“Does anyone know anything about feeling an electric shock sensation?” one MyLupusTeam member asked. “This started a few days ago. It feels so strange, like I’m literally being shocked — my forehead, back, and side of my face.”

If you’ve experienced an electric shock sensation while living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, you are not alone. This autoimmune disorder causes inflammation when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and damages its own healthy cells, tissues, or organs. Symptoms of lupus can be painful and sudden, appearing at any moment. An electric shock sensation could be related to the inflammatory effects of SLE on your nervous system.

In this article, we’ll discuss why you may experience the feeling of electric shocks, what you can do about them, and when you should ask your doctor for medical advice.

MyLupusTeam Members Describe Electric Shock Sensations

Members of MyLupusTeam, the online social support community for people with lupus, have written about their experiences with electric shock sensations. These sensations may vary from person to person, including which part of the body they affect, how painful they are, and how long they last.

Some members report mild and brief electric shock- or zap-like sensations. One said, “I have feelings of stinging, like little needle points off and on.” Others reported the sensations as occurring for a set time but going away on their own. One member wrote, “I did have this feeling in my legs for a week, and I wanted to tell a doctor, but it’s gone now.”

Members have reported that these electric shock sensations can affect multiple parts of the body. “I get the feeling that someone has shocked me in my arms and legs,” someone shared. Another wrote, “I get shooting pain in my hands and feet.” One member described the sensation in a different location: “I get electric shocks on the outside of my ankles.”

Can Lupus Cause Electric Shock Sensations?

Many people with lupus experience peripheral neuropathy, which is caused by inflammation around the nerves in the arms and legs. This condition can cause a wide range of sensations, including tingling, numbness, crawling, pins and needles, temperature changes, and electric shock sensations. The sensation of an electric shock may be caused by peripheral neuropathy, especially if you’ve felt other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy before.

Peripheral neuropathy leads to various symptoms. When it affects motor nerves, which carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands, it can result in the weakening of specific muscles, leading to mobility problems. On the other hand, when it affects sensory nerves, which transmit information from the body’s sensory organs to the brain and spinal cord, it may result in the loss of feeling, numbness, tingling, and sensations like pins and needles or electric shocks. Neuropathy can be a mix of these symptoms in one area or appear in multiple areas of the body.

Peripheral neuropathy is relatively common in people with lupus, especially in those with active lupus disease. For individuals living with symptoms like electric shock sensations or related issues, overall quality of life can be significantly affected.

Some people notice that common lupus triggers, such as sunlight and heat, make this sensation worse. “When I’ve been in the sun, I get pinching, poking, like pins and needles from the inside all over,” one MyLupusTeam member wrote. If this symptom happens during lupus flare-ups, it may be related to your lupus. However, other conditions and injuries can also cause an electric shock sensation.

Other Causes of Electric Shock Sensations

Here are some causes of an electric shock feeling that are unrelated to lupus. You may experience these conditions in addition to lupus:

• Pinched nerve
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Shingles

Pinched Nerve

One member said, “The electric shock feels like a pinched nerve.” A pinched nerve occurs when pressure is applied to a nerve from the tissues that surround it, whether that is from a bone or swollen muscles or tendons from an injury.

Pinched nerves can happen in people with and without lupus. They may cause a wide variety of sensations, depending on what part of the body is affected. These include pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. If your electric shock feeling always occurs in the same location or begins after an injury, it might be caused by a pinched nerve.

If your doctor discovers that you have a pinched nerve, they may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids to manage swelling and pain. People with lupus that affects the kidneys should avoid taking NSAIDs, so be sure to tell your doctor about your lupus diagnosis. Check with your doctor before taking NSAIDs or over-the-counter corticosteroids.

Other hormonal conditions, like hypothyroidism (when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones, leading to fatigue and weight gain) and diabetes mellitus, can also cause pinched nerves. Additionally, having too much growth hormone can lead to a condition called acromegaly, which causes unusual growth of bones and tissues, especially in the hands, feet, and face.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

People living with lupus may also experience other long-term conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is another autoimmune disease known to cause peripheral neuropathy. Just like peripheral neuropathy from lupus, peripheral neuropathy from RA can affect motor nerves, sensory nerves, and autonomic nerves (the nerves controlling involuntary body functions like heartbeat).

Along with many other symptoms, peripheral neuropathy from RA could start as or be accompanied by electric shock sensations. RA is diagnosed with a physical examination followed by blood tests and imaging. According to the American College of Rheumatology, RA can be managed with disease-modifying drugs and lifestyle changes.

Multiple Sclerosis

Another group of people who often experience electric shock sensations are those living with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a disease that damages the protective coating of nerves, causing individuals to experience random sensations and pain signals.

People with MS may experience short sensations of an intense electric shock down the neck, spine, trunk, and limbs called Lhermitte’s sign. Lhermitte’s sign can also affect people who do not have MS, such as those who have experienced neck trauma, have a type of herpes infection, or are on high-dose chemotherapy for cancer.

Shingles

Electric shock-like sensations are sometimes associated with an infectious disease called shingles. “I had shingles back in September and it felt like that,” one member said. Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Along with pain and tingling on one side of your body (usually the face or trunk), you would see an itchy rash on the same side. After receiving certain biologic treatments (medications made from living organisms) and immunosuppressive treatments (medications that weaken the immune system’s response to prevent it from attacking the body’s own tissues) for lupus and other rheumatologic conditions, it’s important to watch for shingles infection. Shingles can lead to peripheral neuropathy symptoms both during and for up to four to six weeks after the infection.

When To Contact Your Health Care Provider

One MyLupusTeam member said they saw their doctor because the electric shock sensations “started occurring multiple times a day.” This member explained that they underwent an MRI so their health care provider could figure out the cause of these sensations.

If you’re experiencing electric shock sensations caused by peripheral neuropathy or another lupus complication, talk to your rheumatologist. They can diagnose and create a treatment plan to manage your lupus and address the electric shock sensations, preventing additional pain and nerve damage. Contacting your rheumatologist early will help them determine if it’s related to lupus, an infection, or other conditions. Lupus treatment often involves immunosuppressive drugs to calm the immune system, while treatment for infection or other causes would be different.

If your health care provider thinks that these sensations may be a sign of another health condition, they may refer you to a specialist like a neurologist.

See a doctor if your electric shock sensations meet any of the following criteria:

• They’re brand new.
• They’re associated with visible skin changes or other symptoms.
• They cause persistent discomfort.
• They worsen over time.
• There is no response to treatment after a specified period.

Many people with lupus may feel electric shock sensations caused by peripheral neuropathy. These sensations and related symptoms can greatly affect their daily life. It’s essential to seek medical help, as managing lupus and addressing these neuropathy symptoms can improve overall well-being. Understanding the link between lupus and electric shock sensations can lead to better care and support for those living with this autoimmune condition.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyLupusTeam is the social network for people with lupus and their loved ones. On MyLupusTeam, more than 223,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lupus.

Have you felt electric shock sensations while living with lupus? How did you manage this symptom? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.