Neuropathy post-Covid infection: Is there treatment that helps?

Your response to the steroids strongly suggests an autoimmune response. You might suggest with your doctor whether that positive response might make you a good candidate for IVIG treatment.

The suggested research resource offered by volunteer mentor, John, appears to be solid and
valuable information for long haulers with neuromuscular symptoms that are not revealed with blood work and EMG. The challenge is finding a neurologist that is not long hauler phobic and actually believes your sufferings...Print the article and present it to a neurologist that will respect it. I'm in that process currently. This is the referenced article: Post-COVID pain or weakness? MRI can pinpoint nerve damage: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2020/12/covid-pain-nerve-damage/

I just saw my physician yesterday about nerve sensations that are flaring up all around my body, and the shin of my legs that are inflamed and hurt to touch. I was referred to neurology and put on gabapentin and lidocaine ointment. I had covid August 2020. He said this is most likely a result of the inflammation from covid. It's like all my nerves are just firing off. Not a great feeling. I currently take several supplements including magnesium, B1, probiotic, omega oils, and protandim NRF2, NRF1, NAD. Sudden onset about 2 weeks ago. Any advice would help.

Welcome @jerzgrl77. You'll notice that I moved your question to this existing discussion about post-COVID syndrome and neuropathy. I did that so you can connect with others, like @erice10 @user628267 @foxpride @rmca, who are experiencing neuropathy since having the virus. To see past posts, click this link to read from the beginning.

@johnbishop might have some thoughts on the supplements you're taking. See this discussion in the Neuropathy group.
- Supplement recommendations: What can help neuropathy? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/supplement-recommendations-can-help/

Jerzgrl, are the gabapentin and lidocaine ointment helping to calm the flares and pain? Were the supplements recommended specifically for the neuropathy?

Hello @jerzgrl77, I would like to add my welcome along with @colleenyoung and other members. I also take supplements specifically for my neuropathy which I do think help with providing the peripheral nerves what they need on a cellular nutrition level. I posted my journey with neuropathy in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/

The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has a list of supplements known to help neuropathy -- https://www.foundationforpn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Supplements-Not-highlighted.pdf

Two sites that have excellent information on neuropathy if you want to learn more:
-- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/neuropathy/neuropathy-overview
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/

My latest E-News from the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy had a link to the following article that I thought was interesting.

Peripheral Neuropathy Observed in Patients With 'Long COVID': https://consumer.healthday.com/peripheral-neuropathy-described-in-patients-with-long-covid-2656824256.html

Did you have the Covid vaccines? Many of us are experiencing the symptoms you describe as a side effects of the vaccines. In many cases, the nerve damage is caused by a delayed autoimmune reaction that develops over a period of months. It seems odd that your nerve symptoms would take 1.5 years to appear, if they resulted from Covid. The side effects of the vaccines, which are new technology, are poorly recognized by the medical community. To learn more, you could join the Neuro V Long-Haulers group on Facebook.

Agreed. My covid neuropathy returned a few weeks after getting the 2nd vaccine and also after the booster. It lasted about 3 months along with some of the other covid symptoms I had. I contracted covid the end of 2/20. I don’t know about any more boosters for me!

I'm 74 and pretty sensitive to most medications. I have peripheral neuropathy in both my feet and deal with a constellation of pain and stuff I just live with. I am on 1800 mg of Gabapentin and it is slowly getting worse.

I had the Moderna Vaccine initially and then the Pfizer booster. I had one really miserable day after each shot with aches, fever, chills and joint pain. Yesterday I got a Moderna Booster and about 3 hours later my Neuropathy increases by a factor of 5. The kicker is when I get a bad attack I take a Tramadol and it gives me great relief. However, not this time. It does nada. So the next day and I think the Neuropathy is beginning to return to its previous state. The aches and pain and chills are gone but I have terrible fatigue.

Sorry you’re going through this. I can sympathize with you as I had horrible neuropathy all over my body and in my muscles for over 4 months after I got covid in early 2020. I was also on Gabapentin, 600 mg three times a day. It helped me but not 100% There are other neuro drugs but they have more side effects. Ask your Dr about upping your dose (it’s a high dose already) or trying Lyrica which has more side effects but might help. I had worse rebound covid symptoms after the 2nd vaccine for 3 months and the booster it was over 4 months. The nerve pain came back on and off but it’s pretty much gone now and I had the booster last December. I wonder if it makes a difference what strain of covid you had in regards to your symptoms? Covid also effects older people more and I’m 67.
Good luck my dear and I hope you feel better because nerve pain is the worst pain and the hardest to treat.