Should I ask to see a neurologist?

[Hologram]

Despite regular monthly B12 injections and a within normal range blood test a few months ago, my pins and needles have got worse. Now they are sharp and stabbing and not just in my hands and feet but along my arms, legs and torso. I wasn't planning to see my GP for another few months (to get my next prescription) but I'm now wondering if I should go sooner and ask to see a neurologist. Advice and experiences welcome. I'm not in the UK and I have private health insurance so I'm not restricted in what I ask for.

[Lisahelen]

Are you taking any supplements, ie. folic acid as it is needed along with other vit/minerals to assist the b12 to work efficiently. But lacking folate can also present with the same symptoms as b12d.

[Hologram in reply to Lisahelen]

Thanks. No I'm not taking anything else. My first blood test, when I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency, showed the folic acid levels were fine.

[Lisahelen in reply to Hologram]

You are having quite frequent injections so you could have depleted your store of folate, i know as i had this happen to me. You could just take a good multi vit and some additional folic to see if it helps but it would be good if you can get bloods done to see exactly where you are at so you would know how to manage ongoing treatment.

[Hologram in reply to Lisahelen]

That's really useful. Thank you.

[blogsy2]

Once you are receiving treatment, the test results are pretty meaningless. You could need injections more than monthly. If you are B12 deficient and have neurological symptoms (you do) you should be receiving B12 every other day by injection until there's no further improvement. It's quite possible the problem is still B12 deficiency. It could also be folate, or other things, so a neurologist would be helpful if you're insured, to rule out other things. But don't let them ignore the B12 aspect. B12 injections are a completely safe treatment, so it's much more risky to not have enough than to have too much!

[Hologram]

Thank you. I did wonder about the frequency as the leaflet for my injection does indeed say every other day if there are neurological symptoms. I'll look into all of that.

[blogsy2 in reply to Hologram]

Have confidence in your own thinking. And take some folate too! Good idea.

[fbirder]

Get to see a neurologist.

There are over 80 possible causes of peripheral neuropathy so you can't just assume it's because of B12 deficiency. A neurologist will be able to do some proper tests to try and determine the cause.

I was diagnosed with PA and, at that time, I had very slight numbness in my big toes. Over the next year, while I was having very frequent injections, it gradually got worse. Some nerve conduction studies showed that my problem was different to what you would expect from PA (only the sensory axons were affected).

There's nothing they can do for my neuropathy (although they said it would keep getting worse, and they were correct about that) but many of those 80 possible causes are treatable. So go and get checked out.

[SusanLMckinney]

If you are on the right dosage and your problem is B12 you should be getting better slowly. Any set back needs to be reported to your doctor.