Electric shock feeling

Hi everyone,
I have a question - maybe someone else has experienced this? For the past several years, I've been getting a sensation of being electrically shocked whenever I'm exerting my arm/shoulder muscles in a pushing/circular movement (it happens 99% of the time if I'm scrubbing the bathtub or floor.) I've never experienced it any other time - does anyone know what this might be? I mentioned it to my Dr. once but he said he had no idea...
thanks!
Jen

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Does it come when you are standing or sitting ? And do you recall any injury to the shoulder ?

Such sensations are usually side effects of certain medicines. Are you on any medication ? Especially anti-depressants .

If everything else is ruled out , I guess you have an irritated nerve at the shoulder.

Regards

[Bostonian08]

Thanks for the post. Dr. Deshmukh. I've never had any injury, and the electric shocks only happen when I've been cleaning the bathtub or the floor - usually if I am bent over and using my arms with some force. It's very strange...

thanks,
Jen

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

I guess the electric shock sensation is related more to your bending than the scrubbing. The spinal cord is safely enclosed in our vertebral column. If there is any pathology, such as a protruded or bulging disc, the problem is exaggerated by bending forwards. Can you identify any particular point on your back where you have any pain ?

Regards

[Bostonian08]

Interesting...I did have a herniated and later ruptured disc during college - (L5-S1). I guess perhaps this is the reason? The disc doesn't bother me anymore, but I still experience the electric shocks in my shoulder area...

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The L5 - S1 disc rupture does not lead to a cervical pain. But we should suspect a similar problem in the cervical spine. The lumbar and the cervical spinal regions are vulnerable to disc bulging. And if there was a protrusion in one are, we should suspect a similar problem in the other.

Regards