Connect
← Return to COVID vaccines and neuropathy
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Update: Well, 6 months after my numbness and tingling began after my 4th mRnA shot the symptoms are still continuing. Today was a particularly bad day with the neuropathies. I felt like my legs were vibrating and at the same time really heavy. My doctors here have given up on me, I think. I'm scheduled to have a brain MRI in a few weeks, but the neurologist said "Probably won't tell us anything". The neurologist that was recommended in Denver is scheduled 6 months out and then there is a huge waiting list for 2023. I said to the scheduler, "So, in other words, hopeless". She said, "Pretty much for new patients." I asked the one neurologist in my town about a skin biopsy for small fiber neuropathy diagnosis and she said, "We don't do that here". So , Denver seems hopeless and now I'm considering Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, but don't even know where to begin to find a doctor there. Open to any suggestions. Thanks in advance.
Replies to "Update: Well, 6 months after my numbness and tingling began after my 4th mRnA shot the..."
The neurological symptoms associated with the Covid vaccines usually peak around 7 months. Hopefully, your symptoms will begin to improve soon. The shortage of neurologists is so challenging for both them and patients. I never thought patients in the U.S. would have such limited access to needed health care.
So very sorry. I have similar. Started after second vaccine. Numbness, pins and needles, lots of sensory sensations. My neurologist agrees that the vaccine has “over activated the nervous system” in some patients. It’s like a form of fibromyalgia. I’m 63. I had NO symptoms prior to vaccine. Great health. I still have symptoms. …about 16 months later. No weakness, nor lack of coordination, no pain… just “paresthesia”. It cycles… gets real bad, the entire left side of my body, then subsides. Affects sleep. It sucks yet most days i can totally ignore it. I have to actively manage the “fear” component in my thinking. If I distract myself well, I feel better. I am sorry for us, and hope you feel better soon. 🙏🏻
Would your local Dr be able to make a referral to Mayo for you to see a neurologist? I don’t know if it will work but I saw a local internal medicine Dr last Thurs who took my symptoms serious and has given me a written order/referral to see a neurologist if I can find one and he said he would do the Mayo referral as well. I’m going to follow up with his office tomorrow and will let you know if it works. My symptoms are now impacting not only hands with numbness and tingling but also legs with unsteady walking and my hands are clumsy too makes it difficult to type for my work. I also feel coldness in my hands and forearms. Then last week I started feeling numbness/coldness/burning in my trunk area lower back and across abdomen so it’s still progressing. My Dr last week thinks since it’s been 6 weeks since start of symptoms it’s likely not GBS however he mentioned there were other conditions that progress more slowly that I need evaluated for. One that I found researching online is CIDP
chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
I am so sorry to hear about your illness. Six months to wait for a neurologist is crazy, Denver is a large city and it should not take the long. I am a provider myself and sometimes if I refer someone to another specialty I call myself and talk with the provider and most times they try to work the patient in. Can you ask your primary care provider to call the neurologist and discuss your situation with them and perhaps they can get you in sooner than 6 months. Have you had an EMG? Perhaps with the paresthesia you might suggest that. I sure hope you can find help. Please keep us informed.
Kim
Connect
Impossible to get in to neurology Dpt but worth I try I didn’t succeed