Sciatica link to low b12?

[luckymaria]

Hiya all,Does anyone have any experience of sciatica linked with inadequate amounts of b12 ?

I usually have injections monthly ( self inject bi- monthly and have gp bi- monthly)

I've heard it can be related but gp+ chiropractor say if my level is high (1000 last test) then nothing to do with it

Thank you for any answers x

[Jillymo]

Hi Luckymaria,

Vitamin B12 helps in synthesizing the fatty (myelin) sheath that covers the nerves, which is important in nerve function and conduction of impulses. Sciatica may occur due to vitamin B12 deficiency and may be more common in elderly people, above 60 years of age............ spine-health.com/conditions....

I googled the above information, it seems it is a possiblity that a B12 deficiency can cause Scaitica !

Your not such a lucky Maria. ☹

[luckymaria in reply to Jillymo]

Thank you, for your time in replying.So I wonder if increased injections could help repair the myelin sheath, or (if that is the cause of my sciatica ) I'm stuck with it now?

[Jillymo in reply to luckymaria]

Many on here have suffered nerve damage, only time will tell if the injections help with the sciatica. Hopefully it will ease off but your going to have to be careful not to agrivate it. My daughter has been seeing a chiropractioner for her sciatica and taking pain killers.

I hope you manage to get some relief soon. 🤞

[luckymaria in reply to Jillymo]

Fingers crossed here too! Thank you, I hope your daughter gets through it soon too. I'm also seeing a chiropractor - but wasn't sure if thats the right treatment if the b12 is an issue too . Suppose I'll try the both avenues and see... thank you 😊

[Myoldcat]

I have lower back and sciatic pain that definitely improved on loading doses, but is stubbornly persisting on every-three-day injections for the last 5 months. I do think it's B12 related and will continue to improve, even if it's very slow. And if you are injecting B12 your levels WILL be high, your gp should know that and your osteo should be educated! So I think we can remain optimistic and hope for positive change 🤞 .

[luckymaria in reply to Myoldcat]

Thank you, its hard trying to work it out isn't it? I will up my injections to bi- weekly/ weekly and see if that helps.I hope yours goes soon too! X

[Myoldcat in reply to luckymaria]

Thank you! It's currently having a flare up for no apparent reason, but now i put everything down to "ongoing healing" and it feels a bit more positive...😬 And as a bodywork therapist I would definitely advise physical therapies - osteo/massage/acupuncture, whatever works for each individual. While they won't 'cure', they can really relieve the associated muscular and skeletal discomfort, and support healing.

[GracePV]

Hello. I have sciatica cramping in the morning before I wake up when my B12 injections are not timely. With B12 shots the cramping disappears.

[luckymaria in reply to GracePV]

Thank you. So interesting to hear. Ill defo take more notice of symptoms after I inject! Good luck.with yours!

[Myoldcat in reply to GracePV]

I used to have very dramatic cramping which has virtually disappeared since regular injections. I didn't associate it with B12 deficiency and neither did my osteopath or the NHS physio until I did a bit of education post diagnosis!

[annmarierodnes]

Hello Lucky Maria, Up until I took my health into my own hands in 2017 and started SI VitB12 EOD I have no more lower back problems or sciatica both of which I had for years. I am really convinced now that undiagnosed PA/AIG exacerbated the problem and I am mending well. I really do recommend more frequent SI especially as high doses cannot harm you. Well worth trying and as you are already SI you are over the major hurdle, it's your body, your health. Go for it now and all the very best.

[luckymaria in reply to annmarierodnes]

Thanks for the reassuring message - I am relieved to hear others are having similar issues. Ill tell my chiro about these responses!

[Dee011960]

So sorry to hear that you have sciatica, I suffer with sciatica and leg cramps off on for years. My Osteopath told me to walk if I can for at least up to 45 minutes (to start with 15 mins), then lay down for the same time and use a cold ice pack then a hot one, then sit for the same time. Keep doing this until you feel the pain is reducing! He also told me to increase my magnesium (but I think that was for the leg cramps)! I hope you that sciatica reduces soon.

[luckymaria in reply to Dee011960]

Oh poor you! Yes, movement helps, resting doesn't sadly 😅 im trying to eat diet rich antiinflammatory food as the pills were making me feel sick etc. Best of luck with your pain. Hope it eases off

[Chickens44]

I am suffering from nerve pain in my hip/abdomen/leg, which has been ongoing for a couple of years now, and no one can find why I am getting it. I do have some degeneration of my lower spine, and now I am wondering if it has been B12 deficiency all along.

[luckymaria in reply to Chickens44]

Exactly my symptoms too, im going to chiro atm - he says it'll be a long process, but im.now going to up my si and see if the two pronged approach helps speed up recovery. Good luck with yours too, pillows between the knees and ankles when sleeping last night did seem to help for this mornings movements..

[Mozza127]

My back and both sides of back hurt with cramp like pains

[luckymaria in reply to Mozza127]

Quite a lot of us with similar pains! Ill.post in a few weeks if increased injections help t all..

[EiCa]

I have suffered from sciatica for over 20 years. It comes and goes but has never left. Regular B12 injections for 2 1/2 years have not changed the situation at all I do think that while it is wise to consider B12 deficiency as the cause of many things, it is important to consider other causes. I walk for an hour nearly every day, despite the pain...it helps lower the pain. Lying down, sitting too long and standing aggravate it. It can be a life-changing condition but I am here to tell you that one learns to accommodate it and the limitations it causes. Important note...I was probably grossly B12 deficient at the start of my treatment and had a lot of damage in my entire spine. I could have caused permanent damage to my myelin sheath. I have learned to accept that possibility.

[luckymaria in reply to EiCa]

OK, thanks for that - scary to think I may have this for years to come.... but good to be alerted to more of the the possible risks of not getting enough b12 - I'm sorry to hear yours is so debilitating- its horrid to be in pain and not fully heal.

Wishing you all the best and thanks for your post.

[B12life]

OMG! they are SO wrong!

It can be totally linked. While b12 deficiency isn't the only cause it can absolutely be the cause! My sciatica was so bad I couldn't walk a mile w/o being in intense pain. Now, I have zero sciatica and hike mountains for miles with 20lb packs.

first, don't ever listen to chiropractors and docs etc about nutrition as 1% maybe truely informed.

What was your serum b12 level before your first ever injection?

Also, b12 is obtained from meat. If your deficiency is caused by diet, then oral supplementation will help. if not then there is no way around it, you must do frequent injections as in daily or every other day (EOD) until you feel healed then and only then try to space them out.

May do you include enough meat in your diet daily to get enough b12? in otherwords do you think your deficiency is based on diet or just inability to process b12 orally.

Read this, it explains that b12 deficiency is misunderstood by the medical world, thus dismissed.

It explains the misconceptions, summarized in the table with bullet points in the beginning but then explained in details throughout the article.

Some of the biggest misconceptions:

1. that the injections aren't needed

2. that the deficiency isn't deadly or that it doesn't cause permanent damage or any serious problems , YET IT DOES ALL THESE THINGS!!! IT IS DEADLY. DAMAGE DONE BY the deficidecy CAN BE PERMANANT.

3. that b12 can be tested after starting injections (SO WRONG! thus when they tell you to stop injections or space them out because your levels are above 1000, they are giving you bad advice. injections end up in the blood stream, thus when they do a serum (which means blood) b12 test, they are testing what you inject, but not what you absorb. there is no test to determine what your body is absorbing, thus the results must be based on clinical results. what does clinicial results mean? trial and error. so does that deminish the science behind the need for b12. NO many solutions to physiological issues in the medical world are based on clinical results.

4. b12 can be toxic. THIS IS ONLY TRUE IF you have an unrelated preexisting condition with your liver or kidneys. this is ruled out by a simple liver and kidney function test. if you have had one of those recently and it was good. b12 wont be toxic at any dose for any frequency for any duration.

Those are just a few.

If your liver and kidney function tests come out good, don't let anyone convince you to space out those injections. Take control, if you know how to self inject, just buy supplies and inject as frequently as you need. Monthy will not help from my experience. and if left untreated b12 deficiency can cause permanent damage. I have some brain fog from it that I think is permanent because I was told I didn't need b12 and listened.

my b12 was 190 before any injections and I was on deaths door. Severe fatigue, upper/lower back pain so bad I was on tramadol, sciatica, bed ridden from fatigue, couldn't place or form words or names. NOW I'm 80% better.

You have reached this forum that is supported by PAS society. It is the best forum in the world hands down because of PAS, their efforts and the people here in the forum that strive to help others through science based articles and their clinical experience.

I dedicate a good portion of my life as others do here to help people who were just like I was, in the dark and desparate for answers.

Once you get the chance, return the favor by becoming a membor of PAS and make any, be it small or whatever, donations. I have no skin in this game. this is purely altruistic. this forum has become my family, literally. I was so very judged for my symptoms and my pleas to my friends and family. But this is real, so listen to yourself and your body and what it tells you that you need.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[luckymaria]

Hi, thanks for the message and the infoTurns out I have a slipped disc.... so maybe the b12 was a red herring in my case?

I've been on injections 3 monthly ( increased to bimonthly now monthly.with si) since my divorce 2014

Ive been veggie for around 35 years ( I'm 57 now)

I dont know what my level was back in 2014 - ill try to find out...

I'm glad to hear of your massive health improvements- how often do you have injections?

Best wishes

Mary