hi doctor

[bosnianworrier]

I hope you will be able to answer my question. Since I had something like a nervous breakdown, 15 years ago, when I was just 12, I have a feeling in my body that I cannot explain. The feeling is similar to as when a doctor pokes below your knee to check the nerve reflex. That feeling is mostly in my arms, legs, abdomen and including the brain.Most severe gets on hands and brain and I believe is causing me depersonalization.Other word to describe it would be like mild electricity going through those nerves. No such feeling on face and back.But I cannot say the feeling is on my skin, it feels as it is in the nerves in those areas i mentioned.

I spoke to many doctors and they all call it anxiety. Note that the feeling is not painful, but rather (itchy-irritating-electric-shocklike)

I hope I could just find the name of that feeling. Thanx

ps. I've had it for over 15 years. I take some antidepressants and benzos but the feeling is there 95% of the time.

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
There are many causes of paresthesias. Some of them are- Nutritional deficiencies or metabolic disturbances, Hypothyroidism, inflammation, connective tissue disease like arthritis and ALS; toxins, malignancy, infections like Lyme disease, or neurological diseases like Multiple sclerosis. I would suggest you to go for MRI of the brain and spine and consult a neurologist and physician for complete examination and other investigations to know the cause. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!

[ggreg]

Dear Bosnian Worrier,
Just saw your old post and your new info.  Thought I'd mention that SSRIs can sometimes cause that brain electricity you're referring to, it's a hum that usually goes up the spine and snaps in the head.  Maybe that's not what you got.  I have also heard the word neuropathy used to describe strange feelings in the extremities like your paresthesias.  But the reason I'm posting is because I have some neuropathy in my legs, and also restless legs syndrome, where I feel this electric sensation in my legs, some numbness, and also seizing.  Anyhow, I was reading about nerve stuff, and they said if you take your arm and hold it up by the elbow joint so the hand hangs down, and then flick some of the middle fingers, you can get that tingling sensationon of nerves in the arm.  It matches the nerve thing I have in my legs when my RLS kicks up.  Oh, well, guess I don't have much to say here.  I, too, have experienced several nervous breakdowns and have been on different meds for it, so I know how you feel, but my nervousness is caused by a car accident that I never really got over, where I fractured my back in three places, so maybe that's why I have problems.
GG

[bosnianworrier]

Just found a name for the feeling I explained in my thread, if anyone wonders the same it is called paraesthesia

[nerko]

Hey I am Bosnian as well, I am sorry that you are experiencing those issues.  I am 24 and I am having anxiety issues as well and don't feel good most of the time.  (doctors said it's anxiety, sometimes it is hard for me to believe that anxiety could cause all the symptoms I am having)  I think a lot of us that went through that damn war are having issues with anxiety.  Best of luck to you!