Hello everyone, this is my 2nd question on this most helpful site!
My question is as follows, I’am self-injecting B12, subcutaneous, weekly, I still get the numbness in my hands and tingling, it is improving I’ am just very impatient (been injecting since Nov. 8, 2020.
Is there any pain medication that could help, with the pain, numbness, cramping? Dr. has given me prescription for Gabapentin, Tramadol and Acetaminophen with Codeine (both opioids which I don’t take).
I know with Pernicious Anemia, I should avoid NASIDS and other pain meds.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Once again thanking you all in advance for your all your help.
Sincerely,
RisingOne
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RisingOne
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I was also prescribed Gabapentine but it made me so sleepy I simply could not tolerate it. I am also self injecting and things are slowly improving but as soon as I try to space my injections out to less frequency symptoms return.
Are you supplementing with any other vits such as magnesium , folate, vit D, B6? I were suffering the most dreadful cramping which has now improved.
Tonic water is also supposed to help with cramping but I personally cant stand the stuff. My legs and feet were seriously numb but improved with more frequency of injections.
I hope you find some releif soon especially with the cramp which can be excuciatingly painful, I am sure other's will advise.
Gabapentin did not work for me. I was told not to stop taking it suddenly, so weaning off was difficult. Now I am cautious and prefer to do exercises advised by physio for core strength.
Have a read about it - literature is usually on diabetic neuropathy.
For info: I’ve had Raynaurds since aged 12, painful feet since mid 20s (I didn’t know any different). The supplements are pricey but they are gluten, lactose etc etc free. But my walk and pain has changed notably.
Like Nackapan, I would suggest more frequent injections, at least for a while. The nerves can take a long time to heal, and finding the right frequency is a matter of trial and error. After a year of back and forth, I have found that I need injections 3 times a week. This is very individualized.
Alpha Lipoic acid is also very helpful. It works the best together with benfotiamine (vitamin B1). There are different forms of Alpha Lipoic acid. R-Alpha-Lipoic acid is the natural, more active form of lipoic acid. It is the only form that exists in nature and is produced in the body. Another helpful substance is N-Acetyl Cysteine, (also known as NAC for short). It supports healthy levels of glutathione.
I too, was given Gabapentin but it did me little good. I offer that your issue could be a sensitivity to food. Most likely not "intolerant" but sensitive. When you have sensitivities to food...soon after you eat that food your Mast Cells, there are trillions of them all over your body, in your digestive tract, in skin everywhere will all fire histamine. Many of these Mast Cells are just adjacent to your nerves and when you have nerve damage such as may be the case with PA then when histamine fires that nerve will transmit pain. I found I had been sensitive to gluten all my life just never knew it until my nerve damage. I stopped eating gluten and dairy and although the numbness and tingling did not diminish the pain stopped immediately. I also stopped the Gabapentin. I am not at all certain this is the issue that you are dealing with but is quite easy to try, although a little tedious. Keep a detail of everything, I mean everything, you put into your mouth including supplements...make sure you read the supplement as they can also contain gluten, rice, soy etc. Then log your symptoms who know, you may find something you would have never guessed. I discovered this through some leading edge testing and treatment at Loma Linda University Hospital here in US.
While they can cause stomach issues for some people (PA or not) , I'm not aware that NSAIDS are specifically problematic for people with PA. Aspirin, an NSAID, is especially know for gut issues. I take 200mg (a relatively low dose) of ibuprofen occasionally for aches/pains, and also find it helps the sinus congestion which flares during pollen season (like now, where I live). I think some find naproxen a bit easier on the gut. I always like to begin with about half the "recommended" dose of a drug, and go from there.
Some may find naproxen easier on the gut, but a few years ago after taking naproxen for arthritis for a while. I became very anaemic as in 'come in now for a blood transfusion'. Every doctor i spoke to sucked their teeth and said naproxen is great for inflamation, but terrible for the gut. I am not allowed it now since they found gastritis in an endoscopy, despite not actually being able to identify it specifically as the cause.
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