Vitamin Deficiencies and Peripheral Neuropathy

[RitikKumar1818]

Hi there! I feel like collapsing writing this. I'm 18 years old.

Initially I was on a diet plan to reduce my weight. Then after one month I had pain in my lower spine region but i didn't cared much.. I jogged daily. After some days, the pain was unbearable and I had to leave all these.

On 16th January, I met a doctor who after several tests(X-rays, blood tests) concluded that I should do physical excercise and take vitamin supplement (B-complex) and I'll be alright after a month. But now saying this, I feel very depressed. I have symptoms such as tingling, burning sensation, weakness in legs, also the pain which tansfers from one to another, I often get mood swings. I feel stabbing pain in side of my hips when I try to move while sleeping on my back or sleep for long on my back.

I have searched web and I think my nerves are damaged or maybe this is due to B12 deficiency. I'm having B-complex capsules of B1, B6, B12(methylcobalamin) and folate. I eat 1500 mcg of B12 daily. I don't know what to do.

[fbirder]

What were the results of your blood tests? Have you asked to be referred to a neurologist? There are about 80 possible causes of Peripheral Neuropathy. If your doctor cannot figure out which one is causing yours (and that sounds likely) then you need to see somebody who might be able to do so.

[RitikKumar1818 in reply to fbirder]

He just said tests are normal and he gave me B complex capsules! And told wait for a while

[fbirder in reply to RitikKumar1818]

Ask to see the actual numbers. They are your results and belong to you. Often ‘normal’ can mean ‘nearly normal’ or ‘only just normal’.

[RitikKumar1818 in reply to fbirder]

I again checked those results and found written as:-

Xray

No sclerosis and disc spaces appear maintained

Blood test:-

ESR,TC,DC, Haemoglobin, blood sugar random. All were fine I swear. But Blood sugar Fasting was 67 but its range is 70 onwards.

[fbirder in reply to RitikKumar1818]

What were the results for B12, folate, MCV?

[RitikKumar1818 in reply to fbirder]

I didn't had that. I told you as he said results are normal and prescribed me B-complex medicines.

[fbirder in reply to RitikKumar1818]

So it sounds as if you needed tests for B12 and folate (and, probably, Vitamin D and thyroid function). The B12 test would be a bit pointless as you've been supplementing. But I would insist on the others. Any of them could cause similar to symptoms to a B12 deficiency.

[RitikKumar1818 in reply to fbirder]

I'm feeling discouraged. What should I do? Can you suggest me something? Should I go to a physiotherapist

[27Protons in reply to RitikKumar1818]

Are you in the UK as you said you were prescribed a B-complex with 1500 mcg of B12 as I didn’t realise GPs prescribe that on the NHS?

What has your diet being like could it be considered vegan or low in animal products?

A physiotherapist might be useful in that it shows your GP your problems are not in your head and they may be knowledgeable and they can be another person to support some proper investigation.

I would ask to be referred to a neurologist.

Then on the blood tests I would get at least B12 serum as although your supplementing might have skewed it (depending on if you can absorb any B12 orally) I doubt your GP would look at B12 deficiency without doing that test.

As well as that I would add HbA1c (diabetes), calcium & see if magnesium is low unfortunately you might not be able to get red cell magnesium (serum magnesium is not a good measure as it levels will be maintained at the expensive of the rest of the body due to the heart needing it)

Plus find out if vitamin b12 has ever being tested before and get the actual values as 180 or what ever range the lab uses I have seen lower is loosely based on stopping megaloblastic anemia while neurological symptom clearly appearing in some people below 500 (which apparently is the minimum in Japan).

[RitikKumar1818 in reply to 27Protons]

Thank you so much for the advice

I'm a Non-vegetarian.

I live in India.

I'll be going to nearby physiotherapist asap.

[27Protons in reply to RitikKumar1818]

Oh your in India that changes thing as I don’t think you will have to deal with the ridiculous situation we have in the UK were all injectable medicine requires a prescription and you have a GP who is dangerously ignorant about conditions like pernicious anemia (thinking your probably depressed unless you clearly have megaloblastic anemia and even then) combined with ridiculous guidelines like 3 monthly injections so many on this forum buy Vitamin B12 from online pharmacies in other EU countries particularly Germany as injectable vitamin b12 is treated as just a vitamin and can be bought over the counter in most countries.

Although, from what I have heard, saying that because of how common vegetarianism is in some India communities you do find GPs who have worked with them in the UK at least do have more of a clue about vitamin b12 deficiency.

I’m not quite sure how the healthcare system works in India but I suspect you pay directly so a physiotherapist wouldn’t be what I would pursue at this stage (A gastroenterologist and a neurologist would be more helpful) I would ideally get an active vitamin b12 test but a B12 serum will do as although your supplementing might have skewed it (depending on if you can absorb any B12 orally) I doubt a GP would treat B12 deficiency without doing that test. Then I am not sure what the treatment regime is like in India but in the UK it in theory is every other day until the symptoms go away but you still need to rule out other causes for the symptoms.

I would definitely get them to rule out diabetes - HbA1c test to add to what fbirder said plus ask for thyroid function test not just TSH.

[27Protons in reply to RitikKumar1818]

Another thing worth trying is asking on this forum a new question if there is anyone else in your part of India who could recommend a doctor but suggest they can answer as a private message if they unsure the doctor would want there name on an open forum.

[RitikKumar1818 in reply to 27Protons]

27Protons I appreciate for you help

I did physio and it relieved my 80% of pain. I'm so much happy

[27Protons in reply to RitikKumar1818]

That's good although I would still look at finding the cause of your Peripheral Neuropathy to avoid any long term problems by at least doing the above blood test and seeing a neurologist.

[RitikKumar1818 in reply to 27Protons]

Ok sure! I will do it to avoid any long term damage. And thanks alot!

[RitikKumar1818 in reply to fbirder]

I appreciate for you help

I did physio and it relieved my 80% of pain. I'm so much happy