poor balance while walking

[wanderboy]

Hi,

Does anyone had poor balance while walking due to low vitamin b12?

[clivealive Forum Support]

Here's a list of symptoms wanderboy

1.1 General Symptoms

The following general symptoms are common in those with PA:

 The Strange Tiredness

 Fog days, where you have difficulty in thinking clearly

 Weakness

 Fatigue

 Upset stomach

 Abnormally rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) and/or chest pains

 Abnormal yellow colouration of the skin (jaundice)

 Heightened sensitivity to hearing, smell, and taste

 Vision distortion, e.g. seeing stars, or double vision

 Breathlessness

 Headache

 Cankers (ulcers) in the mouth

 Sleep disorders

 Intolerance to loud sounds, flashing lights

 Intolerance to crowded malls (needing personal space)

 Tinnitus – ringing in ears

1.2 Neurological Symptoms

The neurological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:

 Numbness and tingling of the arms and more commonly the legs

 Difficulty walking

 Loss of balance

 Hands feel gloved with loss of sensitivity

 Loss of vibration sense, having to look down to see where you are walking

 Unable to close your eyes and stand on one foot

 Night vision

 Memory loss

 Disorientation

 Dementia

 Extreme mood changes

 Short term memory loss

Some experience many of these symptoms and some none of them. It depends on how quickly the PA is treated and on how well managed it is.

1.3 Gastrointestinal Symptoms

The gastrointestinal symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:

 A sore tongue

 Appetite loss

 Diarrhoea and/or constipation

 Stomach pain

[Nackapan]

Oh yes. Vestibular pysio exercises help when the treatment over and you able.

I was staggering from csn to surgery for my loading doses. Took all concentration.

[fbirder]

Yes, I have balance problems caused by my peripheral neuropathy (it’s not caused by B12 deficiency, but the effects are the same).

To maintain balance the body relies on three sensory inputs: the inner ear’s balance organs, the eyes and he positional senses in the lower limbs. Normally two of those inputs are rough to keep you level, but when one is absent, or giving contradictory information problems can happen.

So drinking too much alcohol can lower the viscosity of the fluid in the inner ear’s balance organs. So they start giving the brain information that doesn’t agree with the eyes. And you feel dizzy and get the ‘whirling pits’.

With peripheral neuropathy, the lower limb’s positional sensors don’t work. So the body has to rely on eyes and ears. That tends to be ok, if you can look at your feet.

I find I tend to tilt if I do various things, the worst being closing my eyes and tilting my head back to wash my hair in the shower.

[deniseinmilden]

Yes, I really struggled to walk or ride a bike at all.

After 3+ years of daily SI and supporting supplements I'm usually fine and can even ride my bike "no hands" again, etc!

(I'm a 46 year old teenager!! 😁)

[wanderboy]

hey fbirder ,I am 29 years male. And you literally mentioned my own symptoms. I can't walk comfortably when my eyes are closed. Also feels like I am struggling to maintain balance in normal walking. I am scared if have PD or Alzeimers. Currently I am also suffering from loss of apetite. sometimes I forget things (Like forgetting wallet at home while leaving to work.) Also depressed most of the time. I wish my symptoms will vanish after taking b12 shots.

[fbirder in reply to wanderboy]

Do you have other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (pins and needles or numbness in your feet)?

If so, you need to see a neurologist. It may be that you’re not getting enough B12 or it may be due to something else.

[wanderboy]

Hi, deniseinmilden . Glad to hear that you got back to normal routine. By the way what is SI. I am new here.

[vlacocabios]

Self Inject

[baboigeorge83]

I stared B12 injection admin. by G.P - I'd the unstable feeling and also, put me on Vitamin D <Report Soon>

[Miss-guineapig]

Hi wanderboy, I was so glad to see that question. For the first 3 months following diagnosis I felt unsteady when walking. I couldn't articilate it well to others as it was hard to explain, and I think the Doctor thought I was nuts. It felt like a mixture of slight dizziness and unsteady gait. Thank god that I still now completely gone but I put it down to neurological problems linked to PA. I remember saying yo my husband, I think I must have a brain tumor or MS...which of course I didn't. Hope it passes with you too x

[Highland49]

Hi wanderboy,

It's a fairly common neurological symptom with b12 deficiency, something like 13% suffer from it but sadly I didn't keep the report containing that information.

Depression is another neurological symptom and of course, so frequently misdiagnosed, when all the person may need is sufficient amounts of this vitamin.

I had balance problems and worried whether it was something else. I was checked by ENT but nothing found. (Always good to get thoroughly checked). GP dismissed my symptoms as my levels weren't considered low enough. Now that I self inject on alternate days, it keeps it under control. I can't walk in a straight line in the dark but I can live with that!

I hope you're feeling better soon.

[Callo56]

Hello wanderboy, my reply isn't informative like some of our fab members. It's just my experience. I occasionally have poor balance when walking and sometimes just standing up can cause me to wobble!

I've had a few falls whilst outside, where my pride has hurt more than my knees, hands etc 😳

When I feel myself losing my balance and falling (this doesn't happen too often thank goodness) I 'go with it' and almost relax into it so when I hit the floor it's not too bad. 🤕😱😂

[jillc39]

yes, I have problems with walking straight -and certainly wobble on my way to get my b12 dose. My consultant says tinnitus is nothing to do with b12 deficiency. BUT I know that is untrue as it goes when I have my dose and comes back with a vengeance just a day or two before next injection.