COVID vaccines and neuropathy

Hi, I am 49 years old and I had the final dose of the Pfizer vaccine in mid April. On May 2nd, about 2-3 weeks later, I began having ankle swelling and problems with veins. 2 months later I am still dealing with this problem, plus a new symptom for the last 3-4 weeks of neuropathy throughout my entire body. I've never had these issues beforehand. I haven't received any official diagnosis although I've been through blood labs and ultrasounds. I'm heading to a circulation specialist next week and then off to a neurologist after that. Since this lines up so closely with the vaccine and I had no prior issues, I wonder if it is related. I will post if I have any updates.

Sorry for everyone who is having the same symptoms I have. Mine happened a month or so after the second shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Mine started in my feet, progressed to my legs, then hands, then arms. Just diagnosed as having small fiber neuropathy. NEVER had it before. Has anyone had a partial or complete reversal of their neuropathy? Please respond on this forum or privately. Thank you so much.

Hi I'm in Canada so there wasn't much choice but it was 12 weeks between the two shots. I agonized over the 2nd but the delta variant is sweeping through this area so went ahead with fingers crossed. Now firmly uncrossed.

Oh. So the symptoms were so bad even with 12 weeks wait?? Wow. I leave in London. It s 12 weeks as well

Thank you for offering updates, it will be interesting to hear what you learn, since quite a few people here are having symptoms after vaccine.
Since many people never learn the exact cause of their neuropathy (or many other conditions) there may not be a definitive answer. It will also be interesting to know if it subsides over time, and whether it was passage of time, or a treatment, that helped.
Good luck.
Sue

My wife had been dealing with PN for years. She has seen a couple of Dr.s that want to put her on medication without doing testing of any sort, they just tell her she has PN. One Dr. put her on Cymbalta, and in hindsight overdosed her. She had a lot of brain fog from that and the Dr. wouldn't see her again. She weaned herself off of it, but still thinks she has effects from it. She has tried all kinds of supposed cures as many desperate people do. Mainly her feet tingle and burn along with numbness, but she learned to live with it. She got the first Pfizer vaccine shot without too much trouble, but after the 2nd shot she is in misery most of the time hoping it will eventually subside, but it has been 3 months since the 2nd shot with no relief. She also has the feeling bugs are crawling on her and one mosquito bite seems to trigger every bite she has ever had with incessant itching. From what I have seen there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Hello @krn, Welcome to Connect. Sorry to hear your wife has been dealing the PN for years without much help. There is another discussion you may want to read through to learn what others have shared about their neuropathy journey -- Member Neuropathy Journey Stories: What's Yours?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/member-neuoropathy-journey-stories-whats-yours/

You may find the following sites helpful for learning more about neuropathy:
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/
-- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/

Has your wife tried any alternative therapies or treatments?

I received my 2nd vaccine about a mouth ago . I recently went to the doctor and was diagnosed w peripheral neuropathy . I get numbness in my extremities . It gets worse at night and when I wake up. My doctor told me to stay away from alcohol . Has any one out there had these side effects of numbness ?

Hi @chloeb2 and welcome. You'll notice that I moved your message to this discussion about COVID vaccines and neuropathy. You may also be interested in joining fellow members in the Neuropathy support group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuropathy/

Hello @chloeb2 and welcome to Mayo Connect. If you read through this discussion from the beginning you will see that a number of members have had these reactions, some for the first time ever, others as a return of previous symptoms.
Many with new or mild symptoms see them improve over time.
Studies are underway to determine why this happens, but it is most likely an overreaction by your immune system to the vaccine. It has happened in the past with other vaccines like shingles.
Has your doctor recommended any treatment? Do your symptoms seem to be improving?
Sue