Electric Zaps

[Judi4]

Has anyone experienced electric zaps? Today I felt it throughout the day. It felt like someone was zapping my big toe, which caused my foot to jerk.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

I get what I would call electric shocks that start in my feet and run up my legs. Sometimes it's only 1 leg and sometimes both legs. If I've really over tired myself the shocks go up to my backside. Always on the backs of my legs. They are uncomfortable but not painful. Hope you get some relief. Lynn

[jimeka]

Hi Judi, I have Restless leg syndrome so I get those shocks and jerks a lot. I can be stood at the sink or even worse talking to someone who doesn't know what's wrong with me and the jerks start, keep a note of when it happens and have a word with your doctor. Take care Jimeka

[Ashirva]

Hi Judi!

I haven't had exactly what you're describing but a number of years ago, for a number of months, I was getting horrific pain in my legs. I can only describe it as feeling like being hit by lightning - excruciating, sharp pain, to the point that I'd scream! I remember my (then) husband being way at the bottom of the yard one day (I was inside the house) and I screamed so loud he heard me and came running!

Thankfully, it finally stopped after a few months, although I have gotten 'zaps' in the heel of my foot a few times over the past month. These are also really painful.

The only other thing that could be considered an 'electric zap' would be what I used to feel quite often when I put my head down (chin on chest). I had that many years ago as well. I would get what felt like an electric current running the full length of my back.

I also have Restless Legs Syndrome, but take Pramipexole for it - and it works!

MS is a strange and sometimes scary disease but it helps hearing about other people's experiences. We can scratch our heads over the strangeness, empathize with others going through the same thing, share what worked or didn't work for us, marvel at the strangeness of it all and finally, hopefully, share a laugh, or tears, over the weird things MS makes us do!

I hope you find some relief from the zaps. Let us know how it's going, okay?

Anne

[euniceconleyelc in reply to Ashirva]

L'hermitte Syndrome is the name of that feeling that happens when you put your head down. I have been experiencing this a lot lately.

[Judi4 in reply to euniceconleyelc]

euniceconleyelc I have not experienced that with putting my head down, but I have problems with my upper spine being out of alignment which causes me constant neck pain.

[katepoet]

It's called L'hermittes sign. You can strengthen the nerves by taking l-theanine and it might ease it quickly. Don't get the tablet. Get the pure powder - the filler in the tablet can interfere. Start with 1/8 of a tsp and build up 1/8 at a time until things get better.

I have the incessant itch problem and taking 1 tsp each night takes it from daily to once a month.

Take 30 minutes before bed and it can also deepen sleep.

amazon.com/BulkSupplements-...

[Judi4 in reply to katepoet]

katepoet Thank you. I will have to try this. As I said it started in my big toe and felt like a shock. I have in the past experienced this in my arms and my rib cage but not causing me to jerk.

[katepoet in reply to Judi4]

Friend me on Facebook if you want to talk further - I am always there! Kit Minden. I run a support group for folks with chronic illness like MS.

[Eileeng]

I also feel like my big toes are getting zapped. Mine mostly happens at night when I'm in bed. It's weird.... it takes me by surprise and sometimes I yell out. Once in a while it's my other toes, however, it's mostly the big toes.

[jennie62]

I have, but oddly throughout my face. Starts on the left side, then I get zapped on the chin. I never know when or where it will happen.

[Hidden in reply to jennie62]

That's where I get mine, jennie62. Right up by the hairline on the left side. It doesn't really hurt, but it pinches. Years ago I had shingles in the same area and always thought it was a 'remnant' from that. Maybe not???

Gosh, I LOVE this site! I don't often reply, but I do totally enjoy reading. Prayers for all of my fellow life heroes of MS.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to Hidden]

Hidden you should reply more. We we all love the input and advice and support

[katepoet in reply to jennie62]

That must be so frustrating!

[jennie62]

I know what you mean MarciaD. I don't feel so alone anymore. Thanks for letting me know once again I'm not alone! : )

[Hidden in reply to jennie62]

Oh, I totally know what you mean! Sometimes symptoms are fleeting and we wonder if they were real or our MS mind is messing with us . . . again!!!

[Karen-x]

I get the zapping in my toes and sometimes the bottom of my foot. It usually makes me jerk too. The one time I said something to my neuro (this was before my diagnosis) he said it could have been a form of epilepsy. I know know that isn't true. I fully believe its the MS. I mean, how can so many of us have that in such a small population and it not be MS?

[Judi4 in reply to Karen-x]

Karen-x I agree. I've brought up certain things to the MS specialist and he said it wasn't MS related, but I see other people on here posting some of the very same symptoms.

[Fee09]

I get them in feet or legs at different times. I have had them in my right arm and it caused my hand to jerk

[kdali]

I'm going to add to the varied presentation of Lhermitte's:

I was pale, dizzy, exhausted, nauseated, the back of my body was numb, I wasn't able to tell where I was about to step (the floor was liquid?) and I had a mild but nagging neck/head ache.

The intensity was fivefold when I bent my neck and I could hear the buzzing. My ears would ring if I bent over. The wheelchair ride to the ER was literally a roller coaster.

Its caused by a lesion in the spinal cord. Sometimes I wonder if the severity of symptoms is an indicator of prognosis.

I was told by my neuro to report anything new, perhaps you should do the same!

[Judi4 in reply to kdali]

kdali Thanks, as I said I haven't experienced anything when I bend my head down, but I have neck issues and problems with my spine. I just get the zaps in my big toe and occasionally other body parts. I will definitely mention it to my doctor.

[bxrmom]

About 6 months ago I was getting a zapping feeling for a few seconds on the left side of my head-near my ear. My Neuro thought it might be a migraine but it didn't last long - was more irritating than anything so I didn't let him prescribe me anything. They have gone away for now so I'm not sure what brought them on or made them stop.

[StacyHayward in reply to bxrmom]

I get them in my head too! Feels like a zap rushing from the front to the back, also by my ears. Super obnoxious! Hate when it happens while I'm driving! Glad to hear I'm not alone. They come and go.

[HeidiK]

I get these feelings and have Restless Leg Syndrome. As yet I haven't been diagnosed.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to HeidiK]

When do you see your neuro HeidiK ? I forgot ugh (and yes lm blaming ms for forgetting)

[HeidiK in reply to Jesmcd2]

You're not expected to remember☺

On the 14th I'm seeing the Demyelination Specialist who the Neurologist referred me to.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to HeidiK]

Lol HeidiK see other reply yicks ugh lolol

[nwfrugalista]

I haven't been diagnosed (yet/maybe?) but I have these frequently. I think of it as being needled with a tiny cattle prod--i get this fast spike of an electric shock feeling. It's painful but thankfully at least they are mercifully quick!

They can happen anywhere, but in the past few months I've noticed that they happen in two particular spots (the back side of my left shoulder and inside my left forearm).

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to nwfrugalista]

Are you seeing a neurologist nwfrugalista ? And what is yet/maybe? Lol sry your having that in your arm lt almost sounds like what l had once. They said a pinched nerve. I had to keep it in a sling for a while, like that was going to happen. lol But it did finally go away. I hope that's all it is for you.

Talk to your Dr about it tho!

[nwfrugalista in reply to Jesmcd2]

Hi Jesmcd2,

So the maybe/yet to be diagnosed is that I don't know whether I will be diagnosed with MS. I strongly suspect that I have MS based on a growing list of symptoms--chronic pain and fatigue, weakness (particularly on my left side), numbness in my right foot (and intermittently in my wrists/hands, legs, and between my shoulder blades), dizziness (although ive had this for years and I just thought it meant I inherited my mom's vertigo), bladder and bowel urgency/even a few accidents, and spells of exhaustion 😢

This has all been building over the past year or so and I was attributing most of the symptoms to having another auto-immune condition (SLE) until my rheumatologist insisted that I be seen by a neurologist.

So far the neurologist has ordered all the bloodwork/tests to work through everything else that must be eliminated. Bloodwork came back negative, as did the nerve conduction/EMG study (which was funny because for about two years my PCP, rheum and I all thought I had carpal tunnel based on the burning/tingling pain I've had in my wrists and hands).

He also ordered cervical and lumbar MRIs, but after a hospital mix up they only performed the cervical MRI so now I have to be rescheduled for the lumbar MRI.

The neuro's nurse called when they got the cervical MRI results and all she could tell me (as she was only allowed 'to read the note that the doctor gave her for me') was that he noted that the MRI showed 'degenerative changes' and that he would see me after the second/lumbar MRI results came back.

I'm not sure how the Neuro would call anything he saw as 'changes' as this is the first and only cervical MRI I've had, so what would it be compared to?

Interestingly, the MRI tech gave me a CD copy of the cervical MRI, with a whole bunch of slides 'bookmarked' (not sure if this was based on the fact that she saw stuff that looked concerning or if these are standard shots that every cervical MRI is supposed to highlight). But of course I immediately played Dr Google and pulled examples of 'normal' MRIs and MS MRIs, which sucked because I found MS MRI pics were a dead-on match for mine.

So I remain in the anxiety-provoking holding pattern--waiting for the lumbar MRI and the next visit with the Neuro in January. Sorry to go on!!

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to nwfrugalista]

Hi nwfrugalista

No need to apologize for going on its what we are here for l and so many others can understand your anxiety. This is 1 monster you don't want, you will be in my prayers.

Word of advice? Keep away from Google lol it won't be your friend with mri's. And honestly it sounds like it will stress you out. (I know it would me) lol

Did your neuro do a brain mri also? And with the die stuff? I forgot what it's called.

Hang in there we are all here for each other