Severe Calf Pain after loading B12

[dda123]

Hi

I'm new here (posting) reading for months. Back in June I was tested for B12 due to extreme fatigue and tiredness. Results were as follows.

B12 : 90 ng/L

Folate: 3.6 ng/L

Ferritin: 112 ng/L

Intrinsic factor: negative

I was put on loading doses of b12 injections and have had 15 over the last 17 weeks. From about the 10th loading dose I have been getting severe pains in my legs. Both of them. Mainly in the calves but moving up to both thigh muscles. For 2 weeks around then it was nearly unbearable and GP sent me for MRI on central nervous system. These thankfully came up clear. The B12 was paused for a couple of weeks while awaiting results and pain disappeared. Over the last 3 weeks completes last 3 loading doses and leg pain has returned. Along with headaches and light headedness. (Especially after eating)

I also suffer from IBS , it has been (relativley) mild last number of months apart from the odd flare up.

Also at night I get loads of pins and needles and numbness in arms and legs whilst lying down.

Is the leg pain normal? I never had it before the loading doses. After it cleared up last time (and tests clear) my GP thinks it's in my head and is mentioning psychiatrist. I am at a loss at what to do next.

Thanks

dda

[martinec]

Yes, common.

These pains are caused by the healing in your nervous system, the nerves repairing themselves and starting to function properly again.

Don't lose hope, this will pass.

Do not let the doctors palm you off to a therapist, unless you want some help processing this illness and how it has impacted your life.

[dda123 in reply to martinec]

Thanks martinec, I was thinking the same that it was beginning to work but doctor said B12 was not low enough for that. I will stick with it. and continue. Awaiting now to see that loading has stopped what frequency they are going to advise. (I still think weekly or more often is required as improvement still has ceased)

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi dda123 are you supplementing with folic acid?

Your Folate level was very low in June before you started the loading doses.

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 Pernicious Anaemia (one of many causes of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.

I wish you well.

[dda123 in reply to clivealive]

thanks clivealive,

I asked early on and again recently about taking other supplements and was told there was no need. I think I will get blood tests done again soon to see what levels all the others are at and take it from there.

Thank you again.

dda123

[deniseinmilden]

It's definitely not in your head!

Just because they are ignorant doesn't mean you have started imagining things - it's their over imagination, not yours!

It could be due to other vitamins and minerals being used up as your body repairs any damage from your B12 deficiency when it has enough to do so.

The first ones that come to mind are potassium and magnesium but others may be playing a part too. You will get muscle pain and cramping if these are short.

I suggest you Google these to see what the effects of deficiency and excess are so you have a better idea and can see what good sources of them you would like to eat or drink.

You could arrange for blood tests for these, particularly if the symptoms return after you have another jab. That way your Dr might be more helpful.

As soon as you've had the tests (so you don't skew the results) you can try increasing your intakes and see if that helps.

Many people on B12 jabs benefit from taking a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement plus extra folate, potassium, magnesium and iron.

You haven't included the reference ranges with your test results but on many scales they would be at the lower end.

For more information on this you could look up some of my other replies. (To see these go to my profile by double clicking on my name and look under the heading "replies").

Please ask if you have any other questions.

Listen to your body - symptoms are it's way of telling you something isn't quite right and although it can take a bit of time to get the balance of everything right don't despair - you will get there.

Good luck!

[dda123 in reply to deniseinmilden]

Thank you deniseinmilden,

I will get all of these checked out shortly in a new set of blood tests. I will also educate myself better by having a look at all your previous posts, I think I put too much faith in the GP being correct in their knowledge of this and its becoming clearer that I will have to try and take more control of this myself.

dda123

thank you for the advice.

[bquoss]

Your symptom sounds a lot like the peripheral nerve damage I experienced in my right calf. It's mostly gone now after a long period of injections, though it twinges with too much walking. I believe this kind of pain in one calf is somewhat common with PA. Injections made my pain go away, I believe it will help yours also.

[Smart01]

Hi dda123,

How are you now?