A Couple of Medical Questions. Vitamin B12 - Neurontin Longish.

[Virgo10]

Just a bit of background, sorry for the organ recital.

A while after we moved to Florida I noticed a few rare occasions where I was having trouble walking. Not that it was painful to walk, it was more like my brain was saying go and my legs were saying no way.

Up until last Thursday I really didn't give it much thought. It had only happened once or twice in the past year and a half and with all my back problems I figured it was just another new and exciting addition.

Well last Thursday was the worst episode so far and something I just couldn't brush off. I was out in the backyard and had to think about how I was going to take the next step about half way across my yard. No pain... just the message wasn't getting through. I kept thinking they're going to find me nailed to the ground out here. Finally after a few minutes I was able to stagger into the house. Since then, while my legs haven't felt great, there's been nothing equaling that.

I had a doctor's appointment today and told him what was going on. He suspects I may have a Vit. B-12 deficiency. After some minimal reading, I found out that parathyroid problems can cause this. My parathyroids were destroyed when I had my thyroid removed back in 2000. He also wants to put me on a drug called Neurontin. Best known for treating seizures, it's also used for pain caused by neuropathy.

So I'm wondering if any of you guys and gals have had any experience good, bad or ugly with this drug or being B-12 deficient. I'd appreciate any insight.

Just to add some more fun to my day, the doctor sent me for an x-ray of the foot I hurt when I had that fall a few weeks ago. He thought I might have broken something but I haven't heard anything back yet so maybe that's good new.

 

[Shugardrawers]

I took Neurontin for a condition called miralgia parasthetica, basically, nerve pain in my leg. It seemed to help but be warned! I'm sure not everyone experiences this but I felt absolutely wasted on it! I was dizzy, my speech was slurred and I really felt drunk. It gave me some memory and drowsiness problems and I wasn't able to drive myself anywhere for weeks. The effects continued as long as I was on the drug which was about 3 months before I just couldn't take it anymore. YMMV.

 

[DisMN]

I don't know about the neurotonin part but the B12 connection is interesting.
My MIL has a B12 deficiency and she knows she's needing her shot when she begins to feel what she describes as "frozen" in place! I wonder if that's the same sensation you just described?

Good luck figuring it out. It must be frustrating.


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[Dakota_Lynn]

About half the people who take Neurontin have the side effect that the above poster mentioned. But for the half who doesn't, it is frequently a wonder drug. I have beem on a 2000mg of neurontin (a reasonably high dose) for three years. I have never had any side effects from that drug but I have had fabulous relief from my neuropathy and improvement of my fibromyalgia. It even relieved my carpal tunnel symptoms until it got really bad. I also noticed that it elevated my moods; not in a "high" sense; just that I didn't feel down as much. I felt more even if that makes any sense. And it actually does make sense because neurontin has been found to be an effective anti-depressant. I think it's a wonderful drug and it has done many good things for me. And it has made me less dependent on vicodin which I really like!

But as I said, may people get extremely tired and describe themselves as zombies while on it. Never has anything like that happened to me at all, but you have to be prepared for that possibility. If you take the meds for a few weeks and that side effect doesn't go away, then ask your doctor to switch you to a different medication because there are others out there that can treat your condition. Good luck!

 

[PlutoPony]

I have what sounds like a lower level B-12 deficiency than yours..... Right now I'm able to get to the correct levels by taking at least 1000 mg/day by mouth but that may not always be the case. My dr. said they don't go to shots as often as they used to but have found that higher levels can be successfully given by mouth. Don't know where you draw the line on pills or shots. You might try taking vitamins right now and see if that helps you feel better at all.
Good luck!

 

[mum4jenn]

My 84 year old mother has been taking B12 injections for years due to having something called pernicious(sp?) anemia... I don't remember all the symptoms she had back when she was told to take it but If she does not take the shots it will kill her!!

 

[phorsenuf]

I was out in the backyard and had to think about how I was going to take the next step about half way across my yard. No pain... just the message wasn't getting through.

This happens to me sometimes. I just stop. I know what to do but its like my body won't do it. I just stand there. It doesn't last long, but it certainly is frightning. I'm hoping to see a new neuro (one who specializes in MS) so I'll be curious what he thinks about it.

 

[ilovepcot]

Not that it really matters, but are you seeing someone locally or are you breaking bad and going to the Watson Clinic? Gods grace their halls, you know?

 

[Virgo10]

Wow, thanks for all the great information. I did some reading on neurontin and saw the adverse reactions such as fatigue, dizziness, etc. If there's a bad reaction from a drug, I usually get it! I was on Vioxx for 3 days and got sick as a dog. The whole world was moving even when I wasn't. Sure enough, that was on the list of things that could happen. I went off it immediately and, in less than 24 hours, I was OK. Of course several months later they found it caused much worse problems than that and yanked it off the market.

DisMN, your MIL described how I felt perfectly. I wanted to move but just couldn't get the legs to work. Everything else was responding but not the legs and it really was just the lower legs (calf area) that were totally out of touch.

I may try the drug anyway. The thought of not having this constant tingling in my legs is intoxicating. It's always there!! Sometimes it's just a dull feeling but other times it's so bad I can hardly walk. It wears you out.

Please, anyone else with experiences feel free to add your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[Shugardrawers]

Even though I had a rough time with the side effects, it worked wonders on my particular problem. It's certainly worth a shot.

 

[minniecarousel]

My Mom takes Neurontin for post-herpatic neuralgia. She had shingles 6 years ago, and has lingering pain from them. She also takes half-pills of vicodin for the pain. I always thought if it was hard to watch her in such pain - imagine how she must feel being IN the pain! The drug combo seems to keep the pain under control.