Left armpit pain?

[BigCatFreak]

I have pain/burning in my feet from recently diagnosed neuropathy, but today I started having some pretty hard shooting pains in my left armpit. When I searched it was mentioned it could be due to b vitamin deficiency. Anybody have experience with that? Currently SI cyanocobalamin every day.

[BigCatFreak]

Also...just started taking gabapentin for neuropathy...anyone know of armpit pain being a side effect?

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi and welcome BigCatFreak you don't say why or how you come to be "Currently SI cyanocobalamin every day".

What country are you living in?

Have you been diagnosed with Vitamin B12 Deficiency or Pernicious Anaemia?

Do you know what your serum B12 and Folate levels are?

It is not uncommon for "new" symptoms of neuropathy to appear once the B12 injections begin. Take this as a sign that it is starting to repair the damage done to your nervous system.

A healthy level of Folate is essential to process the B12 you are injecting.

[BigCatFreak in reply to clivealive]

Hi clivealive im in the US with PA & have SI monthly for the last 20 yrs. increased injections due to neuro issues. Taking methylfolate supplement daily. Last blood test in may 2016 my serum b12 was 504 (180-914) folate was 9.06 (>5.9)

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to BigCatFreak]

Hi BigCatFreak well we're in the "same boat" if not in the same country

I was diagnosed with P.A. in 1972 and put on cyanocobalamin every four weeks as that was the medication at the time.

In the 1980s the UK went on to hydroxocobalamin every three months but I struggled to cope for that length of time with the injections and so was continued on with the cyano administered at my doctor's surgery by the nurse.

I used to "drop in" the occasional 3 week injection but six years ago I was "found out" and my "one size fits all" doctor refused to reduce the 4 week frequency dismissing my return of neuropathy symptoms as all in my head as it couldn't have anything to do with the P.A. because I was getting the injections.

I then joined the Pernicious Anaemia Society and discovered that I was not the only person in the world to "feel the need" of more frequent injections, continued my fight with my doctor, won a "concession" for an occasional 3 week jab and now, from this July I am on regular 3 week ones.

As to your pains, I too get the burning feet and legs on occasion together with numb thighs, stabbing in the hands etc but I haven't experienced any discomfort in the armpit.

I am not a medically qualified person but there are others on here who will be able to give good advice and I wish you well over in the US.

By the way - who is the new President?

[LCW8 in reply to clivealive]

Oh my bad! For some reason Clive, I had thought you were a doctor!!

[LCW8 in reply to clivealive]

Hi Clive, Thanks for the advice you gave Bigcatfreak, I have started B12 injections (due for my 3rd today,) and am going to get folate to accompany it, as I heard that B12 cannot work without it.

I had a blood test but it shows nothing of folate levels, so I guess I should just buy some from a health shop and supplement it myself huh?

I am in New Zealand. You cannot get folate without prescription here, and its $37 a pop to the doctor, just to have her write me a script, so I am thinking I will buy my own.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to LCW8]

Hi LCW8 I'd be amazed if you were unable to buy folic acid over the pharmacist's counter and you will probably find some breakfast cereals fortified with it.

The natural way to get folate is via leafy green vegetables, sprouts, broccoli, basil, asparagus, beans etc....

I hear my late mother calling "Eat your greens Clive"

I hope all goes OK with the injections and I wish you well.

P.S. Sorry if I misled you into thinking that I am a doctor - I do often say that I'm not medically qualified.

I'm just a simple P.A. sufferer like so many on here but after 45 years I'm still "clivealive" at 75.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Oh good gracious it's Mr Trump....

[Wm3521]

Don't wish to alarm you but I had this symptom 10 years ago and it turned out to be breast cancer. I'm still alive so glad I checked it out rather than assume it was b12. I do have PA neuropathy so I could have made that assumption.

[Foggyme Administrator]

Hi BigCatFreak. I agree with Wm3521. Whilst this might be a symptom of B12 deficiency, the only way to know for sure is to get it checked out by your GP / medic.

And a good idea to do regular breast self-examination checks (if you're not sure how to do this, there's plenty of information on the Internet).

At least then you'd be reassured that nothing else was going on (as if B12 deficiency isn't enough 😖).

Good luck 😀

[fbirder]

Yet another person suggesting you get things investigated further. If you've been self-injecting for 20 years and taking folate supplements then it's unlikely that either would be the cause of your peripheral neuropathy. So you want to see a neurologist to try to find out what that may be (there are a lot of possibilities).

Oh, and it may be a good idea to get it done before Drumpf aboloshies obamacare.

[Ruthi]

LOL! Fbirder!

It could be very serious. But my armpit pain turned out to be a new bra! Did you know that wires obstruct lymph drainage? REALLY painful, and its taken a long time to settle down.

[Tiki15]

If you have pain in your armpit it would be good to check it out with th doctor.

[BigCatFreak]

Thanks for all the advice! I will see about getting it checked. I have yearly mammograms but am overdue for one now. I'm also seeing a neurologist for the neuropathy already. He is the one who gave me the script for gabapentin. Also the more frequent injections & folate supplements were just started due to neuro issues...before that it was 1 shot per month for 20 yrs.

& I believe we got the lesser of 2 evils with Trump 😱 At least he didn't knowingly put us in danger of a national security threat...as crass as he may be 😒 I also value my right to own a gun!

Obamacare sucks btw...my health insurance through my job has doubled with worse coverage & we are still paying for the people who are to lazy to work...so I don't see what good it did at all!

[Marymary7]

Have you tried injecting Methylcobalamin instead of Cyno?

[BigCatFreak]

I haven't tried it. I'm in the US & have only ever been prescribed cyanoCB. I didn't even know there were 3 types until I joined PAS. I get a lot of headaches & migraines so the possible headache side effect doesn't attract me at all. If I were to decide to try it...do you know where I can get it without a prescription? Preferably in a vial instead of an ampoule?