Head vibrations/electrical sensations through brain and body (esp. spine), leg and body numbness..HELP!

[DragonTU84]

Hey all. Perhaps I should introduce myself.

My name is Crystal, and since October 31st around 3 am, I have been in a constant struggle with problems ranging from clenching chest pains, heart palps, increased heartrate, head jitters/electrical vibrations/sensations through head and spine (like a painful electrical current that radiates up and down my spine), I have had my limbs go tingly, and even one time my right leg went numb and it kind of cocked up a little and went limp, so I was unable to move it...

I went to the ER numerous times, where they did a CT with contrast of the chest, thyroid tests, electrolyte blood test, etc.

I have also gone to Psychiatrists, Neurologists, Cardiologists, etc. The only real physical thing they could come up with was my Mitral Valve Prolapse, but said it was too minor to be causing any problems.

The doctors issued EEGS, another echo (I had one 2 years ago), EKGs and haltar monitors, ya name it. I have had bloodwork for my B-12 levels, thyroid tests I can't even count anymore, Lyme Titer, ANA Titer, etc...

They concluded possibly anxiety and panic attacks, but these problems are too PHYSICALLY severe to possibly be. Many doctors are still scratching their heads at me and don't know WHAT's GOING ON!!

[catelynnw3]

I have not read all your posts, but scanned some of them briefly. Without going through my extremely long history, I am going to try to explain what I've learned as brief as I can. I don't know if this will help you at all, but I'll post it anyway. I have had debilitating symptoms for around 14 years now, and finally think I know what is wrong. I went to the allergist, cardiologists, endocrinologists, Ob-Gyn, cardiac electrophysiologist, psychologist, neurologist, an orthopedist... I've had a tilt table test, worn holter monitors, blood tests, ekgs, thyroid tests (I do have hypothyroidism, but it isn't causing these problems), breathing tests, event monitors, bloodwork, etc... Anyway, my symptoms have been chronic headaches/pressure in my head, sometimes throbbing, palpitations, shortness of breath, vibrations/sounds in my ears and brain, my brain sometimes feels like it is "fried", my chest often hurts from my heart pounding so hard (but I have low blood pressure), I am exhausted most of the time, temporary tinnitus,sometimes my vision is like I am looking underwater, etc.. I've been diagnosed/misdiagnosed several times with things such as P.O.T.S. (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), autonomic disorder, asthma, allergies, general anxiety disorder, etc... I have taken many different medications that haven't helped me at all. The SSRIs and SSNRIs caused me to go through nightmarish withdrawal and made me feel far worse than I ever did. I had what I refer to as "brain zaps" while on and going off of Effexor and some of the others. I also tried Paxil, Celexa, and Zoloft. My doctor gave me Xanax also. None of them ever helped my symptoms though. Although dysautonomia seems like a diagnosis that fits in some ways, I never totally fit the diagnosis.  Anyway, I took my daughter to a doctor for prolotherapy injections for her hip and back last year and came across a book in his office that described my symptoms exactly. It talked about a syndrome called Barre-Lieou which sometimes occurs after a whiplash type injury. I then went to a chiropractor who ordered x-rays that showed issues in my neck. I had some prolotherapy treatments done that helped with the palpitations and shortness of breath slightly, but I still continued to have symptoms. I went to another chiropractor who ordered an MRI of my neck which showed bone spur complexes, herniations, spinal stenosis, and cord compression. Apparently there are nerves that control autonomic functions (heartrate and breathing) that run through the neck. Anyway, I went to a neurologist earlier this year and was told that all of my symptoms can be directly contributed to the blockage of cerebrospinal fluid in my neck. I have since seen a neurosurgeon, and I'm planning on having artificial disc replacement of two of my discs. I said all this because I can't help but wonder if your symptoms are not due to anxiety issues, but possibly due to spinal disc herniations. That would explain the numbness and tingling in your leg, the feeling going up and down your spinal cord, your vision issues, and palpitations. Have you had an MRI done on your neck? I would at least ask your neurologist to consider checking your neck including blood flow to your brain. Hopefully somehow this helps.

[4gwhite]

i been having the same symptons as all of you do, i been on 1mg xanax and 50mg zoloft every day for the pas 3 years,  your body does not ned medication. i stoped all my medicine  cold turkey and lived in hell for 20 days and after i was perfectly fine without brain shivers and numbnees.

[caregiver222]

I've got my suspicians.

I believe you might have an osmolality problem, among other problems.

I would love to take credit for this hunch, and win the nobel prize, but it was some one else. I had had some serious problems with intermitant partial paralysis after returning from Vietnam (yes, I'm a dinosaur),  and "electrical"  shocks. When you said "my limb became tingly and then limp" that rang a bell. When I had those symptoms they sent me directly to psych - don't pass go, don't collect two hundred dollars.

After a referral to a psychiatrist, all ready to hand me a PTSD (I ran out of the office), I found an unusual physician.

He had a theory about osmolality. Imagine a membrane with liquids on each side. When there are certain solutions on either side molecules migrate from left to right or right to left.

Now imagine two membranes with a nerve in between.

When the osmolality is altered, both membranes pinch on the nerve in between.

There are other things that cause the osmolality to alter and the nerve(s)  to be pinched, especially stress.

We did some experimenting, and found that slightly altered blood sugar levels affected pressure on the nerve, and the subsequent "psychiatric" symptoms.

Metformin relieved the "psychiatric" symptoms.

Now you have other problems, and I would start with a full panel endochrine screen and a 3T MRI (not a 2T or a 1 T).

But I would suggest you get yourself a blood sugar meter and check your sugar levels very carefully.

As to whether or not metformin would relieve some of your symptoms,  remember this is an unapproved use, but the drug has few contraindications.

[budlover]

I just got home from work after probably my 30th brain vibration/shaking incident. Sitting at my computer, reading about the history of the Kentucky Derby horses, and I had that wave of brain shaking/vibrating. It only lasts for a few seconds, 10 seconds tops, but it's very scary and disorienting.
I was diagnosed with panic disorder when I was about 22 and have suffered anxiety, phobias and panic attacks for most of my life. I figured that these brain vibrations were related to my typical 'wiring' and it wasn't very serious. But then my cousin had mentioned mini-strokes. There is a more medical term, but I forget. Anyway, I just ignored it, or tried.
So sitting home now, reading these posts to my husband, who has Lyme disease, he thought a lot of your symptoms are very similar to his symptoms. Anxiety, heart palpitations, stabbing pains throughout the body, confusion, night sweats, vision problems, teeth pain, muscle twitching, odd indigestion, the feeling of edema in hands and feet.
He was tested five times over several years for LYME and it always came back NEGATIVE. Finally, he saw a specialist two years ago and the very sensitive test for Lyme finally found it was POSITIVE. (Igenix company, maybe?) He was in the late stage of Lyme. It's horrible watching him go through the symptoms, but he is on antibiotics now and he must do so every few months. It comes and goes, but at least we know what it is.
Maybe some of you need to get tested. ? It might help you. Even if you test negative, push for a more sensitive test.
I might have Lyme, too.And eventually, I'll get tested. I hope this helps someone.

[blackmatterbrain]

What is your status? Have you been diagnosed yet?

I have had very similar symptoms for the past 6 months (random).  My symtoms include...

Vibrating / buzz in my head (massager up to head is a great description); chest pains; tingling around my lips & nose; dizziness; and anxiety.

I have seen a psychiatrist & a family physician.  As of two months I have been off of my prescribed medication (Zoloft & Cymbalta).  When I have an attack I will take a small dose of Lorazapam.

I too am going insane and would like to reach out to all who are experiencing the same insanity.

[rrinardvan]

I should clarify -- My use of xanax, above, is in VERY small doses, usually one-eighth of a milligram. Sometimes a quarter milligram. On rare occasions I have taken, maximum, three-quarters of a milligram -- that's one time, not per day or per anything. Like aspirin when you get a headache, it's on an as-needed basis. I also apply occasional CBT and acceptable exercise. They all help. Some.