Your reading is borderline. According to Dr. Snow who is an expert on this subject --- post #70 in my B12 thread, some people NEED higher levels. He says that if you have neurological symptoms, and are fairly normal it doesn't hurt to take extra B12...since you may have a different genetic way of handling the vitamin.

You could start with 1mg daily on an empty stomach of methylcobalamin...it is inexpensive, and safe to do.

The autoimmune type PNs may respond best to antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation. Fish oil, and grapeseed extract or a Curcumin with enhanced absorption. Eating foods with lots of color like strawberries and blueberries also helps.

B12, B6, folate and fishoil are known to help remyelinate damaged axons, so may help healing the areas damaged by the autoimmune attacks.

Thanks Mrs D. I am going to start with B12 I have some here already. I also have B6. I will add the others one at a time hopeful

Thank you Mrs D & Electron for your help.
I think I should get Mark booked in for an other appointment at the Dr's and see if he will send him for an ultra sound.
He has a lot of thread veins in his legs and a concentration of them around his ankles. He has some nasty looking larger veins in his legs too.
His feet do turn some funny colours, from being white, to red and purple. The Dr's has seen the colour change for himself.
I will let you know how we get on.
Buttercup x

I have those colour changes in my feet also, my neurologist said it was all part of PN- the messages to add or remove blood from the feet are getting mixed up was how she described it.
Tips from this forum that have helped me most are Alkaseltzer(2 at bedtime keep the pain at bay so that I sleep), steeping feet in Epsom salts in lukewarm water for at least 30 mins and my latest addition is theanine at night( wonderful stuff).

Yes, I agree about the theanine. I am going to increase my dose from 150mg to 200mg at night. ( I bought my refill at Swanson's and those were 100mg caps ..so I will take 2) I find it lowers my blood sugars during fasting! It helps me sleep, and I have less burning. I rarely have the horrible burning anymore!

It does not help arthritic pain however, so far, for me.

Hi again all.
I'm getting very concerned about my husband, his pain is getting far worse and it seems things are changing so quickly.
The electric type shocks he is getting from his feet and up his legs is much stronger, bringing tears to his eyes at times.
The electric shocks are becoming more constant in his arms and hands. When he is sleeping he rubs his hands together quite a lot and moans loudly some times when he stretches his arms.
Since Monday he has been in bed almost unable to walk at all as the pain is so intense. I have to take him to the bathroom as his balance can be unsteady. For the last two days when he has been urinating the flow is stopping involuntary.
This afternoon he has started getting the electric shocks in his shoulder joint, which is making him cry out.

The occupational therapist came out to see him yesterday for the first time. After her assessment she has suggested he use a wheel chair outside and a stick in the house along with other aids.

Our Dr came out to see him today, he has increased his pregabalin to 300mg in the morning and 300mg at night. He has also told him to take 2 x 30mg dihydrocodeine and alternated them three hourly with 2 x 37.5 tramadol.
The Dr was going to fax a letter this afternoon to the neurologist to see if they can bring his appointment forward.
It's so difficult to have to watch my hubby in so much pain, and it's also affecting our children.

I am not a Dr but since this is coming on so fast it makes me think of poisoning or an autoimmune response (the body attacking itself) like Gullain-Barre (spelling?) etc. It doesn't sound like a chronic long term problem like diabetes or vitamin deficiency. Obviously you need to get into see someone quick. I have doubts that a local neurologist will be able to help but I may be wrong. You might want to visit Mayo Clinic or one of the other good neuropathy centers, I think there is one in Cleveland as well. Make sure he is eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and exercising as much as possible. And drinking lots of water. I'm sorry, wish I could help.
Electron

Hi Electron, thanks for the response.
We are in the UK, so all's we can do is await an appointment from the Neurologist. Because of our location we don't have a resident neurologist at our local hospital.
I've started to question this myself. I'm wondering if the PN pain is masking another problem, more so as things are changing so quickly.
He is having difficulty walking to the bathroom and waits until his bladder is bursting, therefore any exercise is out of the question at the moment.
Since I posted the other day he is getting the very strong electric type shocks in his ankle and kneed joints too.
The pain meds aren't doing much at all
If he is not improved by tomorrow I think I will have to get the Dr back out and request he is taking into hospital.
Thanks
Buttercup x

Is this pain only in joints? PN doesn't do that. The pain may radiate down a nerve and may feel like a joint now and then, but PN pain is more global as a rule.

Pain only in joints suggests some inflammatory problem.
Urinary problems may come from the drugs he is using, as a side effect.

I think his doctors should be more involved and aggressive in finding a cause.

Hi Mrs D, he has the pn pain, burning, over sensitivity etc, also these electrical type pains. The pains in his shoulder, ankle and knee have only started this week.
The pain he is getting in these area's is different to the other pains. The only pain he can liken it to is, if you put your hand in snow or ice but more intense and painful?
Even though the Dr is concerned there is little more he can do if the neurologist will not see Mark sooner.
I feel the only other alternative will be to get him into hospital, which Mark is reluctant to do in case they transfer him to the neurology hospital which is about 45 miles away from our home.
Thanks Mrs D
Regards
Buttercup x