[nikkirtw]

I started taking Acetyl L Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic acid in hopes that it would take care of my pins and needles and burning, but instead it seems to have made it worse, took care of the sharp shooting pain, but now it feels like I'm having an allergic reeacation, my eyes are super itchy, the tip of my tongue is numb and I just itch all over. Is there anything else besides these two to try and if so how much should I take of it.

[mrsD]

When people get beginning pins/needles etc...it is best to
determine what you need...rather than jumping in with the more complex supplements.

B12, Vit D, and magnesium are the big three nutrients people are most often substandard with.

There are medical tests for B12 and Vit D levels, you can get at the doctor's office. Sadly they will test you but interpretation of the levels is still fuzzy with them. So it is best to come back here with your results.

Magnesium testing is often useless in the normal range... and only valuable today for very very critically low or high values.

You need to post here some medical history, RX drug use (some can cause PN), hobbies, exposures to toxins and heavy metals...
when the symptoms started, how long you've had them etc.

There are over 100 causes of PN and they occur in different nerves and locations, and the supplements only help if you have specific needs for them.

Acetyl carnitine is used today to help with antiviral drug damage, or chemo damge. It is specific for mitochondrial damage from drugs or toxins. ALA is more general and helpful for metabolic PNs like those connected to diabetes.

Very low Vit D is common today, and when very low, can give PN type warning symptoms.

[nikkirtw]

didn't know so much went into it. All my testing says it came back normal but unfortunately I do not have that information with me. I do take Cymbalta. I've had this problem for 7 years off and on, and I don't believe any of this was caused by any toxins, I try to eat as healthy as possible and try to stay away from anything with sugar, gluten, and asperteme. I do take 500 mg of magnesium and 2000 Iu D3, I just thought I would try Acetyl L Carnitine and Alpha Lipoic because I've heard of other people having great results, but I just seem to be getting weird results, been on the two for two weeks. If I could get this damn burning all over under control I would be one happy person, I can handle the body aches any day...

[mrsD]

Thanks for the extra info...

Can you check that magnesium and see that it is NOT oxide form?
Oxide is not absorbed and is useless for supplementation.

You would need a chelated type, or SlowMag. Chelates are glycinate, lactate, taurate, gluconate, citrate.

This is our magnesium thread:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

Estimates are that up to 70% of Americans are low in magnesium, and Vit D. New estimates for low B12 are 40%.

[nikkirtw]

It is Magnesium Oxide... looks like I'm going to have to get some new Magnesium.. Thank you, thank you thank you for all your information.

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by nikkirtw

If I could get this damn burning all over under control I would be one happy person, I can handle the body aches any day...

Have you tried any antihistamines for that?

Doc

[nikkirtw]

yes I have tried antihistimanes to no avail as well.. That was the first thing they put me on.. I wish it was as simple as that..

[mrsD]

All over symptoms can be due to imbalance of calcium to magnesium or Low Vit D.

We had a poster who had pain in his shoulders and back, and
he eventually took Vit D, and it all went away!

We currently have a poster with calf pain, who improved when she took Vit D after testing which demonstrated a significant low level.

Vit D improves calcium absorption from food, so that less calcium is mobilized from bone, to meet heart and muscle needs. It has some impact on magnesium absorption too. There is significant magnesium in normal bone.