electric shocks?

[TeamRodriguez]

I have suffered from disabling migraines for over ten years and have recently been diagnosed with complicated migraine syndrome.  My newest symptom is what feels like electric shocks throughout my body.  Is that part of the complicated migraine syndrome?

[scoppedge]

I am in tears as I read this thread.  I have told my doctors (who just look at me like I'm crazy, especially when I mention the electric shocks) for years about similar symptoms.  Glad to hear I'm not alone, even if the doctors don't give a damn.

[sara12345]

It's too bad that the doctors don't really agree about the cause of your pain.  It's understandable that you have tried suicide.  Suicide is common in those fighting severe chronic pain.  But there is hope for you I think.  

1)  From what you say, your blood pressure does make a difference to the pain. Smoking, coffee, alcohol, weight and salt consumption all influence your blood pressure.  A doctor could advise you about how much you should modify any of that.

2)  I would highly recommend that you get on anti-depressants, not only for your suicide, but more important, anti-depressants are natural pain killers.  Really they are.  And if you take the anti-depressants, you may have more ability to cut down on the factors above which drive up your blood pressure.

You don't say how high your blood pressure is, but it is vitally important to control it to avoid having a stroke or heart attack.  A stroke can cause paralysis and inability to speak for the rest of your life, plus a lot more pain.  Death, I can imagine is your least concern.

I do wish you the best.  There has to be more joy left for you in your life if you can get the pain under control.

Sara

[sonofreverend]

For The Past 3 1/2 years I've been having similar symptoms and every time I go to the emergency room,  no one knows what to do and they basically humilate me in their doctors notes because of recreational drugs detected in my blood at the time, but no longer. (I'm now totally sober).  I have excruciating stabbing jolts of pain that feel as though someone is inside my head with a hammer. the hammering is in sync with the beat of the heart.  I can have any where from 1 to 4 strikes within a 4 to 5 second period.  If the blood pressure is to high, any slight movement will trigger the strikes. If I think of something that makes me angry, in an instant the strikes occur.  Each excruciating strike sends numb shocks through out the whole body.  the higher my diastolic number, the more intense the strikes with no pain in between strikes.  If the doctor shines that little red colored light in my eye to check pupil dialation, I go into convulsions (violent uncontrollable disturbances of the body). My entire body jolts to the beat of the headache strikes.  The strikes are so bad, they stop me in my tracks and I'm forced to the ground. I'm a 49 year old male. I had a trucking accident in 05 and 3 epidurals and 1 lamenectomy diskectomy in 08 leaving me with disk deteriation and expanding scar tissue at L-3 L-4 along with radiculopathy running down my left leg. I also have a 5mm herniation at L-5 S-1.  I went to the "world famous" Cleveland Clinic and was seen by neurologist Dr Stewart Tepper.  I was in his office every bit of 3 minutes and he said it was from taking to many percoset and sent me to detox.  Well,  that was 2 years ago.  I stopped taking percoset and still have the disease.  So much for percoset being the cause. One doctor called it "stabs and jabs", another doctor called it "electrical discharge headaches", another doctor called it "cluster headaches".   A previous doctor prescribed "indomethecin", however Dr Stewart Tepper said stop taking it along with the percoset.  If I keep my blood pressure under control,  all I have are intermittent numb shocks in my head and body but no pain.  I currently take clonidine for the hypertension along with propanolol, amlodipine,(which does absolutely nothing for my hypertension) and hydrochlorothiazide. I smoke between 8 to 10 cigarettes a day and I've always loved life to the fullest however, whatever this disease is, It's so debilitating until I've even attempted suicide.  The pain is far beyond what any human should have to endure.

[sara12345]

You have plenty of problems which need a doctor's care.  

You need a neurologist or a headache specialist to find some other treatments besides the Topomax, zomig and magnesium.  Maybe the pill route isn't going to help you.

And you really need something other than the two ADD meds and the Zoloft to treat your other problems.  Try to get in to see a good psychaitrist so that you can have a much better quality of life.  You deserve it and there are other medications that could help you.

All the best to you and let me know how things go.

Sara

[beatty65]

I have the exact same feelings.. so weird. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, comp migraines, adhd. - truly they just don't know. I am 19, medicines include topamax, zomig, adderall, vyvanse, Zoloft, magnesium and d supplements.  I always feel like I have a chemical imbalance in my head. Shooting pains during migraines, can be electrical feeling or usual throbbing. Migraines occur every 1-2 days, they're mild but usually moderate and unbearable. Face and extremities can numb. Headaches can be all day everyday. Am very impulsive and irritable at all times even though I have absolutely no reason to be. Migraines are triggered very easily, usually quickly and not gradually. I am very sensitive to light, have pain when turn my eyes peripherally. No eye problems known I get checked regularly cause of moms eye problems. If I could think of a better word than insomnia, I'd use it. Constant racing thoughts, muscle weakness/tension/soreness makes it impossible to become comfortable. Never feel rested from sleep I do get. Standing up makes me feel like Ill pass out happens alot especially when working or sitting.  Takes minutes to recover and have fainted. Nausea, vertigo, associated. Strangest faint in my life too. I got up after playing XBox, felt lightheaded, fully aware,  dropped controller, fell on futon I was sitting on, absolutely no control of body, electrical feelings and numbness was the only thing I could comprehend. Not anxious, commented on how laid back I am all the time. Never have any energy. Easy decisions are hard. Very low Appetite and Interest in anything.
Mind goes blank when deeply concentrating but I can't when I try. Have to fiddle with something at all times or have my leg bouncing. Can't stand things on me, bug bites, stitches, or scabs. I will scratch or mess with till it bleeds or comes off. Same as nail chewing, all chewed down, do it sometimes till bleeds or hurts and I have to stop. Slurred speech, mind racing, mouth can't keep up. No prior or recent injuries/surgeries except minor concussions in football. Never bothered me day after. Had all problems before that.
Sorry to go beyond similarities but I wanted to share some possible causes.

[NTC1028]

Hi,
Maybe the electric shock sensations are from degenerative discs in the spine - I have those too. I'm not sure what is causing mine - that or the migraines -still waiting for appointment with neurologist. Whatver the cause, it is comforting to me to know that there are others who know what I am talking about - most just look at me like I am losing my mind. lol.
I tried Topomax years ago, but I stopped because I thought it was causing the tingling and numbness in my arms, but now I am not so sure. Those symptoms did subside after I stopped taking it, but now they are back with a vengence.
I didn't have any success with B2, but everybody is different, so it might work for you. Good luck with that and the CoEnzymeQ10. Will keep you in my prayers.

[SSE56]

It's nice to hear other people understand our symptoms! Not nice we all have them! I do have the tingling, usually down 1 side, but a lot of times, I'm equal on both sides with my symptoms, I have been diagnosed with Hemiplegic CM's, sometimes they are paralyzing, but don't last a long time, Thank Goodness!  The tingling, burning, electric shock comes out of the blue and can last for just a few minutes to a few days, intermittently. There is no rhyme or reason to them. The last 2 times, I had no head pain, and that was really confusing. I don't really notice the weather being a trigger for me. Stress and flashing lights of any sort are my triggers that I know of.   I have been on migraine preventative meds since I had a mild stroke from a CM in '07. I am fine now, no lasting effects, but it took me awhile to bounce back, the CM caused a blood vessel to close off briefly, not a clotting issue. I take ea. day an 81 mg. aspirin, Verelan PM, (channel blocker, even tho no heart problems) but it has a benefit of being a migraine preventative and Topamax at 75 mg, fairly low dose, it agrees with me at this dosage and the name brand works. When I went to the generic for 3 mos. I had breakthroughs. I'm back on the name brand and doing well. Also my migraine specialist and neurologist both agree that Magnesium Oxide is great for migraine prevention, I was on 800 mg. of it for several mos. but am now on 400 mg. simply because I didn't need the double dose. One thing I have learned with CM's is to never take Triptans, such as Imitrex or any drugs comparable. Hope you are finding the answers you need.  One thing I have learned about CM's is that they are change and change again!  Hope this helps you feeling well!

[heart2heart]

Electric shocks?? Gosh I thought those were from my degenerated discs in my spine???  I've had those for several years. Do they come with a headache? I get those down my arms and even into my ribcage.

I have a dx of complicated migraine. Here's what I have/or had.  Visual disturbances such as visual snow, kalaidescopic vision and double vision.  Dizzy spells, vertigo, drowsiness, fainting, near fainting, slurred speech, facial numbness, confusional episodes and of course headaches, nausea, vomiting and cold and hot flashes and sweating and weakness.  Most of the time I just get the last 5 or 6 symptoms. It is horrible enough that I usually can't get out of bed.

I am trying a new regimen of Vitamen B2. My doctor told me to try 400 mg. Studies show it may help reduce the frequency of migraines.  Another supplement  to try is CoEnzymeQ10.   I'm also on Topamax  but I've had to reduce the dosage as it was impairing my lanquage functions.

I hope the B2 works, I'll post if I have any success.

[Udkas]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your response.  How long do your symptoms last and do you get your tingling in both feet?  Like do your symptoms come and go over seconds or hours or do they disappear when you get your headache.

I get a horrible tingling down the inside of my leg that shoots down into my toes and it repeats itself over and over... drives me nutty, I was on Gabapentin for that but I am considering trying a migraine preventer.

I don't see a headache specialist (I don't think we have them here) but I do see a neurologist who thinks I have two problems, migraine and have had an episode of Transverse Myelitis. I get confused as to which symptom is what or if I am having another episode of TM. That's why I asked about the burning sensations and how long your headache stuff lasts.

I seem to get more the aura with out too much of a headache, I find that the stormy changing weather seems to affect them worse.

What meds do you take for migraine prevention. My GP has told me to try atenolol. It takes a while to work apparently but I think I will give it a go.

Most of my friends prob think I am weird with these odd symptoms, so it's nice to know someone else who knows what I mean.

Be well,
Cheers,
Udkas.

[SSE56]

Hi!  I see you have joined our forum on complicated migraines along with the electric shocks!  I too experience some type of burning, assuming it's an aura type, it's kinda hard to explain to the ER dr or my drs.  But it usually starts out with the tingling, numbing and then sometimes I get the burning and that leads up to the migraine.  But the strange thing the last 2 times, I have had absolutely no headache at all. I'm not complaining, but thought it to be odd. My migraine dr. says that's a variant of CM's. The electric shocks are usually fairly mild, but often, but my migraine dr. says those are breakthrough symptoms for me when a migraine is trying to begin, but is not completing.  I've had some tingling this last week in my L. foot and my L. hand, and figuring it was a breakthrough... (from stress), when I found out the very thing I thought was going to happen, did not happen after all, the tingling left and did not return.  Deep breathing exercises does make a difference, believe it or not.  More oxygen to the brain helps.  Oh, if you have not read about Magnesium Oxide in prescription strength doses helps to ward off migraines, if you can get your dr. to prescribe it.  My neuro. prescribed it to me and my migraine specialist agreed.  I do not have any odd smells that aren't there, but have heard of that, and believe it happens.   Hope everyone is staying well!!  SSE56

[NTC1028]

Hi,
Yes, I get the tingling and burning sensations too. And sometimes I smell things that aren't there - it can be something good like brownies baking or something disgusting. Sometimes I am spared the excrutiating head pain and just get the auras, but most of the time the pain follows the aura. Do you find that the weather effects your migraines?  I am very sensitive to any changes in the weather - especially thunderstorms.  
Hope you are well!  
Take care.
NTC1028 (used to be TeamRodriguez)

[Udkas]

Hi there,
I get the complicated migraine thing too with the electric shocks, sometimes I feel like I have touched an electric fence.

I have my migraine aura's daily with tingling, electric shock sensations and lots of weird sensory stuff.  Do you guys ever get any burning?  I don't get that bad of a headache just weird sensations etc.

Cheers,
Udkas

[TeamRodriguez]

I see it blocked my email.  I will try to give it to you another way: My husband's name is jesse and mine is nancy. Put his name first, then mine, then 72.  We use America On Line. Hope this works!

[TeamRodriguez]

Thank you for responding. Finally, someone understands what I am talking about!!!People who have never experienced a migraine have such limited understanding of what they are like.  I am sorry you have the same problem, but I am very glad to find someone else who has complicated migraine syndrome.  Would you like to keep in touch? I could certainly use the support. Could you?  My email is ***@****. I would like it very much if we coud correspond. Thanks again for responding. God bless.

[SSE56]

I understand what you are saying!! I know the electric shocks you are talking about! Finally somebody else has said the same thing. Understand, I am not glad you have this, but that somebody else has mentioned them besides me!!!  I told my migraine specialist about them and she said they ARE a variant of complicated migraines.  I too, have complicated migraines.  With the meds I take I have them under control now.  Even on the meds I was still having small "jolts" the last time with a migraine.  Upon changing my Topamax from the generic back to the name brand made a big difference. The generics do not work for me in my migraine prevention meds and once I got that straightened out, it helped a lot.  But to make a long story short.  YES!, the newest symptom you are experiencing what feels like electric shock throughout your whole body is more than likely a variant of a complicated migraine.  Keep me posted!!
Best of luck, hope things get better!