B vitamins and peripheral neuropathies

I kept reading, at that message board I gave the link to in my previous blog, about the role of B vitamins, especially B-12 in the cause of neuropathies. A deficiency in B-12 can cause all kinds of symptoms but you won't necessarily put the symptoms together as all being caused by the same problem. Part of the reason is that the symptoms come on so slowly, so gradually, and at such different rates that there's no way you can see the connection. And the symptoms can be so varied.

Another problem is just testing for B-12 levels is often not enough. There are other lab values that will show there's a deficiency even if the B-12 levels show as within normal limits. B-12 is needed by the body for nerve health and function. Is it any wonder a lack of B-12 can cause neuropathies? Most doctors are still going with outdated information regarding B-12 and the effects on the body. Sometimes you have to insist that your doctor test for specific things besides B-12 levels.

I found several good links with very useful information: Rose's site; Linus Pauling Institute; American Family Physician. This last site can be a bit technical but should give one enough information to keep researching.

How this applies to me: I have a good many of the symptoms of low B-12. It's finally advanced to full-blown neuropathy in my feet. Since there's no danger from too much B-12 there's no reason for me not to give it a try. The past 4 days I've been taking a sublingual form in the mornings and a tablet at night. It's very important to take Folic Acid along with the B-12. I also read something somewhere (I've been to *many* sites these past few days) about not taking too much B-6. So I take a B-complex in the morning and just additional B-12 and a Folic Acid in the evenings. The body, no matter how much you take, can only absorb from 1-2% of any B-12 per dose. I'm currently taking a total of around 2200 mcg (micro-grains) of B-12 and 400 mcg's of Folic Acid with the other B's thrown in for good measure once a day. Finally, this will be a life-long thing for me. But far better this than meds that cause more problems than they fix.

How's it working? Well, I got up this morning and didn't really think about it. Finally noticed this evening that I have *no* symptoms in my feet. None. No tingling, no sensitivity to touch. Nothing! And none all day either. The big test was passed last night when I had no symptoms while trying to get to sleep. Do you have any idea how many years it's been since I had *no* symptoms? 4 days. That's how long I've been taking it. Even with the Ibuprofen I had *some* symptoms. Fairly mild compared to how bad they had been but at least I was able to fall asleep. But still there.

If this continues I'll consider it a miracle.