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147426 tn?1317265632

Zaps, Zings and Electric Shocks

I am rewriting this as a new post, because it seems important.  There is a type of paroxysmal paresthesia that people describe as feeling like a sudden "zap of electricity" or an "intense zing like a sudden electric current."  Other desribe it as feeling like being electrocuted without the dying.  This appears to be different from the ongoing tingling that many of us have.  It is an intense, sudden thing that comes and is gone.

How many here have this?

If you have it, what does it feel like?  and where is it?

Are you diagnosed with MS?

The reason I asked is that I looked through two other threads that talk about this and the vast majority of those that identified with this did not have a diagnosis of MS (yet).  I am wondering if it is common in this disease.  It is often complained of in Lyme Disease, but I have also heard of it in Transverse Myelitis (which also could be MS).  I suspect it is common to any demyelinating disease, but curious as to the experience here, even if you have posted on the older thread.

Zaps and Zings only, please, lol.  No ongoing tingles.

Quix
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Avatar universal
Love the fact that "zaps" and "zings" are used to describe this. Makes this page much easier to find. "Lightning strike in my leg" doesn't quite hit the Google goldmine.

I don't have MS, but am on a drug (colchicine) for recurrent pericarditis with a known side effect of paresthesisas. I actually went through this with another drug years ago (Kineret). In the first case the paresthesias were pretty textbook with lots of tingling. On the cochicine, it has primarily consisted of zaps and zings that remind me of ice pick headaches, but in the leg. Like ice pick headaches there's a sudden intense sensation of ... I don't know ... stabbing, cramping, burning, electric shock ... along a very narrow pathway in my foot or leg, lasting easily less than a minute, probably no more than 30 seconds (which would be about 3 times as long as your typical ice pick headache.) So far it's worth staying on the colchicine as it only happens maybe half a dozen times a week. It seems to happen more at night (which is when I take the drug), and so creates an issue with getting to sleep.

Are folks having trouble getting this recognized as a valid paresthesia?

Good luck, all!
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Avatar universal
hi,just a quick update,my evoked potentials where normal,just had lumbar puncture done on Thursday. Not mega fun,but not as bad as everyone says. Did'nt get the headache,just sore back.

Will get results on September 9th. Still being zapped with TN. Looks weird wearing a wooly hat in summer because the breeze can start the zings off!!

Even air con; in shops sets it off!

My own Dr told me I had two lesions in the ventricles and one on left side of my head.

Keep you posted,Tracey.
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Avatar universal
My zapping toe/foot pain brought me to this site. It comes suddenly and unexpectedly and lasts a second at most but the intensity is enough to make me shout.

It feels like a huge electric shock and unfortunately it is occurring with increasing frequency. I don't know what it is or how to prevent it happening. I'm reluctant to see a doctor because I never know when it will happen so I can show them my symptoms.

The only upside is that when it stops there is no ongoing pain whatsoever.
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Avatar universal
Last Oct I began feeling "pressure"/bugs drilling in very specific spots on my brain. Now, in the last month- the head thing has continued in more locations- but now am having serious continuous balance issues and new zaps and zings in my neck, left arm, legs , stomach and left ear! Had an MRI last week...white spots show up but nothing conclusive. Recently did a bunch of blood work to rule out stuff. I'm laying on the couch- not normal- and VERY FRUSTRATED. Can anyone relate?
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Avatar universal
Hi Quix I am Dogballs, and you have just described exactly what has just started occurring with me.  I don't get tingling anywhere else just at base of my neck that runs right up the center of my head and feels like an electric shock. and I could be doing anything when it occurs even sitting doing nothing.  It happens and then it's gone.  Other wise I am 62 years old and can do anything a 42 year old can do.  I am very physically fit and still SCUBA dive.  Like you I am wondering is this a warning to me of something Bigger getting ready to happen.  The only thing I have done recently as far as change is loose  from 238 lbs to 212 lbs in about two months. My goal is to be 200 lbs or 199 lbs by 10 June.  But the loss of weight should not have anything to do with this I feel. I do take a BP med once a day.
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Avatar universal
Hi Alex,
            Just a quick update on my results. My Mri showed 3 non-specific lesions,not sure which part of brain,I was''nt taking it in properly,my husband said it was 4 actually,3 in one part and another somewhere else.

He wants to do a lumbar puncture to get a clearer diagnosis. Not my favourite thing to look forward to!! But has to be done. Will get that done in a few weeks time. He also repeated a blood test which was high,it was called ACE.,he said it can point to sarcoidosis.

My evoked potentials results will be chased up!! He did,not have them sent to him,but will have them in a day or two.

So,not much further on,will have to be patient and play the waiting game again,
         Thanks,Tracey.

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