of my Sjogren's auto immune disease. I will keep you posted.....

Hi.
Sorry to hear that. I have the same but after 1 shot. May I ask if your neurologist did a nerve biopsy to confirm it was small fiber neuropathy?
Thanks for your help.
Nancy

@jetsetter- I'm so glad that you posted this. We can have something show up after being vaccinated that was not caused by the vaccine, but by underlying conditions that were stimulated by your immune system. Woohoo!