Electric shock-like leg pain is a neural pain caused by nerve fibre damage, the German Society of Neurology has warned.
The society explained that electric shock-like leg pain is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as tingling, numbness, and hypersensitivity to pain.
In this case, even mild stimuli, such as light pressure, light pricking with a non-sharp needle, or touching the skin with cold or warm objects, can induce pain.
Nerve Root Damage
The society added that electric shock-like leg pain is a typical sign of irritation or damage to one or more nerve roots in the lower part of the spine. This can occur due to a herniated disc, spinal canal stenosis, bone changes resulting from wear and tear, infection, inflammation, irritation of the sciatic nerve, or benign or malignant tumours in the spine.
Initially, electric shock-like leg pain can be managed by applying localized heat or cold to alleviate the pain, for example, by using a hot water bottle or cold packs.
When to consult a doctor?
If heat and cold applications do not improve the condition, the patient should consult a doctor, especially if the pain persists for more than 6 to 12 weeks or if the pain is accompanied by serious symptoms such as signs of paralysis, difficulty emptying the bladder, incontinence, tingling in the rectum or genital area, and/or erectile dysfunction, as this case may require immediate surgery to prevent permanent nerve damage.
