I also posted this on the other brain talks.

Hi all:

Okay, you all know I'm a diabetic, and have been for over 20 years. Two years ago, I finally got my diabetes under control and have been good to go. I eat a mostly vegetarian diet (absolutly no red meat for at least 10 years). I didn't take vitamins either. I know, shoot me in the noodle for that one.

But I lost weight, they lowered my diabetic meds, my blood pressure is fine (with zestoretic) and the folks at Cornell Medical Center ACCORD PROGRAM, are pleased as punch with what I've achieved.

Last year, they tested my toes, found they were numb and said "you have neuropathy". I was surprised as I had absolutely no symtoms.

Then last month, the podiatrist used this vibrating tool on me, and EVERYTHING ERUPTED after that. The pins and needles and burning stopped the next day. I said "okay, he woke up my nerves, now they're quiet. I'll continue to maining my strict sugar control. I'll be okay" How stupid of me,

Then I read all about the methy b-12 (which I had not been taking) and the b-12 I had been taking was in a B complex pill which was about 30 mcgs of b-12 (cyano). So after reading about the B-12 methyl, of course I ordered it. (it should arrive today).

WELL, LAST NIGHT WAS SOMETHING ELSE!!!!

Now the weather here has been nuts, going from cold to hot. I LOVE IT WHEN IT'S HOT, nothing bothers me.

Well, last night I was sitting at the computer when the burning hit. NO pain, no buzzing, no pins and needles, just like I had been to the beach (remember those days when you sat in the sun and fried yourself, and you came home, took a shower, you turned bright red and said 'Oh my god, I must have been out of my mind to fry in the sun!!!!). Well, last night, it was like I spent a day at the beach with my feet in the sun. No stabbing pain, a little electric shock here and there but 98% was the burning. I tried massaging my calves but it made it worse, so I stopped that. I didn't even use the blue stuff because it didn't work when I DID use it.

And as I type this right now, it's a beautiful day outside, the sun is shining, and I'm fine. FINE!!! I do not understand what is happening to me.

I DO have a theory and maybe one of you learned people can agree, disagree or inform me.

I believe I have been getting ABSOLUTELY NO B-12 for at least 10 years). I ate no meat, no steak, no hamburger, NO RED MEAT!!! And the b-complex I took (as of last year), well the b-12 was 30 mcg and as we know, that's absolutely nothing)

I am trying to tell myself "you have no b-12 and that's why your neuropathy is burning, and the podiatrist must have woken up every nerve in your feet and started a chain reaction (you know what I mean) because I never had any of this up until he used that vibrating tool thing on my feet.

So do you think I have a chance of getting the burning under control when I begin the B-12 methyl thing. I'll be taking two 1000 pills a day. I'll take more if you think I should get it in my system soon.

I don't want to go to the neuro and start getting emgs, spinal taps etc. because what the hell would that tell me "you have neuropathy, take lyrica!!!" I know I have neuropath, and I really don't want to take an anti-seizure med until I at least give the B-12 methyl a chance to work.

I read some really good stuff in a stud on methyl b-12. Some people got helped with their diabetic neuropathy in as little as a week. I don't expect such drastic results but I would at least like to know I'm in the right direction.

Also, I drink coffee in the morning and coffee after dinner. Two cups total the whole day. The morning one has half caffeine and half no caffeine (it's a blend from Maxwell House, called Maxwell House light. And the night time is a cup of decaf. Should I give up coffee completely?

I also put garlic powder on my food. I don't eat any onions and I live on fish, veggies. I'm not a spice person so there's no hot pepper on anything.

Believe me, if any of you can tell me why I'm burning (all of a sudden) (I'm going out to buy the bio-freeze today, just in case tonight I go on fire again).

Thanks,
Melody

P.S. It's the next day, the methyl arrived, I have taken two 1000 pills so far. I'm still alive!!! lol
I even went walking today. Trying to do this everyday.

Bio-frezze is that what you said,hmm i don't recall ever hearing that
one. Is it suppose to numb the burning.

Senory neuropathies and i'm not saying you have that buttttit can be dull,
goes away,and then back it comes the BURNING,in your case,it can feel like
small stabs,or a lot of stabbing..You said you had numb toes, you had no
problems,then Pod.did his thing, then woke them up burning off and on.
I know you have taken good care of yourself..And i truly belieave in
everything your doing.



But if you were Alan,you would have him over to Neuro Dr. right away.PN
comes and goes thus the Silent Diease right on to the sometimes screaming
diiease...Mel you went to the Dentest at least go check you want to keep
on dancing!!!And yes sometimes weather change makes a differeence to
to me...You asked,better safe then sorry. Sue

I think you should reconsider taking a multi-bit--even generic is OK. I am a registered dietitian with a Masters in Clinical Nutrition. Now vitamins are for INSURANCE--and a deficiency fo B-vits can cause neurapathy to be worse. It is difficult to insure that you gent enough servings from the breads and cereals group to insure enough B vits. So, just take a multi vit and you do not have to worry about the individual B vits unless your physician finds a special need for them. Remember thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), folic acid, B6, B12 (and a few more) are all important for proper nerve function. Nancy Stephens

Sue: I'm in the diabetic protocol at Cornell Medical Center in NYC. Have been for 2 years. That's who diagnosed my neuropathy. I'm seeing them on May 4th. They already know about the podiatrist visit. I'm going to see if they can send me to a neuro on their team. But if not, I might see Alan's neuro. But honestly, I know I have neuropathy. I know what she'll say.
She'll say, well for the pins and needles, there is neurontin, lyrica. I've been THROUGH ALL OF THIS FOR 18 YEARS WITH ALAN. I don't want to be on any anti-seizure meds until I abolutely have no choice in the matter. I want to do the Vitamin b-12 methyl thing first. Today, I did 2 power walks. Yeah for me. Strapped on my ipod and away I went!!!!

And I've had enough emgs thank you very much. I almost punched out the nurse the last time they tried to do that to me.

So if I do have to go, I'll go. I guess they would do the neurological examination, touch fingers to nose, bend your toes this way and that. Do the sensory thing with the tuning fork. I don't care about that.

But if they want to do an emg and nerve conduction test on me, well WHAT IS THIS FOR, I know I'm diabetic for 20 years. I was not controlled until 2 years ago (shame on me, I know).

I don't like pain, I don't like emg's and nerve conduction tests.

I'm going to discuss all of this with my endocrinologist at Cornell Medical Center.

Oh, Nancy:

I will definitely be taking a multivitamin.
And thank you very much for pointing this out to me.
I may learn late BUT I DO LEARN!!!!

lol
Melody

that sort of 'bad sunburn' feeling well! But I think that your case is far from mine. As for the heat or cold feeling...it's kinky [for lack of a better word]. I know someone w/MS who'd ALWAYS HOT[all over], and I can never be HOT enuf [almost all over]!. When I went thru my 'hot phases', Ice was waay too much, so I found a spray bottle, put some water in it and plain kept it handy...sprayed tepid water on the bothered areas and let it 'evaporate'...at times that seemed too cold even with burning feet. Alchohol, eucalyptus etc were just too 'bothering' for that tender, fussy skin then.

If it were me, after everything I've been thru, the simple request to have your thyroid panels done, especially as you're diabetic shouldn't be unreasonable... there are times in our lives when this stuff just 'acts' up. As you more than well know, it's all about checking, double-checking and eliminating. Besides you have some super relationships with your docs, this is when that all really counts! Count your blessings!

Face it, they usually don't know why it all happens when it happens, but, YOU good and strong person know that WHEN it happens to ask the right people...Sounds like on Monday, at Xhour:-.00 mins, .31 seconds you will be talking to Dr Fred's staff and being 'fit/smooshed' into an appointment either Monday or Tuesday!

None of us like the pains, ANY of them, nor the tests...But, you know what Alan's gone thru, I dearly hope YOU don't have to experience even 10% of THAT. I constantly am amazed by all here who can still think actually type and complete whole sentences after some of the meds we take to 'help' us....WE are all far tougher than we are given credit for.
That said, does'nt make YOUR pain any less real tho, and burning is a real PAIN. Wish it was'nt so... Hugs for now, and maybe some pain free moments...lessening day by day! - j

Dahlek:

I have had my thyroid checked. It's normal.
But I know Dr. Fred. We had planned to run ALL the tests when I would have my next visit. So yes indeed, on Monday, I'll probably just go there and chat with him (he actually comes into the waiting room when someone comes by (either to get a prescription or just to ask a question; sometimes you wait, but WHO CARES?? if you get to speak to Dr. Fred. He always shakes your hand or takes your arm.

So on Monday, I'll make an appointment for the blood work, They do this every wednesday. Wednesday morning is blood drawing day at that office.

Wouldn't it be a ***** if my thyroid is screwed up. It has always been normal. My mother had a thyroid operation when I was 14, my father had a goiter. My son has thyroid stuff and is on Armour.

So far, it has skipped me. My Aunt has been on Synthroid for her whole life.

oh well, at least I'm on my methyl B-12.

take care, will update.
Melody

Calm down girlfriend,i know where you go wish i was there with you!!
I would ratter take and do take the Vits..I would power walk with my
walker,but far to many cracks in the sidewalk..The bicycle trail people
will come up behind,you and ring ring scare you to pieces!!

I have to go Monday to see if my adrenali tumor has grown,which means,
drinking yukky stuff for c-scan. Really what is Bio-frezze sorry for spelling.

Good news Bob can SIT down,and has already been down the street
to one of the girls...Geee i will be very quite now. Sue

Hi Mel, i am really sorry to read that you are having the burning feet problems now & i hope that the B12 supplementation yields good results for you soon.
It takes time for the nerves to heal, but our bodies have a remarkable ability to repair itself, once given a chance to do so.

The numb toes, were of course signs of damaged small fibres, as the small fibre's job is to give information to the brain as it interputs feelings of pain, heat, cold & vibration which you really did experience their reaction to that podiatrist vibrating machine.

As to " what or why " started them burning all of a sudden ", someone else may be able to explain it better than me, but all i would say that your nerves are telling you in a more noticeable way now than before, that they are damaged & perhaps more than were before.

I would not class coffee as as neuro toxin especially at only a couple cups of coffee a day, other things like heavy alcohol, lead, arsenic etc. are what you call real neuro toxins that do really affect our nerves badly.

You guys in the US are so lucky to be able to get Methylcobalamin so cheap and easy, i think the others will say 2 mg per day is enough and a good amount to take, which it is, but personally, if i could get this gold so readily i would take 5 or 10 mg a day, but thats just my choice only.
I know you won't muck around and you will get this problem reversed in no time.
take care
Brian

I'll repeat what I have discovered. Thiamine really works for burning.
200-300 mg/day in divided doses for one month, is worth trying.
It is very inexpensive, at any drugstore.

Also the magnesium connection is important for diabetics, who lose it thru the urine. Magnesium closes the NMDA pain channels, and reduces pain.

Burning comes and goes for me. It is worse when the weather is warm, can be triggered by MSG in food, or histamine containing foods. (old fish--tomato sauces). If fish is not very fresh the bacteria on it create histamine which can lead to skin burning.

Using a menthol containing rub (like Biofreeze or IcyHot) helps many, but does not change the CAUSE of the burning.

Hi Mrs. D. and others:

I have been reading for a long long time on this Forum about B12 and the best form. My question is: where does one purchase this? I did see it listed on several Internet sites and it seems fairly inexpensive. I have looked in the vitamin sections of various big box stores and drugstores and never see any B12 in the methyl form - only the other one, which is not the best I gather.
So where is everybody buying their B12? Thanks for your answers.

Shirley H.