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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I have been diagnosed with CIDP and I am currently being treated with IgG infusions. Today was my third dose so I am not sure if this will help. Stay strong and always look for more information, we are learning more everyday regarding the vaccine. My prayers are with you.
This makes a lot of sense, had the same!
@debmitchell101614 thank you for sharing. My experiences have been remarkably similar to yours. My struggle for answers has been unsuccessful. I feel like I am fighting on my own most of of the time, as my neurologist is not invested in my situation. You mentioned that the docs say there’s a problem with your reflexes. Are they hyper- or hypo-reactive? Mine are overreactive, which is troubling. However I have had cervical spine issues for quite a long time and I believe this could contribute. At times I’m convinced I have MS although MRI said I don’t. I’ve asked my MD to do lumbar puncture, which he didn’t choose to do. I may have to insist although I’m not sure if one year post it would be as useful now. At times I am very fearful of ALS also, which an EMG did rule out but I now worry that it may have been done too early. They said my EMG indicated pinched nerve root at S1 and are trying to attribute my many and varied symptoms to that. I’m very doubtful as I’ve had back problems for years and just overnight developed these other symptoms. I have strange sensations, twitching and spasms. This has been the worst year of my life, and it should have been the best. It does help to read others’ stories. Very best wishes for you!
Good morning.
I'm sorry to hear you are going through this as well. Yes, I can honestly say that this has been the worse year of my life. It is the most hopeless and helpless that I have ever felt.
My reflexes are hyper I think. They are overreactive also. I've thought the same thing about MS and so did the doctors I guess, because I've been two different hospital systems and they both sent me to a MS specialist and both times they have said it is not MS, but my symptoms mimic it very much.
I agree it helps to know that you are not alone. Hopefully soon, someone will have a breakthrough on this and they will come up with a way to help us.
Best wishes to you as well.
Thank you for sharing this with me. I am definitely going to mention this to my doctor.
I am trying to and yes, I'm constantly looking for things because I want my life back. Did your doctor finally determine that it was from the vaccine? My doctors think that but won't really say it out loud. They have put on my paperwork that it started after the vaccine but won't come out yet to say it was from the vaccine.
I pray that the treatment starts working for you and you start feeling better soon.
Thanks again. I really appreciate the information.
Thank you for sharing this information with me. I am going to ask my doctor about this next week and see his thoughts. No, I don't have a rheumatologist. I have only been referred to different types of neurologists over the past year. Not until recently would any of the doctors even mention the vaccine was a possible cause. I think it is only now that they are even entertaining the idea because they have no other idea what else it could be.
Thank you I hope they figure it out soon too.
What is your diagnosis?
I found this information about Novavax, the interesting part is where they say it could work well for people who are allergic to certain ingredients in MRDNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) such as polyethylene glycol, which can cause neuropathy flares. We just heard that in Belgium people with a compromised immune system will get a 4th vaccine (booster) soon, so I hope I can try Novavax then, because with Moderna my symptoms got worse after every injection. https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/moths-and-tree-bark-how-the-novavax-vaccine-works
I to have fibro and am not vaccinated because of multiple allergies. I found a place that will do allergy testing for the two 'identified' allergens. I was also told that the CDC has lots of information on the ingredients in some of the vaccines. I'm concerned now for any vaccine. I'm sorry that you have been so badly affected by the vaccine. I was diagnosed with fibro in 1996. There is a top doc now in rheumatology and fibro, Don Goldenberg. I'm planning to call his office or see if I can write to him to ask about this problem. Just search for Don Goldenberg. He has his own website. All the best and good thoughts that you may find something that helps.
I'm so so sorry this has happened to you. I had flu-like symptoms after my first vaccine (moderna) and 5 days after the second vaccine it was as if someone broke every bone in my arms and hands. Or maybe took all the bones out and put them back in the wrong place. I had jaw pain, tooth pain, lock jaw, and shooting pains down my arms and legs, muscle spasms, muscles that would seize and not let go, burning and numbing/tingling. I'm a clarinetist and teacher.....and according to 2 Universities where I teach, I am "unvaccinated" because I have refused the booster. My symptoms have dissipated over the past 10 months but have not gone away by any means. I've been seeing my chiropractor because my Doctor of 25 years has been of NO help....however, my chiro team has been amazing! The only thing that has helped is extra rest, vitamins and homeopathic medicines and epsom salt baths. My main take-away (thank goodness for this group) is that I'm NOT alone! I too am a 55 year old female and my regular doctor and team told me I'm getting old and denied that this sudden onset of extreme symptoms could be linked to the vaccine. I was ridiculously healthy before this - a runner and yogi. I'm so upset that they dismiss women - especially older women....and folks need to talk about these side effects because I think they are more common than we realize. The vaccine needs to be tweaked - but it will only improve if enough people tell their stories. Thank you for sharing yours!