tingeling and numbness

[penguin]

I'm having some trouble any advices are most welcome. Little over a month ago I noticed that my feet tingle bit, my feet and hands become numb easily and have also restlesness (though been restless before becoming vegan). First thought was B12, hadn't check my values and been vegan for over 5 years, though been taking supplements. So went for blood test and they came good, B12 was 495 (suggested values here are 120-700) and hemoglobin was 159. Any other factors to be checked concerning B12? Next thought was magnesium and got myself some extra magnesium supplements, been taking them for few days but haven't noticed any difference. Any other suggestions, too much or too little some dietary mineral or vitamin? Otherwise I feel fine, my diet ain't perfect, but I'll try to eat diversely and take supplements (now Veg-1, B12 (solgar), V-pure, D2-vitamin and now also magnesium).

[baldy]

Did a Doctor do the bloodtest, and what did they say?

[vegieburger]

I have a similar problem but its only in my feet and only tingling, no numbness. I've had it for a few years but it comes and goes. The tingling drives me insane. I went to a dr and had tests done, he couldn't find anything wrong but prescribed b12 shots anyway, they did nothing to help. I'd be interested in hearing if you find out what it is. I think mine might be related to the antidepressents I'm on, as I've read that it can be a symptom of some antidepressents, but I'm not sure.

[muchluv]

Whats your calcium intake on average?

Thanks for all the replies!

[quote="baldy"]Did a Doctor do the bloodtest, and what did they say?

[CoeyCoey]

This site gives some other possibilities you might want to investigate.

http://www.healthline.com/symptomsearch ... And%20Feet

[muchluv]

1 The most common sign of hypocalcemia is what is called "neuromuscular irritability." Your nerves and muscles, which are directly related to blood calcium levels, may spasm or twitch.
2 If your blood test results indicate hypocalcemia, you may notice muscle cramps in your legs or your arms.
3 The symptoms of hypocalcemia you experience may relate to how fast or how slowly the fall in blood calcium levels occur.
4 If you have long-standing low blood calcium levels, you may notice no symptoms of hypocalcemia.
5 If you have an "acute" or sudden drop in your blood calcium level, you may notice more twitching.
6 You may notice, with mildly lowered blood calcium levels, numbness and tingling of your fingers and toes.
7 You may notice that you are depressed, or more irritable if you have mildly low hypocalcemia.
8 With severely lowered blood calcium levels, you may become confused or disoriented. Your heart muscle may contract irregularly due to the electrolyte disturbance.

These are some low calcium symptoms I found on a website.

The UK RDA is 800mg To get that you'd have to consume nearly 400g of collard greens (the most, or one of the most calcium dense green leafy) vegetable. Or even more than that of Kale etc. Calcium from spinach is not absorbed as well. Tofu like you say is good if its made with calcium salts. If you have some calcium enriched soy milk (on your cereal) or coffee, that helps, too. 100g of sunflower seeds for isntance has 116 calcium, unless it is unhulled sesame seeds which has a lot (although they are hard to find and the calcium in the hulls is harder to absorb).

Just to give an example, you could eat
100g collard greens 210mg,
130g kale 93.6mg
100g sunflower seeds- 116mg
150g broccoli - 74mg
100g kidney beans - 143mg.

After all of those calcium rich foods its still only around 550mg calcium, while the UK RDA is 800, and the USA is 1000.

Sorry to go on and on !

Just maybe check it out because it could be one of the reasons.

[penguin]

[quote="muchluv"]After all of those calcium rich foods its still only around 550mg calcium, while the UK RDA is 800, and the USA is 1000.

Sorry to go on and on !

Just maybe check it out because it could be one of the reasons.

[muchluv]

Fantastic! Really happy I could be of help (if what I said was right, as it could be something else). Please let me know what happens!

Just as a side note for you or anyone reading this who has any interest in this. If you are taking calcium supplements, be aware of the elemental calcium in what you are taking, as from what I have read for Calcium Carbonate (the most common form of supplement) it is 40%. So for your 500mg tablet you may only be absorbing 200mg. Have a look on the net as I've just read something that's confused me on that. Also calcium supplements do carry a small increased risk of heart attacks due to calcification of arteries.

Another good boost of calcium is oranges, 2 will give roughly 100mg. Also this stuff (make sure its blackstrap) http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nu ... le&dbid=85

[penguin]

[quote="muchluv"]Fantastic! Really happy I could be of help (if what I said was right, as it could be something else). Please let me know what happens!

[muchluv]

I'm crushed. For a while I had the glimmer that my information had actually helped someone . No worries Penguin, let me know how it goes!

[Linnéa76]

You've probably thought about restless legs syndrome, but here's a checklist in case you haven't.

http://www.restlesslegs.com/restless-le ... klist.html

[Rach]

I'm not medically qualified always worth getting a thyroid function test done, if you feel fine otherwise then it's unlikely to be hypothyroidism but tingling and pins and needles can be a symptom http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003206trt.htm

[Eden]

I have Pernicious Anaemia and receive monthly hydroxycobalamin jabs from the doctor. At my worst my b12 was 177 and at best with loading doses and three monthly jabs 553. I still had severe neurological symptoms at this level - brain fog, pins and needles in hands and feet, nerve pain in hips, tinnitus, balance problems, nausea, joint pain, hormonal problems, insomnia, hot sweats, breathlessness and chronic fatigue. After lots of research and advice from the pernicious anaemia society I found out that blood tests only give a blood serum level count not an active b12 level. So at a cellular level you may not be absorbing or converting b12 efficiently. At first I went to the GP but struggled to get more frequent jabs and was actually told it was because it was so toxic!???I went to see a private consultant and he suspects I have a problem with the methylation process. I had an IV infusion and now inject 1ml of methylcobalamin twice a day. There is currently no test for active B12.

So my point is, even if you have a b12 in the normal range as I did when my symptoms first started, take the sublingual b12. The 18 month delay in diagnosis for me has been detremental. I now have permanent neuro damage and struggle to function at a normal level. Three years ago I ran marathons now I can't run at all. Even if you suspect it may be something else up your b12 anyway. It won't harm you. Take folic acid too as this is needed for methylation.

People having neuro problems whilst receiving standard NHS replacement therapy or showing normal blood serum levels of b12 is unfortunately far too common.

[penguin]

thanks for all the replies. I went to see neuro specialist, my blood test etc were all good and after examing, specialist concluded that cause for the symptons was musscle tention from static desk work and too much work with computers (adds up ). Specialist suggested stretching, exercise, massage, and so on. Sounds good