I get this when I'm laying down on my back. It starts in the center of my abdomen and the shock radiates outward. It only lasts a few seconds. I was diagnosed with Sick Building Syndrome (high levels of Stachybotrys in my body). This only began when I was being treated for the toxic mold plus a parasite infection. At the time of treatment it was also in my head and in rapid succession, I thought I may have a seizure. Since then my health has rapidly transformed from treatment, however, I still get the abdomen electric shocks. At one point one of my doctors said it's low magnesium, but I take magnesium and I don't think that's it. I came to this forum to figure out what else it might be. Who knows maybe I still have mold in my body. I need to get retested.
I had 2 incredible episodes of this electric like sensation top of head to toes and fingers too. Neither related to new activity. Had similar in 2009 when I tripped on stairs twice. Anyway the 2 episodes were followed by two trips to emergency, and 2 neurologists. First said hyperventilation and I got the second opinion who said it was my Chiari. He said the electric like symptoms were L'hemitte signs. Very interesting. I also had an incredible shaking sensation starting in toes and went to neck, not head. When I googled this I found John Hopkins website said that could be miscommunication between the cerebellum and the remainder of the brain. Neither symptom since. More MRIs band watchful waiting by neurosurgeon. All have settled down but taking Lyrica now. Best exercise walking. Good luck. Hope this helps.
I had the flu vaccine a week ago and pains like these have mee worried about Guillain-Barre
I was checked by MRI and they did find gray matter in the brain. They said this maybe MS. They rechecked after 6 months and looked for the specific reason of MS and found it to be where I hit my head previously and NO MS.
I have what many describe as zaps or electrical shock. I describe it as being stabbed multiple times before I was diagnosed. After being diagnosed and reading the symptoms online. I thought omg mine is like electrical shock. I have schwannomas. Tumors that can be located anywhere in the body. They grow next to the nerve and cause many symptoms.
I had the same thing for the first time last night. The zap seemed like a firework, at least that’s how it spread in my head and there was a sound. Two different sounds and it happened four times before I got up. The feeling started in the middle of the head and spread out like a firework very quickly then disappeared, then another and another. Very scary.
I use to have them so often that it was debilitating. The worst were in my head and arms but I also had them in my legs and torso. I also had numerous headaches and ocular migraines which caused temporary blindness. My doctor started me on Cymbalta and I'm pleased to say that the nerve pain has almost stopped. My quality of life has improved drastically over the past 4 months. I no longer need the Gabapentin which I had been taking for several years to help with the pains.
My symptoms started exactly as mentioned. It is terrifying. Mine is not MS, but the University of Michigan didn't know what to do with my particular bag of tricks, but I am currently on 15 meds. No fun.
Hello, I also have like brain zaps and then like a wave feeling wash thru my head. It's usually when I am going to sleep or awakened during sleep. I have so many strange symptoms anymore..but this feels like a dud firecracker going off. Almost like my brain is firing duds. Does that make sense?..anyway..there ya have it..
I have had the zapps looking back about 15 years off and on. I began seeing ads for Cymbalta withdrawals which led me to visited an ENT. He stated it was possible, I never followed up. I never payed much attention to it after that until I started seeing a Neurologist for Neuropathy. over the last 4 years she has ran multitudes of tests. I have been diagnosed with POSD. Ive taken a few different meds over the past 3 years. I have not taken any meds for this in over a year. No Cymbalta for 2 years, but, replaced with Lexapro. now Im cutting it back and zapping has restarted. Im very baffled over what to do other than not tell the Neurologist and continue Lexapro. she will start seizure meds again and Im not convinced it is POSD.
I get them. They started as a teenager. I thought maybe I just needed chiropractic care for my neck. A Dr said it could be from antibiotics. That didn't make sense for my situation bc I wasnt on them. It doesn't hurt. Just a zap in my brain that goes down to my fingertips. It comes and goes without reason. It stops me in my tracks, I can only hear the blood rushing in my ears and I think I close my eyes and just stand there for the second it lasts. I got diagnosed with MS at 44. My neuro said it was from the lesions on my brain.
I had same thing happen to me after starting pristiq a mood stabilizer. My doctor states it’s a common complaint she has had from patients.
I have this zapping electricity only with a deep hard cough. It is horribly painful. I do not have M.S. but my son died at 39 due to SAD which is an arythmic issue of the heart.
I have been having shots down my left arm I've been diagnosed with MS since September 11, 2001 and been on all the medications there is out there. But July 2015 I got diagnosed with psoriasis of the liver which was caused from one of my MS pills so I haven't been on any thing since July I'm going to start an infusion sooN. But to then does anybody have any suggestions especially with the constant fatigue in the pain can't deal with it no more I can't take any pain meds because of the Liver. Thank you Julie and Warner
I began experiencing mild tingling and burning in both feet, from the left elbow to the outer pinky and ring finger and occasionally in the lower left lip. Had MRI of lumbar and cervical with age related spinal degeration. An uncontrolled bout of high sugar precipitated the symptoms and they've lessened as I control the sugar, removed processed foods and gluten from my diet. Don't know where this will lead to, but my doctor thinks probably peripheral neuropathy is going on in the feet, carpal tunnel in the hands and does know about the lip. I also have been experiencing a phantom smell of smoke and think the root cause is inflammation going on in the body which is most likely from gluten intolerance, toxins from unknown sources and comes with episodes of high sugar or eating inflammatory foods that may be damaging the nerves. So, my game plan is to assume this is the source and change my food and lifestyle to prevent or slow the progression of any autoimmune disease. From my searches, I think unless I develop a full autoimmune disease other than diabetes which I currently have, I probably won't get a diagnosis even after spending thousands of dollars.
For about the last 3 years I have been experiencing what feels to be a cattle prod hitting the 2 large muscles in the center of my back that straddle my spine. This happens on average once per month. It is extremely spontanious, no warning signs noticable whatsoever. Sometimes it stops right away, but most of the time it sticks with me for up to 3-5 minutes. It takes my breath away instantly and I feel the shocking/electrocuding sensation all the way through my stomach. I am a male of 23 years of age and am in fine, fit health. I do not and have not been prescribed any medications. What is going on in my back!!?
I have something that happens to me that is similar to what you're describing I have a sudden Buzz or a zap that happens in my head it only last for a split second it goes away as fast as it comes on it seems like an electric shock or a buzz when it happens my vision goes all white and I lose equilibrium it's not painful but it does feel like an electric shock in my brain or a zapp or bzzzz. I sure hope it turna out to be nothing.
a year now or so it's been going on hopefully it turns out to be nothing. As for my health I am a 31 year old white female I do have Hepatitis C other than that I'm in good health I do smoke cigarettes but I work outside daily manual labor I walk to exercise I eat well I am not overweight and I do not drink alcohol or partake in any other extracurricular activities if you get my drift. I hope this can help you out sorry I haven't had any diagnosis to give you
Hi i noticed in your writing a similiar affect that i feel but i do not know what it is so i am useless in helping you for now i can describe what i am going thru please allow me to share thank you. I am in my early 50's I am not diabetic I do have high blood pressure and my doctor has presribed me with high coletsetral and heart tablets once a day medicines. I have lost 2kg weight and quit smoking. I am a very energetic lady and health conscious.
Since early July 2016 I have been experiencing this dreadful, terrible throbbing pain as if im being electricuted and it is always in my left leg. It is a pain that quite hard for me to describe because I hardly get sore unless its self inflicted e.g cold leg muscles. The shock last for about 20 to 30 seconds and then its gone. I dread it when the same pain comes back its always in the same place up the front of my left leg. It feels like a electrical shock to the system it comes back unannounced. Would sure be awesome to get a massage I'm sure that'll do the trick for anyone.
Wondered how all of your Zips, Zings and "phantom phone" started. I've been having this random out of no where electric shock from my elbow all the way down to the tips of my fingers. The shock only lasts a second or two but wow its intense but it if I touch my elbow its straight back. Not sure if its something to do with a nerve but you all know what happens when you put something in google, apparently your dying but its apparently, Cubital Tunnel or MS.
Not been to see anyone about it, having it at the moment and came across this post and thought someone might be able to give me an insight.
Sarah
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!
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.