Electric shock sensation in neck

[Naetha]

This is going to sound a bit daft, but every now and again (probably averages out at about every 2-3 months) I get a really intense electric shock sensation in the side of my neck. It only lasts a split second, but is literally like getting zapped. I'd say it's about four or five times stronger than getting a static shock from a car or a shock from an electric fence. It can often render me incapable for a few seconds afterwards, and makes my heart race, and I get quite shaky afterwards.

Does anyone know what this is? Is it something that everyone gets (other than my DH that is...) and is just down to "nerves" or something, or is it something worth mentioning to my GP?

I don't want to be a hypochondriac, but likewise I don't want to ignore something serious.

I think I know what you mean as I get it occasionally too. It normally happens when I turn my neck, it's a very sudden sharp shock. I think it's normal, just a result of tense muscles and catching a nerve.

This used to happen to dh quite alot eactly as you describe it. Might be worth mentioning it to the doc but sounds like the sort of thing an asteopath might be able to help with if it starts to happen regularly.

Hello, did anyone ever get an answer or treatment for this? I’m going out if Myrna as I googled getting electric shocks in my neck and it came up with MS symptoms 😕

Hi, Buttmunch15, it is likely to be a thing called Lhermette's phenomenon. It is caused by a nerve issue in the neck, which could be MS, but also plenty of other things, including simply irritation from inflamation.

If the neck thing is not constant, and you don't have other major neurological issues, I wouldn't be too worried. The scarier sounding things that come up on a google search would have other symptoms as well. In fact, I had it every time I looked down, and was rapidly deteriorating neurologically, and the GP and neurologist still felt it could be a trapped nerve or anxiety.

I would see your GP about it - they will possibly order a scan and/or make a referral, but there may not be a need based on your history. I hope you find this reassuring.

Thank you so much. It’s silly to self diagnose and it can really get the anxiety going! Were your shocks more frequent then? Hope you’re doing well x

Definitely can make anxiety worse, although I am probably the opposite, and tend to dismiss symptoms too easily.

Shocks were daily, every time I moved my head downwards for about 9 months (until surgery). Very bad neck pain and lots of other symptoms too. And I ended up with something so unusual that Dr Google didn't manage to diagnose me!