Very Important Information - Neuropathy Message Board

patches748 · 01-07-2002, 11:47 AM

I am 53 years old and was diagnosed with Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord due to low B-12 levels.....but you need to know several things:

1) doctors cannot just go by a B-12 level to discover if you are suffering from B-12 deficiency;

2) if you showed folate deficiency then treating you for that if you have an unknown B-12 deficiency then it can lead to permanent damage to spinal cord;

3) you need to have several tests run concerning B-12 and folate to make sure that you are being treated correctly.

If doctors mess up like they did with me then even though I have or should have B-12 shots for the rest of my life.......it only slows the progress but does not stop it. Prognosis for me is not good in this kind of situation.

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WoodRunner · 02-16-2002, 12:22 PM

Hi Patches. Thanks for your advice. I was suffering from painful Neuropathy after just coming back into controlled (normal range) blood sugar levels. I had been running very high sugars for 5 month prior. My endo doc said it was my high sugars that did the nerve damage causing the painful neuropathy. However, at the same time, they said I was B-12 deficient. (230 approx. I think.) They said I had Pernicious Anemia. So, they have me taking B-12 shots each month. I'm concerned... is it possible I'm getting too much B-12 now? By the way... the pain from the neuropathy is gone, but I'm on 2700mg's of Neurontin/Gabapentin. Thanks for any input.