Vitamin B12/Nerve problems - Neuropathy Message Board

phd_1993 · 02-17-2005, 11:05 AM

I am feeling a kind of numbness in my feet (fingers) from last 10 months. I have well controlled (Hba1c-5.8 to 6.5%) type 2 diabetes from last 5 yrs. My total cholesterol is 175. I am told that this kind of “neuropathy” problems won’t come until you have an uncontrolled diabetes (Hba1c above 7.2%) for a long time. I know that one may get neuropathy even if some leg (some times neck) arteries/veins are blocked by cholesterol. What I am telling is I should not have experienced neuropathy problems. I am a kind of vegan i.e, I do not take any animal products. Very rarely I take some milk. This suggests that I am lacking some vitamins especially B12/Folic acid. According to www, if we supplement B12 and Folic acid, these nerve problems may be gone in about 12 to 18 months if they are in the initial stages of neuropathy. Yes, right now I started taking orally 1500 micrograms of B12 + 800 micrograms of folic acid per day. What information I need from you? Anybody in the same boat as me? OR any body tried this route and at least got help for neuropathy problems? Thanks

whatamess@35 · 02-18-2005, 04:48 PM

I am currently taking 2000 mg's of methyl b12 and a b100 mg complex everyday for nerve damage.. so far i only feel relief in my feet.I have yet to feel any releif in my upper extremeties!!
I have been diagnosed with periphal neuropathy!I have had this for the past year and have no idea as to why!!
From what i have learned about repairing nerve damage you are right about the time frame in the vitamins working but i dont believe it ever totally heals the nerves just the symptoms.I believe i will have to take b vits the rest of my life!!

phd_1993 · 02-20-2005, 03:28 PM

whatamess, thanks for your reply. I have another question. Did the Doc found that you have big red blood corpusules due to lack of vit B12/folic acid or did he do any other test such as homocysteine in your blood to determine the lack of vit b12?? Sometimes you may take vit b12, but if you lack interinic factor in your stomach, taking vit b12 may be useless.

whatamess@35 · 02-23-2005, 04:29 PM

Hi phd-1993
I was told by my doctor that my b12 tests came back normal.
The result was 293..That didnt make me happy.So i went online reading on my own..I understand that if i have stomache problems i wont absorb it.I have done alot of reasearch on my own ,before taking anything.
I am taking methyl b12 2000mcg's a day along with a b100 complex..Also many other vits,to make sure i am balanced out..I have had wonderful results so far with my neuropathic pain in my feet..I am still waiting for results in my upper extrememties..So to answer your question..No i havent had all the tests you mentioned.I am going on what i have learned on my own!!
I have seen 5 docs in the last year.Trying to figure out whats going on with me.Not one has mentioned b12 to help me with the nerve pain.NOT ONE!!!
I had such severe pain in my feet that i could hardly walk,when i found this info online ,by myself through research..Hence why i didnt go back for more testing from the docs!
Take care,i hope your vitamins work well for you also!!Just make sure you take b12 and bcomplex .As usually when you are deficient in one you are deficient in all..Also dont take them at the same time as your other vitamins..

rjdarling · 02-25-2005, 01:18 PM

Hello,
I am new to this website. I am going through the strangest episode that I think you may relate to. My older brother has pernicious anemia, which is the B12 deficiency in which one lacks intrinsic factor in the stomach. About 7 months ago, I started having some major neurological symtptoms, including burning in buttocks, right hamstring and thigh all the way to my foot. Now I have aching joints all on my right side. I have been checked for B12, but I was told the test came back normal. Now I have ringing in my ears. I have been put on Neurontin 600mg 3x per day, but it seems to have very little effect. Do you suggest using B12 even though the doctors say that I am normal as far as b12 is concerned. I'm looking for a miracle here. I've been married 18 months, and in that time my health has gone from perfect to pathetic. I've been to more doctors and specialists than I can count. I had a Disc removed from my spine last April of '04. I was fine after the surgery for about 3-4 months. I started having burning on my right upper body. I was given a CT-Myelogram which I was told came back as normal. Then after about 2-3 more weeks, I had all these neurological freak outs. I didn't even know this stuff existed until I started feeling it. Anyway, I've been told it's all in my head and that I have nothing that would show up on a test to reveal something is wrong with me. I know that I feel WRONG. With my brother being diagnosed at 32 and I'm 29, I wonder if there is a link. Please advise as I said, I'm looking for a miracle. Can I just go get B12 at the pharmacy? My brother has to shoot it into himself about once a month.

Rich