pains in hands and generally everywhere!

[Trace-67]

I have been diagnosed with pernicious anaemia, had loading doses then next jab 10 weeks later instead of 12 due to pains, doc did say could possibly have fibromyalgia too - think that's her explanation for these pains, been taking two co-codamol most days, today hurt lots including hands and lower right back, any thoughts if these pains could be just the PA? tried a Epsom Salt bath yesterday but maybe not putting enough in the bath as no effect from that either hmm, this is the feeling teary kinda day!

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Trace-67 Sadly it is not uncommon for some symptoms to appear to get worse before they get better as the B12 you've had injected starts repairing the damage done to your nervous system and your brain starts getting multiple messages from part of the body it had "forgotten about" or lost contact with.

I sometimes liken it to a badly tuned radio on which you have turned the volume up high trying to catch the programme you want when all of a sudden the signal comes in loud and clear and the blast nearly deafens you.

A lot will depend on the severity and longevity of your B12 deficiency as to how long before there is no further improvement or recovery.

Some symptoms will "disappear" quite quickly whereas others may take months or even years. There is no set timescale as we are all different.

Make a list of your symptoms and present this to your doctor and ask him to treat you according to your symptoms and (perhaps) even re-start you on loading doses "until there is no further improvement" according to the N.I.C.E guidelines below. Click on the link, then on "Scenario: Management" and scroll down to "Treatment for B12 deficiency"

google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j...

It is also important that your Folate level is monitored as this is essential to process the B12.

There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.

Symptoms of a folate deficiency can include:

symptoms related to anaemia

reduced sense of taste

diarrhoea

numbness and tingling in the feet and hands

muscle weakness

depression

Folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 in making red blood cells and helps iron function properly in the body

I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years. and I'm still "clivealive" and over 75

I wish you well

[Callo56]

Hi Trace-67, sorry to hear you're having a 'teary day'. I needed my B12 injections at least every 8 weeks luckily my GP agreed. He then began treating me for fibromyalgia as well as B12, folate and Vitamin D deficiencies, and now I can cope with B12 injections every 10 weeks. I still have 'teary days' where everything hurts (especially in the cold weather) and the trusty co-codamol comes into play, but for most of the time I can function fine.

Hope you get the most appropriate treatment and be more comfortable soon.