Pins and needles in foot

[Bialystok]

I’ve had the 6 loading injections and now I’m on a 3 monthly B12 top up. I don’t have my B12 blood sample result but I remember the doctor saying that it wasn’t extremely low. My issue is that for the last 10 days I’ve been getting pins and needles in my right foot and I don’t know if it’s linked. Getting a doctors appointment is a nightmare and I plan to try again tomorrow. I thought it would be good to know what the typical blood sample results would be that could trigger neurological damage.

I also, recognise that my symptom could be purely coincidental.

I’d appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks

[fbirder]

It would be unusual for peripheral neuropathy to develop peripheral neuropathy after B12 treatment has been going on for a while (you don't say how long you've been on the injections).

I would telephone the doctor and say that you have tingling in your feet. Say that you want your B12 injections switched to every two months and that you want a referral to a neurologist.

If that doesn't work, put the same in a letter. cc: your MP, the practice manager, local press, radio and TV.

But your description sounds like mine. I was diagnosed with PA in June 2015. When diagnosed my GP tested my nerves and found a small bit of numbness in one big toe. Over the next four months I took lots of B12 and the numbness got worse and was accompanied by pain. In October I was referred to a neurologist. My neuropathy had nothing to do with my B12 levels.

Luckily, my problem wasn't that serious. But for a while I was worried about some nasty things that caused similar symptoms to mine. So don't assume it's the B12, see a neurologist and be sure.

[Bialystok in reply to fbirder]

Thanks fbirder for your speedy reply, the timed you took and the detail you provided. I was just diagnosed with PA at the end of 2019 and after loading I’m now on 3 monthly injections. I have a sneaking suspicion that the pins and needles I’m experiencing may be more related to working from home and maybe my chair impacting on a nerve. As I’m uncertain I’m planning a course of action like you have described.

At the moment I’m on the phone waiting to get through to my doctor (18th queue), and expecting to get the message ‘no appointments, dial back tomorrow’. I recognise that these are unprecedented times but I will persevere.

Thanks again, I appreciate your help.

[fbirder in reply to Bialystok]

If the phone is no use try writing a letter. Much harder to ignore and you don't waste your time hanging on.