Hi all, I'm new to this site as I've only recently been diagnosed with fibo. I have extreme neck and shoulder pain constantly and the rest I can manage with pain killers. I was told that there is nothing to cure or ease my symptoms other then physiotherapy
I take B12 shots very accasionaly when it's too much and strangely this helps so much at least for a whole week it eases my pain. The shots are not priscribed by the doctor. One of my best friends has PA and so I take a shot off her when I can't bare the pain. Has anyone else been through anything similar? What help is there available and any advice would be appreciated.
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Raven321
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Hi Raven, welcome to the site. I too have severe neck and shoulder pain and find massage and bowen therapy have been best for dealing with this. For pain I take gabapentin, tramadol and ibuprofen but heat of any kind is also helpful. Also being aware of what makes the pain worse for me, hoovering, carrying bags of shopping, lifting saucepans and driving and avoiding these things. Can I ask what the B12 injection does ? All the best
Hello Shazzy- B12 is a vital vitamin for energy and it relieves fatigue, it might not work after one injection I am on a course of 6 every 6 weeks, the practice nurse does it so I don't have to wait ages for a docs appt.
Thanks Caz, is it very effective, does it work immediately? I have heard of them but have no experience. I presume they are more effective than tablets, thanks for help.
I cant say it works for everyone, it depends if you need B12.I,ve had 2 of the 6 injections and I can say the fatigue has dropped. I think anything thru a needle directly into a muscle or from an infusion into a vein works quicker and more effectively as it doesn,t go thru our digestion, I,ve had lidocaine via I.V infusion 3 times in 15 years at A&E because I couldn,t get pain under control but to get b12 you need to checked for it by way of a blood test.
Hi everyone. I've been on vitamin b 12 tablets, They told me they are for anemia and the red blood cells get enlarged so they are to regulate the red blood cells against the white ones.( helped with the head spinning and light headedness.) The injections were 1 a week for 6 weeks and the tablets were taken 3 times daily for 26 weeks, then they tested my blood again to see how it had regulated and was given 3 more weeks worth. It seemed to do the trick for the anemia, as far as my fibro goes am still fighting to get a doctor to agree that I do have it. there treating me for it, but not actually saying Mrs. P you are being treated for fibro. This is where i could actually scream the roof of the surgery off. I know how you and all our friends on here feel. everyone is different the severity of pains differs day by day. Hope you don't suffer too much and get some relief.
Hi Raven321 and welcome to our wonderful forum ☺I'm sure you will come to find the forum invaluable in chatting to others who are going through the same experience as you & talking to others at different stages of their lives with Fibro & learning from their experiences.
It does help with the whole process and I wish I had found the site years ago. I have had Fibro for nearly 30 yrs and I'm still learning about it, like we are.
Well firstly, your doctor is right when he told you there is no cure but I beg to differ about the, nothing to ease your symptoms.
There is pain management which your doctor can refer you to. There is also specific medication for Fibro that your doctor can give you, which all help. Heat, sometimes cold, Massage, Hydrotherapy. swimming, gentle excersize, so yes there are things that help.
Please do go look at the mother site where you will find all the information you need and lots of useful links on Fibro and I look forward to chatting to you on the forum.
I would also like to say that I'm a bit concerned that you are taking medication that hadn't been prescribed for you and would just like to point out the dangers of doing this. I know it's only a vitamin but vitimin b12 does interfere with other medications, shouldn't be taken when pregnant and i just copied this for you to look at.
Although vitamin B-12 is generally considered to be safe, and no "Upper Tolerable Intake Level" has been established, there are some reports of doses of 20 mcg per day or higher causing outbreaks of acne and rosacea. There is also a study which showed that a high-dose B complex supplement (with 1,000 mcg of B-12) hurt, rather than helped, people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and advanced kidney disease, resulting in a worsening of kidney function and an increase in the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.
In women who are pregnant, excessive blood levels of vitamin B-12 have been associated with an increased risk of autism in their child.
In general, it's best to avoid excessive doses of any vitamin if it is not needed.
I agree Janet, only have it via your g.p or consultant, taking vits over the counter, firstly most of them are not 100% what they say loads of placebo and additives in them, and secondly there is chances of overdosing on vits if you don't. need them, thus causing things that you describe, anyone who had diabetes should ALWAYS ask their doc before venturing onto ANYTHING from over the counter.
Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I am so gneuinely sorry to read of how you are suffering and struggling and I sincerely hope that you can find some resolution to these issues.
As Janet28 says, it is concerning that you are taking medication that is not meant for you. It is possible to overdose on vitamins and supplements with serious side effects. I would talk to your doctor about having a blood test to check your B12 levels and see what they think about them?
I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck, and please take care of yourself my friend.
Just to confirm what has been said about taking B12 injections . In the past I've wondered why my gp as never offered me injections as my B12 is always very low so I decided to ask for them only to be told that as I have an hereditary kidney disease and have had one kidney removed it would be very damaging on my remaining kidney .
Also B12 as said can stop other drugs from doing their job . The other thing is I have to take injections twice weekly and you need a proffesional to show how and where to inject .
Take care Linda x
Hi Raven welcome to fibro madhouse!! I too suffer with neck, shoulder stiffness and pain and my g.p has recently decided to give me B12 for fatigue-ir does help.. for the neck and shoulder pain I have a TENS machine which I can wear and move around, even drive. It does relieve some suffering but I find hydrotherapy better, you can stretch and move in water without pain and get some relief, you will need a physio to arrange this for you, I prefer it to the thumb screw method some physios offer!!
Heat pads and Linnex are my best friends. Linnex is a heat stick available on the internet, costs £20ish with postage via Linnex.co.uk. Expensive but lasts ages as you only need a tiny amount. My pain management consultant has checked ingredients and there's nothing dodgy! Osteopath also really helpful, but get someone to recommend a good one. Ask your GP to refe to pain management.
Hi Raven321. have you gone to a pain clinic yet? I've had a nerve block for severe neck pain and got relief. It's temporary but it's been for me four months so far.also for my shoulders I had lidocaine inj and very happy with results. I know everyone has different out comes but mine where good. For me the pain was driving me mad. Hope you find relief! Chris
Hi all thank you for all your wonderful and informative responses! Injection to block a nerve? That sounds amazing as I'm sure it would reduce the pain. Can my doctor inject me with the meds you had for shoulder pain?
Hi Raven,i had to go to the pain clinic to get lidocaine inj for my shoulders and still pleased with the results! As for the nerve block same dr. But had to be done at surgery center as day surgery, just a few hours really! You my be able for steroid injections, hope this is helpful. Chris
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