Hi, I am a newbee to this. I have had pain for years in my legs and back. It has gotten so bad recently, that I finally decided to find out what the pain was coming from. For years I had been pursuing back pain, having steroid shots. Now I find out I have peripheral neuropathy. I am to go back to the neurologist, who did the nerve conduction test for a consultation, in a few weeks. I have been put on gabapentin for the past two weeks and that is not helping at all. I have been on Percoet for four months now. That helps somewhat, but I don't feel like I cans tay on that forever. I do not have a thyroid problem, am not an alcoholic, don't have HIV, and am not a diabetic. I have terrible pain in my legs, back, and arms. Other than I do have bad discs in my neck from C2 - C7. My back has a small bulging disc and degenerative disc also, but I am told that is not what the pain is coming from in my back. My last set of bloodwork (and I have had all types of blood work) showed that I have a high level of B12 in my system. Usually, a person has B12 deficiency, but my level is >1999. Can someone tell me what it means when you have a high level of B12? I have read on the internet and my doctor (who sent me to a neurologist because she just does not know) told me it could possible be a liver dysfunction. That was my xmas present this year. I was told that xmas eve. But there is no medical documentation as of yet to prove that. Other than that, there is no other rhyme or reason for this horrible pain. I also have swelling in my legs. This sure is frustrating. Sometimes, especially with pain management doctors, I feel like they think I am lying to them, which of course I am not. The pain feels like if you cut jalapeno peppers and your fingers burn for days on end. Only, with neuropathy, the pain does not stop. I also have numbness and tingling. Any comments??

High B12 levels when NO supplements or fortified foods are eaten, can be due to some uncommon causes.

Some Leukemias and other cancers
Some patients with kidney disease
Liver disease
and some rare overgrowth of bacteria in gut

Many cereals and breads are now fortified with B12 and folate so you may be eating it.

It is thought that people who do not convert (called methylate) B12 from cyano form or supplements, will build up levels in the blood. The tests do not discriminate between cobalamin and methylcobalamin. Methylation errors are called MTHFR genetic errors. Taking folate and B12 as methyl versions bypasses this error which may be present in 10-30% of people today).

There are people with rather normal B12 serum values, who still have neurological disease.

This is my B12 thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

Another test to show if your B12 is working for you is the MMA test. Some doctors feel this is more accurate.

There is a form of neuropathy called paraneoplastic neuropathy.
It manifests as pain in the extremities before the cancer is detected.
http://www.penncancer.org/pnd/subpag...1&ss=23&sss=11

This is not very common but does happen.

Yes, I am afraid that there is something more to this elevated B12 level. Hopefully, when I go to the neurologist, he has some more answers. But none of it sounds very good. Thanks for the info. I will check it all out, as I am anxious to find out some answers.

Hello jgbtrans and to Neurotalk!

I see that MrsD has given you some great information!

Please feel free to roam around and join in anywhere!

I look forward to seeing you around the board!

Abbie

Thanks so much Abbie.

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. There are a great number of fellow members assisting and listening at all times. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

I am so sorry for the pain and health challenges you are experiencing...but happy you have found us. Make yourself at home. I hope you are finding the answers you are needing!

I already posted this this morning and I can't find it!! You can tell I am a newbee, can't you. Anyway, I have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and started taking gabapentin two weeks ago now. I see no change so far other than at nighttime I am extremely tired and go to bed too early. How long does it take to see a significant change, if ever? Does anyone have any thoughts of what kind of meds work best for neuropathy? I also take percocet and this does help somewhat some of the time, and at other times, I am still in agony when I take it. There of course is no rhyme or reason (at least to me) why the pain is so bad some of the time and kind of bearable at other times. Does anyone have any ideas of what types of pain meds work the best for neuropathy and also other drugs? Of course, I have a doctor's appt and will ask him, but I would like to have a heads up before I go to him. Thanks in a advance.

I merged your newest post into your first thread here, just to make is easier for you to keep track of the replies.

If you are asking a question mainly directed to the PN group you will need to post in that forum for replies.

This link will take you to the main PN topic page with posts & threads from all the PN members -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html