Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Light headed / tingles through body (sort of like electric shock)

Recently I've had some horrible feelings of being light headed & at the same time I get this odd tingle through my whole body.  It's almost like a hot flash without the heat.  I compare it to a very light electric shock.  It's getting to be pretty bad & it's starting to worry me a bit.  I went to the Dr. yesterday & he assumed it was Norovirus because there was an outbreak here in Omaha.  I don't really have the stomach cramps, diarrhea, or nausea that goes along with the Norovirus though.  Has anyone ever experienced something like this?  I was thinking maybe something with an ear infection?  It happens about every 20 to 30 seconds if I'm standing, & it really hits if I stand up from a seated position.  Thanks in advance,

Dennis
78 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Did your doctor tell you to come back if you where not feeling better?If you are still having these symptoms go back to your doctor.Did your doctor prescribe any medicine?You really need to go back to your doctor.These symptoms could be a number of things that are not related to a virus.Call your doctor back and make another appointment.Take care of your self.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
He didn't tell me to come back, he just assumed it was that Norovirus I guess.  He just said drink lots of clear liquids.  I'm a pretty healthy 30 year old male, other than FSH Muscular Dystrophy which I don't think this is related to.  It has been almost a full week now with the symptoms, I'm going to try & get into the Dr. again tomorrow & see what he thinks.  Thanks!

Dennis
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I agree, these symptoms could be related to many different things. I'd definitely see the doc again, or another doc for a 2nd opinion. Could be vertigo or ear related. Was it a sudden onset of symptoms a week ago? Or did they come on gradually and get worse with time? Has your diet changed or are you taking any new med's?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Could it be anxiety or panic?  It get something like this but its in social situations or anxious situations.
Helpful - 0
355169 tn?1196990694
FINALLY! Someone who has the EXACT SAME symptoms as I have!
I get a little dizzy along with a slight electric shock sensation throughout my body when I'm standing and moving. It doesn't happen as much when I'm sitting for a while or laying down. Some days are worse than others, somedays it only happens about 3-4 times. Other days it happens ever 30 seconds or so. This feeling lasts about 2-3 seconds & has almost made me fall down! I don't have any pain when this happens, just a loss of balance & the tingles.

My Dr. has checked out my ears, nose & throat and they seem just fine. He seems to think it might be spine related. But honestly he has no clue. Don't get me wrong, he is an awesome Doc but no one can seem to find out whats going on. No change in meds, no history of any heart problems, blood pressue is great. I'm 33 so they kind of ruled out stroke.....I have NO idea & it's driving me crazy!
If you have any thoughts or if you have found anything out, please let me know. Anyone else out there have this?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had the norovirus before and that makes you very ill.  It sounds like a panic attack, classic case.  I was having the same thing because my cortisol was to high it is aweful.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have tried to find someone with the same symptoms. This hits me out of now where and can happen any time. It's like a electric tingling sensation thats goes through my body. I get so scared that I have to lay down. I have been told it is anxiety but they blame everything on that because they have no answers. I wish I could find a doctor that had an answer it seems alot of people have this.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yea i get that feels like i have these tingles all over my feet toes legs stomach back but they feels as if they itch to the touch and it scares me alot but i also am a hypo and I have severe anxiety i always think there is something wrong last n ight i couldnt sleep evrytime i would feel like i was going to i would wake up and i thought my heart was beating irregular and i starting getting pins and needles with hot flashes and heavy breathing for about three hours this went on it all started when i was told i could have a anerism because i went to get a 3d x ray of my neck becasue i got into a accident 4 years ago and im 25 percent impaired so i think thats where it all comes from can something happen
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yea i get that feels like i have these tingles all over my feet toes legs stomach back but they feels as if they itch to the touch and it scares me alot but i also am a hypo and I have severe anxiety i always think there is something wrong last n ight i couldnt sleep evrytime i would feel like i was going to i would wake up and i thought my heart was beating irregular and i starting getting pins and needles with hot flashes and heavy breathing for about three hours this went on it all started when i was told i could have a anerism because i went to get a 3d x ray of my neck becasue i got into a accident 4 years ago and im 25 percent impaired so i think thats where it all comes from can something happen
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been getting the same symptoms as well for the last 7 years. I also thought it was anxiety, but I have been on several anxiety meds and it never relieved the symptoms. Sometimes it's so bad that I go into my own little bubble and am absolutely oblivious to the world around me. It's like I am having an out of body experience. It mostly happens to me when I am sitting or when I am extremely hot, though it does happen when I am standing as well. Never when I am laying down. It makes me feel like I am not myself, or like I'm someone looking into the world but not taking part of it, like my body is a character in a book my mind is reading. Sometimes I also hear whistling through my right ear, like air going through, and my right eye gets cold, like it got blown into softly. This makes me think that I may have a punctured ear drum... My doctor dismisses my symptoms, so I think maybe I should get a second opinion...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been having it. Have sever anxiety and ossibly bipolar so started Depakote (valproic acid) I feel as if I touched and electric fence . Up left hand through left ear, out right ear, down to right hand. Doc said I had too high of level of valproic acid in me. I am still rearching. This just happened yeaterday.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have you had your blood pressure checked ? Im an EMT and I also have suffered from Postural Hypotension .. layman's terms low blood pressure . I went through hell with that a few yrs back I would get dizzy alot and when I would stand my hearing and vision would go and my body went all tingly then I would faint . There are several things that could cause that - internal bleeding , autonomic nervous system are some of the more serious ones . Others things that could be helped w medication that raise your blood pressure also may help . Go to you primary doctor and ask if this might sound helpful . Best of luck to you , I hope you feel better !!!!
Helpful - 0
476009 tn?1211466989
I had the electric shock sort of thing coupled with almost panic, hearing distortion (sort of voices), all sorts of crazy stuff after I had whiplash years ago.  It took forever to get better even after going to  a chiropractor for two years.  The regular doctors were no help.

Anyway....just thought I'd mention it in case the problem actually is in your neck.  I re-injure it easily so it doesn't take much of a problem there to cause symptoms.  Now that I know that, I've been to physical therapy a couple of times with great results.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm a female age 38 and I started getting the tingling in my hands and feet only and it always happened after a shock or a "start"...  Like when I'm driving and something runs in front of my car... that kind of "start", so I just think my body is reacting to that.  But it's weird how it just "started" out of no where.  I figure it was just about after I had my second daughter and attributed it to body changes.

Yesterday I got the same sensation all over my body while I was in the shower (and I wasn't using Coast soap!) but I think it's because I skipped lunch.  I read it could be hypglycemia which is low blood sugar so maybe that's it.  

I just googled body tingles and came across this.  I thought maybe it was early menopause but you're a man and you have it.  When I told my doctor he had me do blood tests for B12 (I think it was B12, or one of those B's) and they came back normal.  So I have no idea what it is but just wanted you all to know you're not alone.

Rebecca
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i am having electrical feeling going through my whole body.Along with itching all over my body ,following by rapid heart beet and pain in the back of my neck and shoulder .the electric shock takes about 3 sec going through my body ,there for following by cramps in my legs and i cant sleep at night because of this feelings,although ,i went to 7 doctors and he run every test he can think of and even a lumber puncher and nothing seems to work .Some time my eyes get watery and light head ace and all so runny noise.some one please write me back if any has an answer ,help please

Angie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Omaha,

  I am posting this comment because I had a similar thing happen to me this morning. That's why I am on the Internet looking for answers to my problem. Here's my story.

  I was installing a new amp for my stereo system and was kneeling down on the carpet. When I reached into the cabinet for a wire, I felt a sharp, almost shock like sensation, travel from my right hand through my body and ending at my left hand. I jumped back, thinking it was an electrical shock. Then I was hesitant to put my hand back into the cabinet, as you can only imagine. Then I got brave and told myself I was imagining things. I reached in with some hesitation and no shock effect was felt, at least very little. Later this day, I was cleaning a mirror for my wife with my right hand and felt the same sensation as previously but, not as powerful. So, I thought I would change to my left hand for cleaning the mirror and the same sensation traveled from my left hand to my right. I am not a doctor but, I believe it has something to do with nerves in the back. Reaching, twisting and plain old working can cause this. I don't know if my problem will get worse of eventually take care of it's self.  Only time will tell.  Maybe some of us out the just have magnetic personalities.  LOL. Fireman451
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i took a tb shot and then a day later i started feeling this electric shock feeling going thru my whole body, mostly in my lower body, but i still feel it every else , and thats been going for about 3 months now, and its not stopping it happens mostly when i sit down, and sometimes when i try to sleep at night, not painfull but very irritating or should i say annoying, i don't know what that is cause i never felt that before, can someone please help and tell me can that cause something really bad to me, and last thing i feel it most in my thigh
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi everyone,  I had 2 episodes of acute electric shocks juddering through my body, both at night time. 20 yrs ago. Very scary. When they stopped I was confused for about 5 minutes. I was under severe stress at both times (divorce, family deaths, losing house etc).     I made myself calm down and take life a bit slower.  I then started learning Tai Chi.   I thought at the time that all the talk about 'being grounded' was new age nonsense, but now I feel that is just what happens when you do Tai Ji.  We are electric bodies and need the electricity earthing just like in a plug. I am now 60 and don't even have those tiny static electricity shocks any more.Hope this helps someone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

I spoke to a Physical Therapist doctoral candidate earlier about this problem; although, what he told me makes sense, his english isn't that great.  Anyway, it sounds like this has to do with the nervous system.  He suggested seeing an orthopedic surgeoin / sports medicine specialist (which someone above also recommended) or at the very least an internal medicine doctor; in any event, I am also thinking someone that specializes in the nervous system / brain area, such as a neurologist or neuro suregon would be better able to help.  An ortho surgeon would take x-rays / mri.

In any event, I hope everyone gets better and posts replies if they find remedies.  I am also thinking that many people here, like myself, are not taking the best care of themselves and leading healthy and relaxing lifestyles.  Best of luck.

P.S. I hope you all have medical insurance, just in case.


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Those are my exact symptoms, and I guess they are all classic panic symptoms, or at least I am told. My skin itches, I am breaking out, I just started a new thing where (I guess because I am a grinder) I drool at night to the point where I have cracked red marks in the corners of my mouth, electric shock that goes through my body (it starts in the heart, and I jolt upright and out of bed), muscle cramps in the legs, feet, neck, and shoulders, can't catch my breath, ear pain, headaches, dizziness. Sometimes I am afraid to do anything, especially when it involves going to sleep. I also feel like I am not draining fluids properly from my head. Sometimes my anxiety meds work, but not often enough. A lot of my symptoms (like the headaches and arm numbness) are on the left side, which really scares me. It gets so bad that my thumb has developed a 'weak twicth'. It just starts moving for no reason, yet feels really tired. I am pretty much at a loss. This has been four years now.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Have you gotten any relief?
Avatar universal
I have been having this 'tingly' electric shock feeling for a few years.  Thought it was anxiety too.  Spoke to a woman at Curves yesterday and she said that the tingly feeling was uncommon, but a symptom of menopause.  I have been told that I'm not even peri-menopausal, but I don't have much faith in the blood tests for the hormones because they change daily.  There is considerable family stress and that may be contributing to the problem.  Also, I am weaning myself off of celexa...not nice.  I have yet been able to describe to my or my doctor's satisfaction this feeling, but after reading these posts I hope to rectify that.  Will post again if I find out anything definitive.  My cousin told me about having a tingle and dizzy (but not a spinning dizzy, a side to side dizzy) that is a silent migraine.  Who knows???
Helpful - 0
877378 tn?1240237129
THis has all been happening since i found out i was B12 deficent... I've started taking 1200 mg of B12 and now i have this electrical feeling... got rid of the tingly hands and feet but now i'm electric!...lol ugh.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
did it ever go away and what treatment did you receive
Avatar universal
I recently had only one episode of something similar, and came looking for answers on the Internet.

I was lying in bed a few minutes after lying down, about to go to sleep. I had been having a few episodes of dizziness over preceding days, possibly associated with low blood pressure, although that is not well-established. Suddely, I felt as if I might pass out, and an electric tingle traveled from my neck to my feet. It only took 1 to 2 seconds! I have not experienced it since.

I do not have anxiety or other similar problems. It was a startling feeling, almost scary.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
does any one that experianses thes problems drink a lot of alcohol cuz i have the same **** and i am a alcoholic also i am labeled depressed and have not took my meds for about a week could this have something to do with it?
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community

Top General Health Answerers
363281 tn?1714899967
Nelson, New Zealand
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
19694731 tn?1482849837
AL
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.