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Sometimes called Lhermitte’s sign, electric shock sensations that travel down your back and behind your legs may signal vitamin B12 deficiency, or several other debilitating conditions. Here are the facts on that spine-tingling phenomenon, and other signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Lhermitte’s Syndrome

Lhermitte’s syndrome is also referred to as Barber Chair Phenomenon. Patients describe painful numbness and an electric shock feeling that shoots down the spine and the backs of the legs, particularly while bending the neck forward and looking down.

The characteristic electric shock symptoms are common with multiple sclerosis (MS), but also occur with long-term vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, as both are demyelinating illnesses that cause damage to the nervous system.

If Vitamin B12 Deficiency Mimics Multiple Sclerosis, How do you tell the Difference?

Still, many health problems can cause electric shocks along the spinal cord. In addition to MS and vitamin B12 deficiency, others include:

• Transverse myelitis
• Radiation myelopathy
• Behçet’s disease
• Spine and neck injuries
• Hernias
• Tumors
• Withdrawal symptoms of antidepressants and narcotics

In the early 80’s, scientists noted Lhermitte’s sign in people who habitually abused nitrous oxide, which caused electric shocks from vitamin B12 deficiency.

Electric shock treatment?

To find out if Lhermitte’s sign is from vitamin B12 deficiency, take a blood test, and also familiarize yourself with the common signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. If your vitamin B12 levels are very low, then you will need to supplement with extra vitamin B12 for several months until symptoms disappear.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 depletion are:

• Electric shock sensations
• Headache
• Muscle spasms
• Muscle weakness
• Painful numbing and tingling in the arms and legs
• Difficulty controlling muscle movements
• Digestive problems
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Memory loss

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Definition of Lhermitte sign

Lhermitte’s sign as the presenting symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency.

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Many patients of vitamin B12 deficiency suffering from fatigue, memory loss, and brain fog want to know how long it will take for vitamin B12 to take effect, and for how long they will have to continue taking vitamin B12 supplements.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 is important for sustaining healthy red blood cells and nerve cells, and also for converting food into energy. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include extreme tiredness, poor concentration, memory loss, dizziness, and disorientation.

And those are just the initial symptoms; after several years, severe vitamin B12 depletion can cause significant damage to the nervous system, and also increase your risk for stroke, heart attack, and osteoporosis. Often, untreated vitamin B12 deficiency results in pernicious anemia, a once fatal disease.

There are many unusual symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, and most will disappear once you have been taking vitamin B12 long enough to get your stores up to a normal amount, and have maintained stable levels of vitamin B12.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Dizziness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Short-term memory problems
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Tinnitus (ear ringing)
• Sore red tongue
• Painful numbness and tingling in the arms and legs
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle spasms
• Difficulty walking
• Poor motor skills
• Infertility
• Heart palpitations
• Feeling out of breath

40 Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency: the Ultimate Checklist

How long does vitamin B12 take to work?

If you begin early on, then you should start seeing results from vitamin B12 before long, depending on how much vitamin B12 you need in order to achieve a normal level.

Normal vitamin B12 levels are about 200 – 900 pg. /mL, but it’s not unusual to experience symptoms even if you are within the normal range.

Some people start to feel better, more energetic, immediately; others don’t notice improvements in memory or mood problems for a few weeks. Still others may not experience any relief for several months.

There is really no accurate way of measuring exactly how long it will take for vitamin B12 to help your body build new red blood cells, begin healing damaged nerve cells, or boost energy levels.

Most vitamin B12 is stored in the liver, and it took years for B12 levels to drop to the point that you started noticing the symptoms of B12 deficiency, so it’s important to be patient, and give your body enough time to slowly accumulate vitamin B12 in the bloodstream.

How much vitamin B12 do I need?

A standard dose of vitamin B12 contains 1,000mcg. Some vitamin B12 deficiency patients require 1,000mcg doses daily, weekly, or monthly. You need to continue taking vitamin B12 for life, especially if you are unable to absorb it naturally from the foods you eat.

Fortunately, there’s no way of taking “too much vitamin B12” because all amounts are completely safe, and many people even benefit by taking extra doses of non-dietary vitamin B12 between doctor visits.

There have been many studies associating mega-vitamin B12 doses with increased energy, healthy mental focus, and improved allover feeling of wellness.

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Will Vitamin B12 Boost Energy if I don’t have B12 Deficiency? YES!

Vitamin B12 for Fibromyalgia- How Much do you Need?

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An alarming number of patients suffering low thyroid– hypothyroidism- may actually have underlying anemia from vitamin B12 deficiency, according to studies. How can you tell the difference between low vitamin B12 and low thyroid?

In a study focusing on vitamin B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism, scientists noted that nearly 40% of patients receiving treatment for low thyroid functioning also had significantly low levels of vitamin B12.

Thyroid and vitamin B12- what’s the link?

Researchers from the Aga Khan University in Pakistan observed 116 patients of hypothyroid and tested them for signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. They found that 46 patients with low thyroid disorder also had significantly low levels of vitamin B12.

• Many, but not all, hypothyroid patients with vitamin B12 deficiency reported symptoms that were consistent with low vitamin B12 levels- extreme fatigue, memory loss, painful numbness and tingling in the extremities, weak muscles, and slow reflexes.
• Other hypothyroid patients also reported similar symptoms, but had normal levels of serum vitamin B12.
• Still, telltale symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency were not always prevalent, despite blood test results indicating severe depletion of vitamin B12 in the blood supply.
• After receiving vitamin B12 supplementation for six months, both groups of hypothyroid patients, those with vitamin B12 deficiency and those with normal vitamin B12 levels, noticed a decline in symptoms related to vitamin B12 deficiency anemia.

Low B12 means Low Thyroid- Hypothyroidism and B12 Deficiency

It’s uncertain exactly why hypothyroid patients are prone to vitamin B12 deficiency, but it may result from two risk factors:

• Anti-thyroid antibodies: Sometimes, pernicious anemia, a common form of vitamin B12 deficiency, occurs because of an autoimmune dysfunction. History of autoimmune disorders therefore increases your risk of developing intrinsic factor antibodies that lead to pernicious anemia.
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Digestive problems, comorbid with thyroid disorders, often interfere with vitamin B12 absorption, resulting in depletion of vitamin B12 levels in the blood.

Why do we need vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 is crucial for many important biochemical functions, including maintaining nervous system integrity, producing red blood cells needed to deliver oxygen, converting carbohydrates into energy, and metabolizing DNA.

Initially, when vitamin B12 levels drop, you may notice symptoms such as tiredness, depression, anxiety, and “pins and needles,” including painful numbness and tingling in the arms and legs.

Over time, your stores of vitamin B12 can slowly deplete to a dangerous low, increasing your risk for progressively debilitating ailments, such as dizziness, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue, brain fog, muscle pain, and difficulty controlling arm and leg movements.

Some of these symptoms may mimic signs of low thyroid, so it’s crucial to get tested for vitamin B12 deficiency often, especially if you already battle with hypothyroidism.

To treat vitamin B12, you may require a regimen of non-dietary supplements consisting of at least 1,000mcg of vitamin B12.

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Vitamin B12 deficiency common in primary hypothyroidism.

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To keep providing energy, strength, and mental focus when fibromyalgia relapses occur, you need to nourish your body with many essential nutrients, including vitamin B12. Taking vitamin B12 supplements is a crucial part of any fibromyalgia management regimen, but it’s important to also get plenty of vitamins from the foods you eat.

To manage fibromyalgia symptoms such as brain fog, vitamin B12 deficiency, muscle aches, and chronic fatigue, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin B12, and sustaining normal levels of vitamin B12 in your blood supply.

Also read Vitamin B12 for Fibromyalgia- Food Sources!

Vitamin B12 malabsorption

Vitamin B12 malabsorption is common in people with fibromyalgia, because of gastrointestinal disorders that prevent you from digesting proper amounts vitamin B12 from the foods you eat.

To maintain healthy vitamin B12 levels, you would need to take about 1,000mcg of vitamin B12 weekly, the amount of vitamin B12 included in a typical vitamin B12 shot or other non-dietary B12 supplement.

Comparatively speaking, that’s about 11 servings of cooked clams each week, just to prevent developing severe pernicious anemia.

To avoid symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia that mimic fibromyalgia- fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, depression, and muscle pain- you would have to consume many times more than the suggested dosage of vitamin B12 from foods such as clams, crabs, oysters, and other types of seafood.

How much B12 do you need?

There’s no upper limit set for vitamin B12 supplementation- any amount you decide to take is completely safe and cannot cause any side effects, according to FDA guidelines.

Generally, in the case of vitamin B12 malabsorption with fibromyalgia, the more vitamin B12 you take, the better off you are. There doesn’t seem to be any amount of vitamin B12 that is “too much.”

More often, the amount of vitamin B12 you get from prescription supplements such as vitamin B12 shots are often not enough to relieve symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as constant tiredness, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, or painful tingling and numbness in the hands and feet.

To get the most vitamin B12, it’s important to eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin B12, in addition to also maintaining a routine of vitamin B12 supplementation, adjusting the regimen until you find the right amount of vitamin B12 to prevent symptoms.

Your turn!

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To keep providing energy, strength, and mental focus when fibromyalgia relapses occur, you need to nourish your body with many essential nutrients, including vitamin B12. Taking vitamin B12 supplements is a crucial part of any fibromyalgia management regimen, but it’s important to also get plenty of vitamins from the foods you eat.

Listed below are food sources of vitamin B12 that are helpful for people who suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, such as brain fog, vitamin B12 deficiency, muscle aches, and chronic fatigue.

What is vitamin B12 good for?

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is essential for a healthy nervous system, in addition to normal red blood cell production and DNA synthesis.

Vitamin B12 protects your nerve cells from damage, ensures that your brain gets enough oxygen, and helps to convert carbohydrates from the foods you eat into much-needed energy.

Most importantly, maintaining healthy stores of vitamin B12 protects you from developing pernicious anemia, a once-fatal form of vitamin B12 deficiency that is often comorbid with fibromyalgia.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Fibromyalgia Pain Types

Food sources of vitamin B12

The richest sources of vitamin B12 occur naturally in animal-based foods such as beef, poultry, and fish. Among these, cooked clams provide the most vitamin B12, approximately 84mcg in one 3-ounce serving.

Other excellent food sources of vitamin B12 include beef or chicken organ meats such as liver, heart, and kidneys.

Crabmeat, halibut, and lean cuts of beef and chicken are also rich in this important nutrient for your brain, muscles, and circulatory system.

How much B12 do you need?

Most people get enough vitamin B12 from a steady diet of beef, fish, poultry, and dairy products, but a significant number of people, including fibromyalgia patients, do not end up digesting the vitamin B12 from foods.

Many risk factors such as digestive problems, autoimmune disorders, and history for pernicious anemia may cause your vitamin B12 levels to drop dramatically, despite your diet.

In the next installment, we will discuss how much vitamin B12 is needed in order to prevent symptoms of deficiency that exacerbate fibromyalgia.

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Gastric bypass surgery can be a lifesaver for the obese who have difficulty losing weight, but it can also pose serious health risks, causing debilitating side effects that can eventually lead to death.

Please note: None of this information constitutes medical advice, but rather a guide to help you discuss bariatric surgery options and side effects with your doctor.

Side effects of gastric bypass

Nearly one million people have opted for bariatric surgeries as a last-resort means of losing weight to prevent heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, and most are successful.

But about 30% of patients find that they have traded one set of ailments for another, often battling several forms of anemia, such as vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, iron deficiency, and folate deficiency, in addition to illnesses such as osteoporosis and hypoglycemia.

Getting your Vitamin B12, Post-Bariatric Surgery

Additionally, about 20% of gastric bypass surgery patients require addition operations in order to treat complications that may arise, such as ulcers or fecal incontinence.

Furthermore, a large number continue to suffer from depression and anxiety related to their food addictions and mentality regarding weight. According to some studies, weight loss surgery patients are five times more likely to commit suicide than the general population.

Finally, about 20% of patients who elect for bariatric surgery ultimately gain all their weight back, and continue to suffer side effects caused by the invasive procedure.

Weight Loss Surgery: What 50 Post-Op Patients have to Say

Side effects and complications that may occur following gastric bypass may include:

• Pernicious anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency: Removal of the ileum interferes with your ability to digest vitamin B12 naturally from foods, so unless you continue to supplement with non-dietary vitamin B12, then you are at high risk for developing symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, depression, confusion, anxiety, mental sluggishness, poor concentration, painful numbness in the hands and feet, muscle spasms, and many other symptoms of severe vitamin B12 depletion.
• Other types of malnutrition may also develop as a result of failure to provide daily B vitamins and other supplements. Folic acid anemia, iron deficiency anemia, low calcium, and vitamin C deficiency can cause pain, fatigue, bruising, swelling, poor healing, and frequent illnesses.
• Osteoporosis caused by low stomach acid production and calcium depletion is a common side effect that is treated by taking calcium supplements with citric acid.
• Ulcers may develop in the small intestine, requiring surgery.
• Many patients experience frequent dehydration resulting from smaller stomach size.
• Rapid weight loss may cause constant fatigue, mood swings, chronic pain, hair loss, and sensitivity to changes in temperature.
• Noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia syndrome (NIPHS) can sometimes result following gastric bypass surgery, causing neurological symptoms such as seizures, and will require pancreatic surgery.
• Gastric dumping syndrome often occurs while eating, as food moves too quickly through your body and causes stomach pain, bloating, and dizziness.
• Many bariatric surgery patients suffer from extreme constipation, causing side effects of stomach pain, fecal incontinence, diarrhea, and intense bloating.

Your turn!

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Recently, researchers have discovered a new way of checking for vitamin B12 deficiency that is faster and more accurate. Plus, this test for vitamin B12 levels requires less of a blood sacrifice…

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed an innovative new method for measuring your stores of vitamin B12, one that requires 4-10 times less blood than the standard tests for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 benefits

Vitamin B12 is a crucial nutrient that supports a healthy nervous system, in addition to also regulating normal red blood cell production.

Studies focusing on Alzheimer’s disease also recognize benefits to brain volume and cognitive skills attributed to sustaining normal levels of vitamin B12.

The benefits of vitamin B12 for boosting stamina are also noted, as it helps to convert carbohydrates to usable energy and is essential for DNA synthesis.

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

When vitamin B12 levels are low, you begin to experience the effects of vitamin B12 deficiency, indicating a disruption in neurological functioning, cell division, and red blood cell production required for oxygen.

Symptoms of low B12 may include:

• Extreme, constant fatigue
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Anxiety
• Disorientation
• Brain fog, confusion
• Painful numbness and tingling in the extremities
• Muscle spasms
• Weakness
• Sore red tongue
• Vision problems

Who’s at risk?

Vitamin B12 occurs natural in animal-based foods such as beef, poultry, and seafood. Still, even if you don’t follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, you may still be a risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Family history for pernicious anemia
• Autoimmune disorders
• Lacking sufficient stomach acids, such as occurs with aging
• Gastric bypass surgery
• Medications for diabetes and acid reflux that inhibit vitamin B12 absorption

Does GERD cause Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

Test for vitamin B12 deficiency

If you suspect you have vitamin B12 deficiency, or if it runs in the family, then you should get your vitamin B12 serum levels tested immediately. Untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can become severe pernicious anemia, which causes irreversible damage to your nervous system and can be fatal.

The new test developed by the USDA only requires 25 microliters (about ½ drop) of blood to measure vitamin B12 levels, but with the introduction of robotics, it will be possible to measure vitamin B12 with only 5 microliters.

Testing for vitamin B12 deficiency will only take about four minutes, producing results more efficiently, and with more precision and reliability, as well.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, twitter, or Facebook.

Like this? Read more:

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If you take regular vitamin B12 shots, then you may notice side effect like dry, scaly skin patches, bruising, or pain caused by sharp needles. While B12 injections are prescribed by doctors for most cases of vitamin B12 deficiency, patients who choose to self-inject B12 should follow strict health guidelines in order to avoid uncomfortable side effects.

What are B12 shots?

Vitamin B12 injections are prescribed for people with severe vitamin B12 deficiency; they typically deliver about 1,000mcg of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in one dose.

Unlike other kinds of injections that are administered just below a patch of skin, B12 shots are intramuscular, and must be inserted into the thick, fleshy tissue of the thighs, buttocks, or abdomen areas.

Self-injecting vitamin B12 is a good option for people who are able to obtain the injections without a prescription, and find they need extra doses of vitamin B12 in order to feel more energetic, focused, and mentally balanced.

Still, to prevent skin inflammation, pain, bruising, or infection from vitamin B12 shots, it’s important to follow strict health standards, and follow the advice of a physician.

Self-Injecting Vitamin B12 Shots- 12 Tips and Warnings

Side effects of vitamin B12 shots

The following side effects are sometimes associated with routine injection of vitamin B12:

• Itchy red skin patches
• Raised skin patches
• Hives
• Welts
• Red skin color
• Nausea
• Strong pain at site of injection
• Swelling
• Headache
• Joint pain

Rare side effects that may occur after vitamin B12 injection include:

• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations
• Muscle pain
• Leg cramps
• Infection
• Bleeding

Vitamin B12 shots alternatives

For a growing number of people, plummeting levels of vitamin B12 are a constant source of fatigue, memory loss, depression, and muscular pain, despite following a B12-rich diet.

To reverse symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, or pernicious anemia, it’s necessary to supplement with regimented doses of vitamin B12 until your levels return to normal.

Vitamin B12 injections are currently the most popular method for replenishing and maintaining vitamin B12, but as mentioned, skin patches, bleeding, and nerve pain are irritating side effects.

Still, more gentle forms of vitamin B12 are available, and are a good option for parents of children who need vitamin B12 supplements, or anybody who has difficulty receiving injections.

Good alternative sources of vitamin B12 are non-dietary vitamin B12 applications that don’t require swallowing.

Your turn!

Do you currently self-inject with vitamin B12 shots, or do receive prescription B12?

Have you also experienced the itchy red skin patches from vitamin B12 shots, or other side effects?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

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If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, twitter, or Facebook.

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Vitamin B12 Injections Side Effects

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How does vitamin B12 benefit your body? Let us count the ways…vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that nourishes your body and mind. Here are some of the most mind-blowing benefits of vitamin B12 supplementation.

It controls your thinking skills, energy levels, mental health, and even symptoms of aging.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) benefits your nervous system, helping you sustain better muscle control and strength while avoiding symptoms of neuropathy (nerve damage) caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 is good for heart health, fertility, and DNA synthesis.

What won’t this amazing Wonder Vitamin do?

Low Energy could mean Low B12- It’s Correlational

1) Vitamin B12 prevents brain fog and dizziness caused by low oxygen, as it aids in producing plenty of healthy red blood cells needed to carry oxygen throughout your body.

2) Vitamin B12 prevents pernicious anemia, a once-fatal condition that produces symptoms such as chronic fatigue, disorientation, memory loss, depression, muscle weakness, and painful tingling and numbness in the extremities.

3) Vitamin B12 protects the nervous system by supporting myelin, a fatty substance that protects your nerve cells and encourages efficient communication with the brain.

Symptoms of nerve cell damage (neuropathy) may include difficulty walking, numbness, vision problems, and slow or delayed reflexes.

4) Vitamin B12 promotes cardiovascular health by controlling homocysteine, a hormone associated with increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and mental illness.

In order to prevent homocysteine levels from rising, it’s important to sustain normal levels of vitamin B12.

5) Vitamin B12 promotes healthy cell growth, including preservation of the cell membrane. This is important for regulating healthy hormones and maintaining immune system integrity.

6) Vitamin B12 boosts energy, as it helps your body convert carbohydrates and fats into ATP- usable energy.

7) Vitamin B12 helps to delay symptoms of aging. In many oft-cited studies, elderly citizens who sustained healthy vitamin B12 levels were less likely than their peers to suffer from memory loss, confusion, depression, and other signs of dementia than their peers who had vitamin B12 deficiency.

Your turn!

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The Benefits of Vitamin B12

Want to burn fat while also boosting energy? These five thermogenic foods are great sources of vitamin B12, a nutrient essential for promoting a good metabolism, converting food into energy, and supporting stamina for maximum weight loss. Here are some of the best fat-burning foods that support healthy B12 levels.

Does fat really burn?

Fat doesn’t melt, but it can be converted into energy. Certain foods require a lot of energy just to digest- more energy than the food itself contributes in calories.

Thermogenic foods like meats, vegetables, and legumes that pack vitamins and minerals help your body use up stored fat calories efficiently, giving you a natural edge on weight loss…without suffering vitamin deficiency.

Vitamin B12 is important for DNA synthesis and cellular energy, so it makes sense that to control your weight and burn the most fat, you would increase your intake of vitamin B12.

Fat-burning foods with vitamin B12

Chicken breast: A standard serving of chicken breast contains 300 lean calories, but your body burns about 100 calories just digesting this vitamin B12-rich protein source.

Beef: Lean beef is one of the richest sources of vitamin B12, and like with the chicken, you burn about 30% of the calories of a serving of meat just breaking in down into energy.

Seafood: Fish is a powerhouse of vitamin B12, and also helps you feel satiated after a meal. Salmon and mackerel are great fat-burning seafood dishes that are high in vitamin B12.

Cheese: Low-fat dairy products like cheese are rich in calcium, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. They also provide a sense of fullness that will help you achieve your weight loss goal.

Eggs: To burn fat, eat the whole egg, including the yolk. Eggs are excellent sources of vitamin B12, contain healthy cholesterol, and boost your metabolism.

Get even more B12

Many of us don’t get enough vitamin B12 from our diet, as combined health factors limit your ability to properly digest it from the foods we eat.

Chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia, migraine, celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease limit absorption of vitamin B12, and often lead to vitamin B12 deficiency.

Also, if you have had a gastric bypass, take medications for GERD or diabetes, or suffer from autoimmune disorders, then you are doubly at risk for developing severe vitamin B12 deficiency.

If you notice symptoms like extreme fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, depression, or painful tingling and numbness in your hands and feet, then you may be experiencing the early signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, despite eating a healthy diet of foods that are rich in vitamin B12.

To make certain you’re getting enough vitamin B12 for energy, metabolism, and weight management, it’s important to supplement with approximately 1,000mcg of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) each week, preferably in a non-dietary form.

This may include sublingual vitamin B12, vitamin B12 injections that require prescription, or other OTC sources of vitamin B12 that don’t require prescription.

Your turn!

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, twitter, or Facebook.

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