Joint Pain and tiredness following B12 injections

[Girl5492]

Hi,

I am new to this platform but have been reading other posts since my diagnosis last month.

I was diagnosed after 2 blood tests that showed my B12 level as <125 - they didn't give an exact number. These blood tests showed low levels of Folic Acid also. As a treatment, my GP prescribed me 3x b12 Hydroxocobalamin a week for 2 weeks. During this time I felt awful, my skin around the injection site stung and came up in a rash for the day or two after. I still have a large red mark on my right arm 2 weeks after my last injection in that arm. During the treatment, my skin felt like it was on fire and I felt like I was walking into things more often than before.

I have to say I have ignored my symptoms for years as I just thought it was life - I'm 26 years old with a full time, high-stress job, I have been through the process of buying my first home, and suffered a larger than normal number of family deaths, I put all my symptoms down to these factors.

However, I have had my treatment and my GP wants me to wait the 3 months before any more injections or even a blood test. I have been prescribed 5mg of Folic Acid at the end of last week after having to go back to the doctor only a week after my last b12 injection. My whole body aches, it is in my hands, feet, and neck the most. I have an appointment for another blood test at the end of this week to test for Psoriasis in my joints (this is apparently rare, however, I suffer from severe psoriasis on my scalp and I have inherited it from my Dad who has it so bad he has been hospitalized with the condition on more than one occasion) and arthritis. It is going to take another 4 weeks after the blood test before my GP wants to meet again. I don't know how I am supposed to continue with this pain. My workplace doesn't seem to understand the pain and therefore it is coming across as if I can't do my job.

Has anyone got any suggestions on how to cope with the pain, any experiences with such pain and how they managed/if they managed to get their work to understand?

[cquadros]

Hello Girl5492

What you describe suggests an allergic reaction. The first time I used hydroxocobalamin, I also had joint pain and swelling in my hands. I, who have PA, have recently been diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and the injections seem to act as a flare. I suggest you switch the hydroxocobalamin to cyanocobalamin in smaller doses (eg 500mcg) and see if these symptoms stop. As for fatigue, welcome to the club ... I can tell you that it more intense in the first few weeks of treatment and eventually one day we will be free of it!

[deniseinmilden]

I really feel for you. I take a friend to Psoriatic Arthritis clinic and the Rheumatology department is really good. I so hope yours is too and you get some useful help.

They are autoimmune conditions and stress tends to make them worse so if things improve for you then hopefully you health might be less bad too.

[Marz]

When B12 is low it can often happen that VitD is low too. Good around 100 + VitD is a pro-hormone and anti-inflammatory - so much more than a vitamin.

vitamindcouncil.org

I had horrid itchy patches on my scalp that would bleed prior to being diagnosed with Hashimotos - auto-immune thyroid .