Electric Shock Sensation

Medically reviewed

Medically reviewed by Brenda G., MD | Written by SheCares Editorial Team | Updated: Feb 09, 2021

Electric shock sensation is a lesser-known hormonal imbalance symptom that can happen throughout a woman's reproductive life, from menarche to postmenopause. Nevertheless, the symptom can be unsettling enough to evoke fear of having a more serious condition.

This guide will help women comprehend electric shock sensations better as well as offer tips on how to detect the underlying cause. It will also address tips on how to manage the condition for increased treatment success.

Electric Shock Sensation

About

Electric shock sensations are reported by women as feeling similar to a rubber band snapping between the skin and muscle in the tissue.

Without a doubt, the cause of these nerve shocks can be attributed to various neurological, autoimmune, and endocrine conditions. However, another likely cause of electric shock sensations may be hormonal imbalance, including a drop in estrogen levels.

Hormonal fluctuations take place naturally during a woman's menstrual cycle and also during certain stages of reproductive life, such as puberty, pregnancy, post-partum, perimenopause, and postmenopause. These hormonal changes can negatively affect nervous system health as well as physical functioning, causing electric shock sensations.

Identifying Electric Shock Sensation

Every woman will experience electric shock sensations differently. However, there are three criteria that can help identify ways in which this condition may vary: frequency, duration, and intensity.

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Causes

Preventing, managing, and treating electric shock sensations in the body begins with understanding their root cause. The exact causes of electric shock sensations in the body are often multipart and vague, including factors concerning biology. However, many researchers believe hormonal changes may be responsible for those experienced in women throughout their reproductive lives.

Hormonal Causes of Electric Shock Sensation

Electrical impulses in central and peripheral nervous systems are sent from one nerve to another with the help of electrically-charged salts passing through ion channels. A disruption in any of these currents can lead to illnesses and various health conditions. Electric shock sensation occurs when there are abnormal electrical sensations due to physiological disturbances.

Because hormonal fluctuations affect the nervous system, decreased estrogen levels can cause women to feel sensations of electric shocks due to affected nerve tissues. While some studies believe that misfiring of neurons in the nervous system cause this symptom, the exact mechanism of action is yet to be scientifically studied.

Without a doubt, there are various phases within a woman's reproductive life in which it will be more likely for her to suffer from electric shock sensations, such as puberty, PMS, pregnancy, post-partum, breastfeeding, perimenopause, and postmenopause.

Other Causes of Electric Shock Sensation

While hormonal imbalance is a primary cause of electric shock sensations during a woman's life, experts also mention that it may be caused by other factors, including autoimmune and neurological conditions.

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Risk Factors and Triggers

Risk Factors for Electric Shock Sensation

Some women have an inherently higher chance of suffering from electric shock sensations due to physical, behavioral, and psychological reasons, such as stress and living a sedentary lifestyle. These predisposing factors can affect a woman's hormone levels and increase the chances of her experiencing electric shock symptoms.

Triggers of Electric Shock Sensation

Electrical sensations in the body can strike at any time, often without warning and without a clear trigger. They could even occur as a precursor to a different symptom, such as hot flashes. For women who experience recurring electric shock sensations, it would be wise to avoid any possible triggers if possible. Triggers of nerve shocks include major life changes.

Electric Shock Sensation - Risk Factors and Triggers

Signs and Symptoms

Nerve shocks can occur in women frequently or infrequently, depending on the symptom's underlying cause. Moreover, how the body zaps feel will vary from woman to woman as well. However, some symptoms of electric shock are common among women suffering from nerve shocks due to hormonal imbalance.

Common Symptoms of Electric Shock Sensation

  • Feelings of a sharp, quick tremor or vibration
  • Head buzz or tremor
  • Prickly body sensations

Signs of Electric Shock Sensation

Besides the more evident symptoms, medical signs are measurable criteria that are usually assessed by a physician. The following medical signs will most likely be taken into account by a physician when diagnosing a woman who feels electrical sensations in the body.

  • Fluctuating blood pressure
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Slightly elevated or reduced body temperature
  • Abnormal blood levels of reproductive hormones

Diagnosis of Electric Shock Sensation

To diagnose and identify symptoms of electric shock, a doctor will typically perform four procedures. First, he or she should review the patient's medical history, then conduct a physical exam, and finally do a psychological evaluation. The doctor may order additional tests if necessary.

Complications of Electric Shock Sensation

When electric shocks in the body are left untreated, further complications can arise as the underlying condition causing the nerve shocks worsens, thus risking a woman's physical and emotional health. Nonetheless, it is possible for electric feelings in the body to occur without reason. In this case, they would not require extensive medical intervention if never happening again. However, plausible complications of untreated electric shock sensation can include increasingly damaged nerves and frequent medical care.

Women suffering from electric shock sensations may wish learn how to prevent future occurrences. Fortunately, there are helpful suggestions and habits that will lessen a woman's chance of enduring more nerve shocks and allow her to learn how to manage them properly.

Electric Shock Sensation - Signs and Symptoms

Prevention and Management

Preventing Electric Shock Sensation

Although a woman cannot prevent an electric sensation from jolting through her body, there are a few options she can pursue to lessen her chances of experiencing another nerve shock or minimize the frequency of them.

Lifestyle changes for preventing the occurrence of electrical shock sensations are key to balancing hormones, certainly when taking into account the basics of following a healthy diet, exercising, and practicing good habits. Furthermore, women may search for methods to fortify these lifestyle approaches by using supplements known to support hormonal balance and, therefore, prevent or ease symptoms of hormonal imbalance, including electric shock sensations.

Lifestyle Changes for Prevention

  • Nutrition. When it comes to regulating hormones for nervous system health, diet is essential. By eating a balanced diet rich in foods known to promote hormonal health - such as phytoestrogens - as well as foods known to sustain nervous system health, it is possible to reduce the amount of nerve shocks.

  • Regular exercise. Electric shock sensations are unpredictable. However, in some women, they manifest as a precursor to hot flashes. Therefore, it can be said that in these instances, nerve shocks are due to hormonal imbalance. Once hormonal equilibrium is achieved, the electric jolts and other symptoms will be relieved in turn. Ideally, women should aim to work out at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Workouts can include swimming, jogging, and aerobics. To relieve stress-triggered nerve shocks, practice yoga and deep breathing exercises.

  • Healthy habits. Studies prove that women who smoke cigarettes and consume alcohol regularly are more likely to worsen symptoms of hormonal imbalance, such as electric shock sensations. It is important to avoid or minimize the consumption and use of these substances. Women should also aim to maintain a healthy weight to help balance hormone levels, keep hydrated with water, reduce stress, and sleep at least seven hours a night.

  • Supplements. Research indicates that fish oil, B-complex vitamins, calcium, and potassium are some of the best supplements needed to help maintain nervous system functions. These supplements, often found in multivitamins, can be purchased at most health and supplement stores if not consumed in one's diet to achieve perfect balance.

Managing Electric Shock Sensation

As aforementioned, it is difficult to predict exactly when an electric shock sensation will occur as they often happen out of the blue. Nonetheless, it is important to make daily changes and avoid triggers to avoid future incidences.

Here are some tips and tricks women can put into practice to manage electric shock sensations after they happen in efforts to prevent future occurrences. Some actions women of all reproductive life stages can use include getting enough sleep, partaking in breathing techniques, and doing something physical.

Furthermore, there are also specific management tips that can be followed by women during puberty, pregnancy, post-partum (including breastfeeding), perimenopause, and postmenopause.

Specific tips for managing electric shock sensations during puberty include educating oneself about puberty and remaining calm.

Specific tips for managing electric shock sensations during pregnancy include trying pregnancy yoga or meditation and stretching.

Specific tips for managing electric shock sensations during post-partum (including breastfeeding) are easing back into exercise and taking it easy.

Specific tips for managing nerve shocks during the menopausal transition (perimenopause and postmenopause) include preparing for a hot flash and staying hydrated.

Alternative Management Tips for Electric Shock Sensation

Alternative treatments are also a great way to manage electric shock sensations by reducing stress and improving physical and emotional health. Alternative treatments include massage; mindfulness and meditation; and therapy.

While these measures may help a woman learn how to better manage her health in efforts to prevent nerve shocks from happening again, they are unable to treat the underlying cause of electric shock sensations. There are several electric shock sensation treatments that can help treat the hormonal causes.

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Treatments

Recurring electric shock sensations can be so severe that they start to affect everyday life. Fortunately, it is possible to find an effective treatment.

Three Approaches to Treat Electric Shock Sensation

Three levels of approaches can be considered for treating electric shock sensations depending on the underlying cause. These are categorized as: (1) Lifestyle Changes, (2) Alternative Medicine, and (3) Pharmaceutical Options.

If possible, women are encouraged to begin with the least risky approach, lifestyle adjustments, and then proceed to the next level of care based on their specific situation.

1

Lifestyle Changes

This primary level of treatment involves the least amount of risk; although, it conversely requires the highest amount of self-discipline. Often, simple changes in lifestyle can reap huge benefits in achieving a higher overall level of health. Primarily, start with an improved diet, regular exercise, and healthy habits.

Although these changes will help promote over well-being, they are often not the most direct way to balance hormones, one of the leading causes of electric shock sensations in women. Further treatment may be necessary. Alternative medicine has proven to be an excellent way of preventing future episodes related to hormonal imbalance in a safe and natural way.

2

Alternative Medicine for Electric Shock Sensation

Alternative medicines and supplements generally involve little to no risk and can be an extremely effective for preventing and treating electric shock sensations for good, depending on its underlying cause. In the case of herbal supplements, there are two main types to take into consideration: phytoestrogenic and hormone-regulating herbal supplements.

Phytoestrogenic herbal supplements

These supplements, like black cohosh, contain estrogenic components made by plants that supplement low estrogen levels in women, helping relieve electric shock sensations. When a woman introduces phytoestrogens into her body, these herbs help treat the underlying estrogen deficiency behind nerve shocks.

Phytoestrogens work as an effective treatment for menopausal women because they are more likely to have low estrogen levels. However, they are not necessarily effective for women in other stages of life, such as puberty.

Hormone-regulating herbal supplements

These supplements, including Macafem, stimulate the body's natural hormone production by nourishing the pituitary and endocrine glands, helping the hormonal system work more efficiently. This results in the balance of estrogen as well as other important hormones, such as progesterone.

These supplements can be considered the safest and most natural way to treat the underlying hormonal imbalance behind sharp nerve pain and can be taken throughout a woman's life as they support the body's natural hormone production.

Morever, there are other types of herbal supplements that promote healthy nervous system functioning.

A combination of approaches is usually the most effective route to take. Lifestyle changes combined with alternative medicine can ultimately help a woman overcome electric shock sensations caused by hormonal imbalances. However, for some women, the occurrence of nerve shocks will be so severe that more drastic treatment is necessary.

3

Pharmaceutical Options for Electric Shock Sensation

Interventions at the third level involve the highest risk and often the highest costs. It is advised to speak to a trusted doctor before starting any pharmaceutical treatment or medication for electric shock sensations. Not all treatments are suitable for women who find themselves at varying stages in their reproductive lives.

There are two main types of pharmaceutical options that can be prescribed to treat nerve shocks: hormone-regulating medication and antidepressants.

Overall, these three approaches are not mutually exclusive. A woman may use different approaches at different times or any combination of them, depending on her specific situation. Recently, more and more women find that preventing and dealing with electric shock sensations can be accomplished via a combination of healthy lifestyle and alternative treatments.

Electric Shock Sensation Treatments

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