Electric Shock Feeling in Muscles: Causes and Solutions

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By Agata P. | Updated: Jun 18, 2020

Electric Shock Feeling in Muscles: Causes and Solutions

Most women experience electric shock feelings throughout their life, either superficially on the skin or in deeper tissues. Some women, however, report electric-like jabs specifically in the muscles, raising questions about what could be possibly causing these unpleasant symptoms. 

Keep on reading to discover possible causes of and numerous solutions to handle electric shock feeling in the muscles for ultimate relief.

Causes of Electric Shock Feeling in the Muscles

Medical Conditions

  • Infections: Shingles, Lyme disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Autoimmune: Guillain-Barre syndrome, lupus, celiac disease
  • Neurological: Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Endocrine: Hormonal imbalance, diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease
  • Other: Fibromyalgia, arachnoiditis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

In most cases, an electric shock feeling in the muscles is caused by peripheral neuropathy, damage to the sensory and motor nerves, and can result from the following:1, 2

  • Disc compression due to strenuous sports, injury, or tumors

  • Vitamin imbalance: B1, B12, B6, and E

  • Alcohol abuse or smoking

  • Toxic exposure: Heavy metals, agent orange

  • Medication side effects: Chemotherapy drugs, anti-depressants, anxiolytics

  • Chronic medical conditions

Solutions for Electric Shock Feeling in the Muscles

Regardless of the cause, there are a number of steps a woman can take to find ultimate solutions for electric shocks in the muscles, including the following:

Resolve nutritional deficiencies

Proper nutrition can prevent muscle spasms that feel like electric shocks. While adequate amounts can be found in foods, like fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains, nutritional supplements may be better for more significant deficiencies.

Balance hormones

If an electric shock feeling in the muscles have hormonal roots, it is worth considering alternative medicine options, such as phytoestrogenic supplements, like black cohosh or red clover, or hormone-balancing supplements, like Macafem.

Stay physically active

Sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and many musculoskeletal problems, like muscle spasms that feel like electric shocks. Yoga classes, long walks in the park, or bike riding are all good ways to stay active and reduce electric-like shocks.

Quit smoking and alcohol

Both cigarettes and alcohol can lead to damage of the peripheral nerves and disc degeneration, resulting in electric shock feeling in muscles.3,4 Yet, finding help and improving one's life is possible through one's doctor or free addiction helplines.

Review current medications

Some women suffer from muscle electric shocks as side effects of certain drugs, while others might experience them after their discontinuation. It's worth asking a doctor for alternatives in order to stay healthy and live a symptom-free life.

Manage chronic illnesses

Even if a certain medical condition that causes muscle electric shocks cannot be cured, there are many ways to manage it more effectively and lessen its impact on one's health, such as controlling blood sugar levels or balancing thyroid hormones.

Conclusions

As one of the strangest discomforts in a woman's life, electric-like shocks can cause a great deal of worry. While they generally do not impair women's daily activities, severe cases of electric shock feelings in the muscles require more invasive pharmacological treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Because such treatments come with serious side effects, a good understanding of the nature of electric shock sensation and other available treatment options, like lifestyle changes and alternative medicine, is a must for making the best choices about one's health and enjoying life to the fullest.