Hi,
So I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency early last year and I’ve been on 12 weekly injections since. I had my most recent one about 3 weeks ago.
I really struggle with itchy legs, like to the point where it actually drives me crazy! It’s such a deep itch and when I start scratching I just can’t stop. Sometimes I do it in my sleep and I make my legs bleed without realising!
Could this be a neurological symptom from my B12 deficiency?
Thank you for any help it’s really appreciated!
Hi, well what can I say, B12 deficiency has that many sneaky and annoying habits, everyday there's always a 'new' one to add to the list, yes the eye twitching is a classic, pins and needles, burning sensation, your feet may feel 'puffy' swollen, stabbing pains, cramps, the list is endless and we all have different ways of describing our symptoms, it's a relatively easy condition to keep on top of it if you have a good doctor, and can get regular 'top ups', a lot of folk order online to substitute their regular NHS injection, I've never done it myself as I'm on a tight budget,their are plenty of other symptoms that tag along with B12 deficiency, so sometimes folic acid is sometimes prescribed as well, I'm a bit of a novice at all this and I've trying to understand all the other symptoms I've got which are all related to this condition, it's all a little confusing as I've had a lot of general anaesthetics in the past and the nitrous oxide gas causes absorbtion issues, and I've had stomach problems, and I'm on lifetime omeprazole which can also cause more problems, so trying to find a route cause is also high on the list, but I reckon the best person around is the 'knowledge'
Clivealive, I hope he doesn't mind that title, he's the man, as he will has every bit of information, but I don't how busy he's been of late, as I've not seen a vast amount of posts recently, but I'm sure you'll get plenty of replies, good luck.
Omaprezole is for short term use - long term it will cause b12 deficiency! This is true of all PPI’s.
Just want to say two things . You mention that you don’t entertain the idea of self - injecting B12 because you are on a tight budget . You probably don’t know that if you buy in bulk , a self- injection need cost no more than £1.30 . That includes ampoules , syringes , needles and swabs . If you have a bus journey to your surgery, a self-injection could be cheaper ! A cup of coffee is also dearer than an injection .
Also want to say that taking a P.P.I. eg Omeprazole longer than say a few weeks, can cause you gut problems , and also having low or no stomach acid that results from this drug , hinders the absorption of vitamins and minerals .You are OK of course , as regards B12, as you get the injections . Best wishes to you .
clivealive
I have pins, needles in legs plus burning feet and sleep with my legs out of bed 
Sorry about that clivealive I was drawing your attention to the person above asking for your expert knowledge. I was also under the impression you had sorted out your deficiency. I know my brother did better on Methylcobalamin and his pins needles and numbness and bad back pain went with frequent jabs of that. 😀
Wow Marymary7 I'm no expert.
I've lived in ignorance for most of the 47 years I've had Pernicious Anaemia and there was a gap of 13 years between gastric surgery at the age of 17 back in 1959 which caused the P.A. and being diagnosed in 1972 by which time I was "running on empty" and given two years to live - without proper treatment.
It was out of desperation to find the cause of returning symptoms in the run up to my next injection that I joined the then forum on the P.A. Society website in 2010 and began "learning" that I was not the only person in the world to have "problems" and I can really only "speak from my own experience", read and what I have learned from others.
Some of my now symptoms may now well be a "cross over" from the diabetes I've had since 2015 although fortunately my HbA1c level is "under control".
My next scheduled injection is on Monday and I'm looking forward to it.
I wish you well
I had that myself - burning heel on left mostly - read on an American ssite to eat blackberries daily with blueberries and any black fruit something in these does the trick. I buy frozen from Supermarket - live in Oz so fruit comes fm Chile and is good been eating these for some years now -forget and a ghost pain starts that very night. So now put them in oven with dinner cooking to eat them. Taste good cooked too and work just as well. Give it a try.
Thank you for that advice MarsBarKid much appreciated.
I wish you well down there
Look at your salt intake
Intense itching (I know *exactly* what you mean!) was the symptom that got me started on my B12 journey (1st legs and then onto many other parts of the body!). Unfortunately my GP said that it couldn't possibly be related to B12d – but now I'm getting my B12 I only get itching when I'm in the run-up to my next jab – perhaps I need more frequent jabs to stop even that?
(But I am also taking Magnesium, Vit D etc and one of those might be the culprit too?)
I've been through that - itching - for years now it seems - but started re waiting for hip replacement - long queues public health in end bought private and waited 1 year but itching - I take daily green lipped mussel extract from old injury in Brit Army - started these 1983 when knees were painful to bend and pick sweeties for kids working in 7 day Deli here in Oz - read Maori's eat these daily and never get rheumatism or arthritis in magazine we were selling. Still take them today and then went onto real estate selling, so up and down stairs etc and walking around properties 6 days a week. Apart from one hip and now 1 knee arthritis not hit me that bad and I bless these mussels - available in UK - was on Sea tone but they closed down here - had tried other brands not so good - now on new Go New Zealand company - good quality and work.
But also taking others, multi vit, D3, COQ10, Exec B, Vit C all a suspect for itch culprit.
As well during period OZ has gone to generic meds - weaker than originals - and had had an infection for close to 2 years until GP gave me script and got the real stuff - 2g injection one day and 2 g next day and infection gone. Had had 5 IV;s of generic up at the hospital and didn't shift it. Had to pay extra but worth it.
Still not sure what causes itch as most medications have it down as a side effect. But I was taking a too high dose of Magnesium as Hubbie gets cramps and takes 630mg tab.
I still got an itching bothering me - even after not taking magnesium for a while thinking to clear out system in case it sticks around etc.
But the itch came back after a while and I now suspect its the magnesium - on a normal dose of 130mg which GP told me to take for daily as I am 81 now and a bit unsteady waking and turn suddenly and stagger as almost fall etc - also cant lie flat in bed - had to buy one of that lifts head and foot of bed - wonderful - as was getting vertigo lying flat.
Since stopping taking the higher dose and going onto lower dose then going through all daily vitamins and stoppoing one at a time to check out itching - found Magnesium even on normal daily dose of 130mg left off for a week and itch subsided. Took one and back it came - not as violent but still annoying. So give it a go leave off magnesium as maybe built up in the blood etc. I gave it away for couple of weeks then tried the normal 130mg dose and itching wasnt as bad but stil there and then went onto not taking 1 for a week and lastly the magnesium. should have done it first but had been beating myself up for stupidly taking the higher dose hubbie needs without checking what is RDA. 130mg.
Sorry for long explanation and hope it helps let me know is itching stops and we can raise a glass for me of Adam's Ale to celebrate another itch free person on God's Earth.
Yes, likely to be a neuro symptom of B12 deficiency. One shot every 12 weeks is pretty low. My partner's doctor suggested I inject him every week, and this has really made a difference. Consider self-injecting. Otherwise you might try sublingual high dose B12 (to be absorbed in the cheek or under the tongue) but it is not really as effective.
yessss... itchy legs was a huge issue for me for about 3 years. It was getting worse and worse. It would itch especially around ankle area and right above the ankle. Since i have been on B12 shots for the past 63 days, the itch has largely disappeared. Thank goodness. I take about 500 micrograms twice a week. Self inject.
I have had this experience too, just thought I was taking too hot of showers and it was dry skin, but it’s more intense than dry skin and doesn’t stop.
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