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← Return to COVID vaccines and neuropathy
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I am a 50 year old male who has been experiencing neuropathy in my feet ever since I received the third COVID (Pfizer) shot. I have never experienced neuropathy symptoms, prior. Within a day of receiving the booster shot I had a lymph node in my arm pit swell and then I lost feeling in my right foot, the shot was given on my right side. This happened in October of 2021 and It has not gone away. I am starting to loose feeling in my left foot now. None of the doctors I’ve seen have offered any explanation or treatment options. I’ve tested negative for diabetes recently and I’ve gone to an orthopedic doctor and had an mri on my back done with no connection to neuropathy found. I Do not know where to turn next. Is there anyone who can suggest another course of action? Where can I go to get a real diagnosis if this is related to the booster shot? Where can I go to get the proper treatment before it gets worse?
Replies to "I am a 50 year old male who has been experiencing neuropathy in my feet ever..."
If you are able I would suggest a visit with a neurologist and have them order an EMG. This might pinpoint or rule out something. The doctors I have seen so far have been less than helpful. One suggested that it might be a small fiber neuropathy. That would be diagnosed by a skin biopsy, but you would have to be at a place where they knew what they were doing, like a university hospital or Mayo if you are in the US. And even if it were to be diagnosed, there is very little it seems that they could do for it besides prescribe Gabapentin. Also, from what I have read small fiber neuropathy is idiopathic more than 40% of the time, meaning they don't know what has caused it. But I think a good neurologist could be your next step.
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Hi @freemanstrees, this must be very concerning for you. You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about
- COVID vaccines and neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-vaccines-and-neuropathy/
I did this so you can see previous posts and more easily connect with others who have experienced neuropathy either as a possible side effect of the vaccine or of an infection from Covid.
For some people, neuropathy from the vaccine has receded with time. I hope this proves to be true for you too. Do you have neuropathic pain or numbness or both?