Electric Needle Sensation In Back Area

N

Naadirah R

New member
Hi, all . . . I am a little freaked out at the moment. I have numerous conditions which I suppose any of could be the cause of what just woke me up.

It was the sensation of someone sticking you with electrified hot needles all over my entire back, both shoulders, back of neck, base of my head where it joins my neck and the backs of both upper arms.

It took a couple of minutes after sitting up to get it stopped.

Here is some background on me if it helps.

I am 51, post-menopausal (this is not like hot flashes), have IBS, hypoglycemia (never get this when sugar drops), low grade asthma (breathing is fine), allergies (did not come into contact with anything unusual today), osteoarthritis of neck and shoulders with pinched nerve that radiates up into face, and sciatica. I also have anxiety but was asleep and therefore not anxious at the time.

I have not lost any cognitive abilities nor motor function (presuming it was not a stroke related incident).

Has anyone ever experienced this before and if so, what was it? Is it likely to keep happening?

Thanks.

Lindaru :confused:
 
Many of your symptoms, including the "electrified" feeling you're experiencing are similar to those experienced by people with Lyme's disease.
 
Since you already have known back problems, your husband is probably right. It sounds a lot like spasms I've had, too. Sometimes you don't have to look for odd answers when the obvious is right in front of you.

You could, however, be having a bit more inflammation lately. Be it from activity, weather, food, or just the arthritis acting up because it can. You may want to have some mineral and vitamin levels checked, vitamin D, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B12 can make you have more spasms/cramping if they're low.
 
Hi, Aether . . . doctor checked my levels . . . the only ones I was low on were B-9 (folic acid), Vitamin A (which I cannot tolerate in high doses so have cut that down), potassium (am now taking that) and Omega fatty acids (have increased those).

She wanted me to do high doses of Vitamin C as well but that just turned my urine orange and made it burn coming out. Have cut that back as well.

Yes, the coming cold weather does seem to inflame everything more. Husband sleeps with windows open even during the winter and I sometimes wake up shivering.

Thanks!

Lindaru :)
 
Hi, Bethsheba . . . the only tick bite I had was when I was nine years old. Were they carrying Lyme disease back then and would it take this long for it to show up (am 51 now)?

Lindaru :confused:
 
Are you on any medications right now? Antibiotics?

Some medications can cause this sensation.

Otherwise, I would say it sounds like a pinched nerve in the back which is radiating. I doubt it has anything to do with Lyme's, and since there aren't other symptoms, I wouldn't suspect anything neurological.

If it persists, go to your GP.
 
Thanks, Aether . . . I will be having everything tested again in March unless something develops that I need to be seen sooner.

She is aware of the Tylenol and has me drink a lot of fluids to keep my kidneys flushed. Also, if I notice any abnormalities in my urine, she gave me this cranberry, Mannos-D and hibiscus powder to mix in water for urinary tract health.

Thanks!

Lindaru :)
 
Hi, Silas . . . I am on up to 2,000 milligrams a day of Tylenol long term for pain management but other than the supplements listed above, nothing else.

Talked to my best friend a few minutes ago who thinks it could be caused by the folic acid? When I first started taking it two months ago, I would get shortness of breath and break out in a rash a bit on my chest, but that stopped after a week or so. I am taking ten milligrams of it per day per doctor orders. She said that it is ten times the recommended daily allowance, so I have no idea (she is a pharmacist).

Thanks.

Lindaru :)
 
Yes, Lyme has been around for a long, long time (some time lines suggest the 1800's in this country but earlier in other parts of the world) but only id'd in this country in the 1970's ( case studies in my state have shown up in the 60's)... and yes, it can take years, sometimes decades to develop. And although you remember being bitten when you were nine, you may have been bitten since that time without knowing it.n I also can't help but thinking that antibiotic treatments for sore throats/flu/sinus infections, etc. may slow down the develpment of the condition because lyme's is treated with antibiotics, and because people with diagnosed cases of Lyme often (but not always) felt better temporially)after taking antibiotics for some other conditon.

I'm not suggesting you have lyme...I'm only saying that people with lyme's disease have reported the symptoms you have. If you've ruled other conditions, you may want to investigate the possiblity of Lyme's disease as symptoms can include chronic colds, chronic sinus infections, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, arthritis, vision problems, problems with cognition, skin problems, pulsating/vibrating/shaking/motor running feelings, etc., etc. etc.

When nothing shows up in the tests, I personally think it may be wise to consider Lyme's which, despite being misdiagnosed and underreported, is reaching epidemic proportions in some parts of this country.

Bethsheba
 
Lindaru,

Bacterial infections (as the ones carried by Lyme) can contribute to the symptoms you've posted here...and the sensitivity to cold weather is no exception.

If I were in your shoes, I would go back and record my earliest memory of illness, and list everything thing that has happened since. It may be very helpful to look at the big picture here as many, many of these things may be related. Although some people have vitamin deficiencies, others may have back problems, etc., most people do not have symptoms in the multiple body systems that you do!

Other posters may not have followed your postings over the past few years so aren't seeing the big picture either. Although I haven't followed all of your posts, I have seen some on the boards I frequent, and I have thought before that you may have lyme's.

If you wish to pursue this further, Amber, on the Lyme's boards, was from Idaho and was seeing a homeopathic doctor for her illnesses...you might find her posts helpful.
Will say no more on this topic, except that I do wish you the best of health.

Bethsheba
 
Thanks, Bethsheba . . . if it happens again, I will bring it up to my naturopathic doctor. Not sure we have any Lyme literate doctors up here but maybe she knows of some.

I did talk about what happened with my husband and he thinks I may have been in a weird position that just might have pinched a nerve or so a certain way?

Lindaru :)
 
If she's a pharmacist she should have some knowledge there. Looking at FDA recommendation - she's right. It can actually cause problems with B12 when taken in too high of a dose. Have you had your B12 retested since you started taking the high doses folic acid? If not, please do so. You may still be within range but on the low side of it. Any other problems you have can be made worse by deficiencies.

Also, though 2,000 mgs of acetaminophen isn't quite near the toxic level it's still a lot. If you have been taking this much for a while or will be in the future, please make sure to regularly have your kidney function checked.

Dark leafy greens are a good natural source of folic acid, by the way, and potassium. Just a tip. ;)
 
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