"Electric shock" type pain

Hi Guys, I want to respond to Jamie - I’ve been experiencing exactly what you describe for the past two weeks. It generates from my armpit and, without notice it’s like a bolt if electricity down my arm sometimes just to mid arm, most times to my little finger. Always down the inside of my arm. I’ve been trying to find a common reason for each @shock" but it just happens with no warning. L’hermittes sign us just a small discomfort compared to the bolt! Albeit absolutely momentary, its excruciating and getting worse. The other night it was like “cluster shocks” that actually woke me up.

guys the initial comments on this forum are from a number of years ago so has anyone discovered anything new since then?

Thanks Michella

Hi Jamie, I’ve been experiencing the exact same symptoms for the past two weeks. And getting more painful and clustered. Any developments in treatment since your post? Thanks Michella

Hi, I don’t have anything new to say but Lhermitte’s sign can be caused by a number of conditions. I’ve got MS and also disc problems in my spine. I did have Lhermitte’s sign a few years ago but it seems to have gone now.

" The sign suggests a lesion or compression of the upper cervical spinal cord or lower brainstem – usually dorsal columns of the cervical cord or caudal medulla.

Although often considered a classic finding in multiple sclerosis, it can be caused by a number of conditions, including transverse myelitis, Behçet’s disease,[2] trauma, radiation myelopathy,[3] vitamin B12 deficiency (subacute combined degeneration), and compression of the spinal cord in the neck from any cause such as cervical spondylosis, disc herniation, tumor, and Arnold-Chiari malformation. Lhermitte’s sign may also appear during or following high-dose chemotherapy.[4] Irradiation of the cervical spine may also evoke it as an early delayed radiation injury, which occurs within 4 months of radiation therapy. "

Hi, been having the same for the past 6-7 years and have been trying unsuccessfully to get to the bottom of it. The pain is like a huge electric shock which travels down my left arm into my fingers. The pain is excruciating. Anyway to cut a short story long I got a slight glimmer of hope a month or so ago. An MRI scan showed an MS plaque on one of my vertebrae (C8 if you are interested), and it is touching a nerve on my spine. It’s this which is causing the pain. I can relieve it by stretching my neck and spine but that’s a short term solution. My pain consultant has agreed to inject a steroid/cortisone combination through the vertebrae and on to the nerve in an attempt to numb it down a bit. He has never tried this before where an MS plaque is in place so it’s a suck it and see procedure which we are both hoping helps. He has carried out the same procedure on the nerves affecting my right leg and that was successful so here’s hoping I get the same result. Bit of a gamble but he who dares…

Hi Michella,

I have experiencing electric shock in my right arm only since I was 10 years old… I am 48 now. My pain radiates from just below my armpit and then leaves through my whole right side… and it is the worst pain I’ve ever felt. It makes me scream out in pain and it is most embarrassing because it happens when I don’t expect it.

This is scary because I don’t know where I will be when this happens, especially when I’m driving. I have gone to doctors and they are stumped they never gave me a diagnosis. They look at me like I’m crazy. My mother used to brush it off as a “charlie horse” And its definitely not muscle related. It is more of a nerve issue. I wish so much that I could find out what causes this horrid pain.

I don’t get it often, maybe years it lays dorment… but when it starts I first feel a few faint shocks and praying I don’t get the big one. :frowning: I wish I knew what it was… It’s so hard to explain to a doctor what the feeling is. Anyway, I felt like responding to you because it seems you experience the same thing? If you’d like to talk please feel free to write back.

Thanks Laura

Hi Josee, I’ve been experiencing the same thing in the bottom half of my right leg, which is the weaker side. The pain is only momentary and is nerve pain. Gabapentin takes care of it I’m now on 600mg three times a day. Have only been experiencing this over the last three months and have had to increase the Gabapentin slowly. Unfortunately another natural progression of this monster. Don’t suffer this, get your GP to sort your medication, because this pain will bring you down and wipe you out.

Linda

LindaH, I’m experiencing that same pain. Starts at the lower part of right leg and travels upward through my leg and stops at my hip. Feels like an electrical shock and painful. Was on Gabapentin before during the early part of my diagnosis for pain, but haven’t taken it in quite awhile. Will discuss stating back on it with the doctor. Once I find a new. Neurologist. Thanks for sharing.

It sounds like nueropathy. Which is misfiring of the nerves. If you are diabetic it can also be diabetic nerve pain. Gabapentin works well for it. Gabapentin is the generic name. Neurontin is the brand name.

Diabetic nerve pain usually occurs on both legs, if one leg has the electric shock, then it is other thing

Hi,

Have you guys tried acupuncturist who can cure your shocking nerve pain? I have shocking pain on my left foot, and I go to see Oriental Medical Doctor who specialises in pain management. He is able to take away 95% of my shocking pain right now.

Acupuncture is a specialist in nerve system. I have recommendation if you need one.

Hi, I was dx back in 2014. Hundreds of tiny lesions all over my brain. Last MRI of Brain and CSpine, Dec 29th 2018 showed no new or active lesions. 0 new lesions since I began and am now a year post my 2 year Lemtrada treatment. However, I have still developed new symptoms. Today the lattes was The Electric Cattle Prod shooting pain. It has followed a severe stress flare. (Normally, I manage stress very well, not many flares, death in the family.) I did have nerve pain, but control that using my essential oil recipe. This was more inside, not the same as the nerve pain. Called my MS specialist. Nurse suggested the Garpetin (spelling), but I researched, that seems to help more with the skin nerve pain. I have many symptoms, but still can walk. However, this new symptom, I am very weak and legs feel rubbery, wouldn’t attempt to walk without an aid, cattle prod has stopped for now. Anyhow, I truly control most of my symptoms with my essential oils, very low dose of baclofen. Otherwise, I’m all natural. Severe fatigue controlled with B12 inner muscle shots weekly. NOTHING helps headaches. I won’t go into great detail, but basically I have all symptoms, except I can walk, and obviously that wonderful “popcorn” brain. SO, does anything help that electric shock, cattle prod, pain that seems to come from the inside? I too was ready to buy that one way ticket to Switzerland. lol. But, I’m too stubborn to give up. Suggestions??

That all make sense. I have had neck pain, but it involved a disk, not lesions on my Cspine. My last MRI showed 0 new or active lesions on my brain, and 0 lesions on my spine. That was Dec 29, 2018. Today, I had the cattle prod electric shock going down both arms and legs all the way to the fingers and toes. Your suggestion regarding neck nerve, spine issues makes sense. Before I jump on a drug that was suggested (as I am mainly natural methods, other than 2 year Lemtrada DMD) that is my next step. Truthfully, I was scared to death about another new symtom, and the rubbery numbness that is now effecting my walking today. Chiropractor is my next Dr. Appt. Has that helped you?

Hi,

my husband has what is described as an electric shock in his left arm the neurologist gave him amitriptyline, which seems to work except when unknown to me (and him!) he drops them down the side of the chair.

I also have nerve pain shooting pain up my legs and electric shock feelings in my finger tips and Lehermitts pain also occasional hug pain. I take Nortriptyline 100mg which stops pain altergether. I’m currently on Tecfidera and have been feeling a lot better these last six months.

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Hello! I have something in my left arm where I feel a shock feeling and it’s also on the left side of my face. Doctors have no idea what it could be tho.

Hello, I have been having something like electric pain on my right side of the leg. It comes & goes. The doc did MRI scan but found nothing. What could be the cause?

Hello. Is their any cure for GBS syndrome? My sister had an attack last year but no improvement. It has affected her lower part of the body. She can not walk. Please help. Thank you.

3 years ago I had waves of pain/fizzing rising from my feet which left me unsteady, slowing my walking down significantly. I had iv steroids after a week and they slowly disappeared leaving me feeling less confident in my walking abilities.

Me too. I always think mine are when my body is being attacked! The 1st time I had them the also affected my speech and taste. I also had waves of spasms down my right side which passed around 5 mins after the pain had hit. I was admitted to the QE in Bham for 2 weeks and while I was there I’m sure all the student drs came to visit me as I believe its a fairly unusual symptom! I still get the pains every now and then and try to stay as stress free as I can. Sharon x

Hi.

My very first symptom (still not dx) was electric shocks down my left toes. This lasted about two months, daily, several times a day, then went away for six months. Also had it in the face for half a day. And wow, was that hard to live with

Since then I’ve had it every week, pretty much. One evening late last year it spread to the other toes, both wrists and my left armpit into my boob. Not had it again yet in those places but I fully expect to.

I also have have recently experienced a nasty shock feeling in my lower back when bending down. It’s not disc or muscular trouble.

My left foot has been so bad it’s raised my adrenaline. I’m a red head and we have very lightweight triggers on our adrenaline but still, you know something hurts when you start to sweat and then get the shakes.

I’ve been electrocuted several times in the past and know that’s exactly what’s happening to me. It’s pure, unadulterated agony and to do this to another person is strictly speaking against the Geneva Convention, and classified as torture.

It’s a buggeration.