Vitamin B12 as a Treatment for Pain

[helvella]

Found this new paper and was interested to see some work being done.

Sadly, it just reviews existing data. (Oddly, it uses the term hydroxycobalamin, which is much less common. Indeed, MESH adds hydroxocobalamin automatically on PubMed searches - and there are many times more papers referring to hydroxocobalamin.) Nonetheless, it is good to see something published.

Vitamin B12 as a Treatment for Pain

Narrative Review

Scott Buesing, ND, Miranda Costa, ND, Jan M. Schilling, Dr. Med, and Tobias Moeller-Bertram, MD, PhD.

BACKGROUND: First isolated as cyanocobalamin in 1948, vitamin B12 has been explored for pain treatment almost since its discovery. With the advent of the opioid epidemic, safer treatments for pain are needed.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to compile the latest information on potential mechanisms from animal studies and clinical trial data on vitamin B12 for the treatment of pain conditions.

STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a narrative review.

METHODS: PubMed was searched using the terms “methylcobalamin pain”, “hydroxycobalamin pain”, “cyanocobalamin pain”, and “vitamin B12 pain.” Animal studies that identified mechanisms of action for the effects of pain were collected. Clinical trials utilizing larger, pharmaceutical doses of vitamin B12 (> 100 µg/dose) in pain treatment were identified and reviewed.

RESULTS: Animal studies support multiple beneficial effects of vitamin B12 including the regeneration of nerves and the inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes and other pain-signaling pathways. In addition, animal studies have demonstrated synergistic benefits of vitamin B12 combined with other pain medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opiates. Clinical trials provide evidence for the effectiveness of vitamin B12 for the treatment of low back pain and neuralgia, although data is still fairly limited and optimal treatment regimens have not been identified.

LIMITATIONS: More large, double-blind placebo-controlled trials are needed to fully establish efficacy and best dosing parameters.

CONCLUSION: Vitamin B12 may prove to be an adjunctive or integrative treatment for pain conditions. While more research is needed, considering the low incidence of side effects and overall safety, B12 may be an additional tool to consider for pain treatment.

KEY WORDS: Vitamin B12, cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, pain, chronic pain, neuropathy, low back pain

painphysicianjournal.com/li...

Full paper freely available here:

painphysicianjournal.com/cu...

[deniseinmilden]

Thank you, once again!

[jgelliss]

Thank You So Much helvella for a very interesting post . B-12 has many benefits . I'm just wondering and maybe you might know helvella is there any danger if one has above range b-12 ?

[helvella in reply to jgelliss]

An over-range B12 level when not supplementing is an indicator of possible issues.

Whether simply having over-range due to supplementation has any implications whatsoever, I shall leave to those who know much more than do I.

[jgelliss in reply to helvella]

Thank You helvella .

[Ritchie1268]

If only it did.

I spent years on OxyContin, (the cause of the opioid crisis in America) prescribed by my then Dr for degenerative disc desease in 5 discs in my back. Was actually given Methadone what they give Heroin addicts to be free from it as I had terrible withdrawals when tapering.

Took me 2 years to be free from Methadone, (now free 5 months of the Methadone).

My back pain has never changed after starting Hydroxocobalamin injections for PA last year & SI every other day since Xmas, the pain in my back is still the same as it was before diagnosed with PA.

As you say though, it's great they're looking into these things as alternatives as the Heroin my Dr put me on ruined me & I lost all I had worked years for.

The thing I do know it has helped with though, is the central sleep apnoea I was diagnosed with in December 2016. The central one being the one where you stop breathing & your brain says: "You've stopped breathing, but I'm not going to wake you up to tell you, it's upto you"

This, since getting regular B12 injections is now almost non existent, down to 0.1 - 0.2 times per hour per night, anyone who stops breathing 5.0 times or under per hour are classed as not having sleep apnoea.

I've asked at the sleep clinic if the cause of it almost vanishing is down to B12 but, they didn't think there was a link, I believe there is.

I know opiates suppress breathing & will be the likely cause of the sleep apnoea, but I was still on methadone when my sleep apnoea reduced rapidly, around the same time I started the B12 injections.

Also with Macrocytic Anemia, less oxygen etc, wouldn't have helped the sleep apnoea one bit.

I guess what I'm waffling on about, (sorry), is that the zero testosterone level I had, the sleep apnoea I had, Macrocytic Anemia, B12D, FolateD & PA I have, are all down to the heroin my then Dr put me on for years without me knowing what it was.

It's good to see they're looking into alternatives to opiates & I hope it will help some. I also know everyone is different & it won't work for everyone, unfortunately it doesn't help my pain, but I'm convinced it's cured my sleep apnoea.

Good find 👍

[nightingale-56]

Thanks for posting this helvella . B12 injections have not helped the pain in m knees or back, but have certainly helped the numbness in my toes and fingers and I certainly think my digestion.

[Leothelion]

Frequent B12 injections healed my bursitis of the hip/leg also helped with healing gut issues too.

[foxglove]

Do you think vit.B12 will help with the pain of peripheral neuropathy? My vit. B level without supp. is 604

[helvella in reply to foxglove]

I have my doubts, but I was hoping one of the "locals" with experience would be able to respond?

[Leothelion in reply to foxglove]

Hi foxglove, Your b12 level looks ok depending on ranges, but do you have a good folate level too, as they say only 10-30% may only be getting into cells, and for healing to work it does require injections to repair, I did get mine to 600 on supplements but they did nothing as I had some gut repairing to do also.

[foxglove]

Thanks will have folate rfested

[BirdlessBox]

I found a big relief in aching that I had been blaming on my back injuries from the 1st injection. Unfortunately a few days later I was given an general anaesthetic with gas which I presume was Nitrous oxide. This oxides B12 and can "precipitate acute neurologic disfunction in someone who's B12 stores are marginal" -let alone deficient. Since then I have had constant thoracic back pain and am hoping more shots might alleviate it.

This video on B12 Deficiency is very interesting - I haven't got to the end yet because I keep re-watching the first part. facebook.com/watch/?v=83502...