COVID vaccines and neuropathy

Posted by cue @cue, Feb 15, 2021

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

@ninette

No, I developed peripheral neuropathy after a brain stroke, cauda equina syndrome and a spinal stroke. The vaccines made it worse temporarily, esp in the legs. They became really stiff and painful but after 6 weeks (last booster) it subsided. I'm curious to see what a half dose booster will do. Git it this morning. I prefer 6 weeks of pain to getting a bad case of Covid, that's for sure.

Jump to this post

Though my neuropathy came on a few hours after my 4th booster, I did go ahead and get the Omicron booster and a flu shot 2 weeks ago. I did not notice any worsening symptoms. In fact, I was hoping the booster would decrease the symptoms, lol. I am high risk for covid , as is my husband and I would rather put up with the neuropathies then be on a ventilator for 6 months and die any way, which is what happened to a friend of mine in 2020, before there was a vaccine.

REPLY
@detc

I’m so sorry to hear about the severity of your neuropathy. I also presented with bilateral neuropathy after my first Moderna booster. I was extremely worried about what was happening to me. I had the great fortune of finding a wonderful neurologist in Cleveland who had seen several patients with the same problem after vaccination. Hearing that made me feel less alone. She could only say that there was “high suspicion” of vaccine induced neuropathy. Obviously, it can’t be proven. She was open to the possibility especially after seeing a photo of my arm after my first shot. I had a rash on almost the whole upper part of my arm a week post shot. She prescribed Gabapentin to help with the discomfort and for me, it was effective. The other thing that she told me was that she thought that this type of neuropathy could possibly heal. Regeneration is very slow when it does happen. I am so thrilled to say that after 9 months, I am just now trying to completely stop the medication and am able to return to walking 3 miles a day and hiking. When this started, I could barely walk from the bedroom to the kitchen. Incredibly blessed and I hope this gives you and others in this situation some hopeful, positive thoughts. I wish you the best.

Jump to this post

That is truly encouraging. I am so happy for you!

Is your doctor seeing new out-of-state patients? I can't seem to find a doctor that believes the vaccine is to blame. If your doctor is seeing new OOS patients, I'd love to get her name.

I fall back on the theory of Occam's Razor. If it sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, and looks like a duck ... it's probably a duck.

REPLY
@selene53

Though my neuropathy came on a few hours after my 4th booster, I did go ahead and get the Omicron booster and a flu shot 2 weeks ago. I did not notice any worsening symptoms. In fact, I was hoping the booster would decrease the symptoms, lol. I am high risk for covid , as is my husband and I would rather put up with the neuropathies then be on a ventilator for 6 months and die any way, which is what happened to a friend of mine in 2020, before there was a vaccine.

Jump to this post

Exactly. Had the shot 24 hours ago and last night was painful, with lots of leg spasms. Slept maybe 3 hours, if that. Still, it's preferable to getting Covid. Let's hope the side effects won't last long this time.

REPLY
@txsongbird

That is truly encouraging. I am so happy for you!

Is your doctor seeing new out-of-state patients? I can't seem to find a doctor that believes the vaccine is to blame. If your doctor is seeing new OOS patients, I'd love to get her name.

I fall back on the theory of Occam's Razor. If it sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, and looks like a duck ... it's probably a duck.

Jump to this post

Thank you. I’m glad that you’re encouraged.
Since you asked for my doctor’s name, she is Dr. Barbara Merriman. She practices at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
Good luck with your journey going forward.

REPLY

I had two shots of Moderna (no booster for me!) and developed bilateral peripheral neuropathy after those two shots.

Life has been a living hell. In addition to the neuropathy in my feet and legs, I'm struggling with lack of bladder control, horrible brain fog, and am unable to walk w/o a walker or cane and can no longer drive. All of this while I'm still in my 50s and have plenty of life left to live.

I go from being angry to sad to depressed, and back again at any given moment. I cry almost daily. I feel robbed of the life I had due to the COVID vaccines. They were poison to my body and kicked off the neuropathy quickly after the jabs. I never suffered from neuropathy before the vax.

I am having to shut down my successful business b/c my brain and legs simply do not work anymore, and there is no way I can keep up the demanding pace.

I am praying hard that my disability will be approved. I never imagined that I would EVER be in this position.

REPLY

I developed Small Fiber Neuropathy and Erythromelalgia after after an MRI with Gadolinium and the Covid vaccine acted as an accelerator. Did not take the second booster but am considering the new released booster for Omicron. Did you take it and did you have any side effects?

REPLY

I am a 75-year-old Chinese man living in Hong Kong, used to be very active in running marathons, 60-mile trail events and doing Taiji daily. But after my first jab of the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on March 12, 2021 all these have to stopped because I developed severe adverse events (SAE). Initially it was GBS, now compounded by peripheral neuropathy. My right legs became weak, feel numb intermittently and often aches, making even walking with a hiking pole for 1 km on paved, flat surfaces difficult.

I hope to learn from anyone with similar conditions on how to deal with my conditions in terms of treatment and medication.

Many thanks.
speeto

REPLY
@speeto

I am a 75-year-old Chinese man living in Hong Kong, used to be very active in running marathons, 60-mile trail events and doing Taiji daily. But after my first jab of the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on March 12, 2021 all these have to stopped because I developed severe adverse events (SAE). Initially it was GBS, now compounded by peripheral neuropathy. My right legs became weak, feel numb intermittently and often aches, making even walking with a hiking pole for 1 km on paved, flat surfaces difficult.

I hope to learn from anyone with similar conditions on how to deal with my conditions in terms of treatment and medication.

Many thanks.
speeto

Jump to this post

I am so sorry this happened to you. Being a nurse, I was one of the first people to get the Pfizer vax. I developed neuropathy symptoms in less than one week after the first dose. My symptoms have been milder than what you describe but still have affected me greatly over the last couple of years. I feel my mental health has suffered the most. I wish I could give advice as to what might help, but I have found that nothing does except that time has very gradually eased the severity. Best wishes to you!

REPLY
@txsongbird

I had two shots of Moderna (no booster for me!) and developed bilateral peripheral neuropathy after those two shots.

Life has been a living hell. In addition to the neuropathy in my feet and legs, I'm struggling with lack of bladder control, horrible brain fog, and am unable to walk w/o a walker or cane and can no longer drive. All of this while I'm still in my 50s and have plenty of life left to live.

I go from being angry to sad to depressed, and back again at any given moment. I cry almost daily. I feel robbed of the life I had due to the COVID vaccines. They were poison to my body and kicked off the neuropathy quickly after the jabs. I never suffered from neuropathy before the vax.

I am having to shut down my successful business b/c my brain and legs simply do not work anymore, and there is no way I can keep up the demanding pace.

I am praying hard that my disability will be approved. I never imagined that I would EVER be in this position.

Jump to this post

I'm so very sorry this happened to you. Do you have any homeopathic doctors or acupuncture (classical chinese might be best?) near you? There are a whole host of vitamins that many of us are taking to help our bodies recover. It is slow and painstaking and some days I feel like I will never return to "normal" - but when I look back, I am making slow progress. There is an online event tonight called "Kindred Cafe" for the vaccine injured. Perhaps join and learn? I have not ever attended one of these -but plan to tonight. Email: Talia@hugo.health to get the link. Hope to "See" you there! JG

REPLY
@txsongbird

I had two shots of Moderna (no booster for me!) and developed bilateral peripheral neuropathy after those two shots.

Life has been a living hell. In addition to the neuropathy in my feet and legs, I'm struggling with lack of bladder control, horrible brain fog, and am unable to walk w/o a walker or cane and can no longer drive. All of this while I'm still in my 50s and have plenty of life left to live.

I go from being angry to sad to depressed, and back again at any given moment. I cry almost daily. I feel robbed of the life I had due to the COVID vaccines. They were poison to my body and kicked off the neuropathy quickly after the jabs. I never suffered from neuropathy before the vax.

I am having to shut down my successful business b/c my brain and legs simply do not work anymore, and there is no way I can keep up the demanding pace.

I am praying hard that my disability will be approved. I never imagined that I would EVER be in this position.

Jump to this post

I am praying for you. I got the Pzifet shot and am in the same situation.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.