Trapped nerve/ shoulder pain

[J200george]

last July I was diagnosed with low b12, I started on a series of 6 injections before starting on a three monthly top up regime.

In that time I also received my annual flu vaccination and most recent covid jab.

in December 2023 I started having numbness in three fingers, index, middle and ring and pins and needles emanating anywhere from my neck, shoulder blade and all down my left arm. It was very difficult to sleep and when I coughed would experience an electric shock like pain in my left arm.

I was given general pain meds Naproxone and some amitryptiline. Over time it has improved a little but the site of all the injections above (3 loading, 1 top up and 1 flu or Covid) is sore to the touch.

Has anyone experienced similar with the regular b12’s? The b12s were all administered by an advanced practice nurse and I’ve found the administration of them to be a little painful but this is par for the course (apparently).

So has someone impinged a nerve and I’m experiencing that or is this common for regular b12 patients?

[Narwhal10]

Hi J200george,

Sorry I’m going to be brief. I do hope you are taking the cofactors (B complex). You may need an increase in injections because of your symptoms. If you feel as though you have a trapped nerve consider visiting a chiropractor who can manipulate and free it. The alternate is pain medication to just mask it. It does not solve the problem and pain meds do wonders to the gut. Apologies, I am being facetious.

Hydroxycobalamin is a ‘stingy’ injection and Practice Nurses administer at speed because they have a lot of patients to see in a day. We have nerve endings in our skin, which is how we feel someone’s touch, how hot or cold it is and other ‘stuff’. We have nerves in our muscles and pretty much everywhere. So, yes, we can be sore after an injection.

Hope this is helpful. If interested have a quick read about the Nervous System. If you understand a tiny bit, you will be able to understand your symptoms.

🐳

[J200george in reply to Narwhal10]

Thanks although the pain only got worse, pins and needles etc after a couple of months post injections. I had and still have a feeling like I’ve been bruised or punched in the injection site.

I did see an osteo I trust for occasional back pain but whilst it helped a little I think any improvement has really just been time itself.

[Technoid]

"I’ve found the administration of them to be a little painful but this is par for the course (apparently). "

In my experience its mostly skill, technique and experience. I had one nurse with whom I would feel almost nothing with the injection and then another who seemed to hit a nerve every time. If its quite painful every time there may be a skill, technique and/or experience issue. I think it's kind of art to do it so well that it can hardly be felt.

[Myoldcat]

Check out lhermittes sign, which is a symptom of low B12. It is that electric shock feeling you describe. I had it and thought I'd trapped a nerve, but it's less frequent since starting injections. Remember injections can wake the nerves up as part of the healing process. Whatever it is, hope it resolves soon.

[LauraJane2]

I thought I had a trapped nerve in my elbow before I got diagnosed with B12 deficiency. Similar symptoms to you of numbness and pins and needles in my fingers and pain in my elbow. Looking back now I believe it was actually a symptom of the deficiency due to nerve damage/issues but I’ll never know for sure. The numb fingers kept returning when I needed a B12 shot until I managed to get the frequency of injections that I needed, 3 monthly was not enough for me.

[J200george in reply to LauraJane2]

Interesting. I’m due my next jab on 31st January. I’ll see if my symptoms subside and report back. They have got easier since early December so that makes me think it was a potential impinged nerve due to a wrong site injection and it’s just taking time to repair.

[LauraJane2]

it’s so hard to know isn’t it. Hope it gets better soon.