strange startle response

[chrisgirl]

Wondering if anyone else has this or knows what this is.  For a few years now, when I get startled, I feel this surge of heat and tingling in my hands.  Only lasts for a few seconds.  This week it has moved up into my arms and my feet.  It really got my attention this evening as my husband and I were almost hit by a car.  Had the same sensation with the added bonus of neddle pricks in my feet.  Feel foolish mentioning this to the rheumy but I'm wondering if this is yet another sign of nerve involvement that he says I don't have.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Christy

[JannaLee]

YES!!

I have had this for several years and never met another person with it!  It's as if adrenalin hits my hands and makes them hurt like the dickens for a couple seconds!  It feels exactly like you describe.

If you do mention it, would you let me know what he says?

Janna

[missyb]

OMG are you kidding me? This happens to me all the time too! I never connected ti to anything other than I must be nuts LOL

[KYMOM]

Christy, Yes, but add a tingling all over like a caffeine rush.  Roxanne

[Patze]

Yep, same here!  Whew, thought it was my imagination, glad to see I'm not the only one!  And when it happens, my hands and feet can start hurting so bad it feels like I slammed them in a door way; got to love Raynaud's.


Patze

[TerriJ]

Oh my gosh!!!  I can't believe I'm reading this.  For about a year now when I get startled I feel a rush of tingling in my neck and face.  It reminds me a little of how a tens unit feels if it's turned way up!  It doesn't last long, but it is unmistakable. 

I'm curious if the rest of you who experience this have other neurological issues?

Terri

[HL in NY]

I don't have this (yet), but in my earlier days I was a special Ed teacher and I can say that a strong/abnormal startle response is a clear sign of neurological issues and I would definitely mention it to your doctor.

And Patze: Boy, does the description "My hand feels like it was slammed in a car door" sound familiar. I haven't been dx with Raynaulds (again, yet) but I wonder. 

[Denise]

KYMOM,

I feel the same way at times, like I drank 10 pots of coffee and my body is warm. its weird. talk about the jitters as if the normal tremors weren't enough.

Denise   

[Patze]

Hi HL in NY,

Please do mention to your rheumy at your next appointment, you might have developed it too.  

And I thought everyone would want to have blue/purple tinged hands and feet; and they're such get fashion accessories!  Guess I'm wrong, huh?


Patze

[HL in NY]

Hi HL in NY,

Please do mention to your rheumy at your next appointment, you might have developed it too.  

And I thought everyone would want to have blue/purple tinged hands and feet; and they're such get fashion accessories!  Guess I'm wrong, huh?


Patze

Hey! Do you think I can find nail polish to match?  I haven't been turning blue yet, but you know, it's something I watch for. My Rheumy knows about the weird hand pain. Hence the tests and 'scripts keep on comin'.

Thanks for thinking of me,

Heather

[Kimi]

Oh how I can relate to this! I get it in upper body, my hands, arms, legs and feet. I told my GP about this a couple of years ago and she told me it was a form of nerve pain. I went on Nurontin for this and it is much better. My GP told me that some meds can cause this, some disease can as well as a few other things. In my case I have neuropthy in my feet and hands so I think it is most likely due to the SJS. I have been placed into a study for SJS and neuropthy. Kimi

[Patze]

Hey Heather,

I keep looking for one, but if you find a good color, let me know!


Patze

[missyb]

SO do you guys think it IS Raynoufds? I was diagnosed with this in Dec 08 because my whole arms would ache when I touch anything cold, and my hand would turn a very bright red,  But it isn't anything I decided was bad enough to take a medication for, the rheumy suggested I could try a baby aspirin a day if it really bugged me. Maybe I will try that now..

[Sandra]

I get this kind of thing too, I find though that even an emotional response like frustration can bring it on. I have spent allot of time becoming zen in all things because of it.
I also have complained a zillion times to various doctors about the same response upon falling off to sleep. I can get into bed and be totally calm, comfy and relaxed and fall off to sleep only to be "zapped" awake. It's like an electrical current thing in my head and then body, only lasts a second but i swear it feels like it levitates me right off the bed! Then after it awakens me I feel HOT like burning hot, I can wake drenched with sweat too. Sometimes I can fall back to sleep only to have it happen another couple of times before I can stay asleep, then there are those night that once it happens I just cannot get back to sleep period.
i am sure that these kind of responses are of t he nervous system, has to be, what else could it be? Although as of yet I have no official dx  I'm sure mostly because i just haven't pushed hard enough to be heard.
Good thread, miserable symptom! Sandra

[JannaLee]

Yeah, I think it is certainly a neurological thing.  As to whether it's related to Reynauds?  Hmm...  Maybe.   

I would say my episodes are triggered by adrenalin or whatever happens during 'startle response.'   And I know my Reynaud's episodes are triggered by cold and/or anxiety.  I've had the 'startle pain' when my hands and feet are warm and do not think Reynauds is a trigger, but this may be something that comes along with Raynauds.

Or maybe it's an unrelated neurological thing.  It is helpful to hear at least one doctor validated this exists! (Kimi's GP)

It would be interesting to know!

So how many of us with 'Strange Startle Reaction Syndrome', (SSRS, lol) also have Reynaud's?

Chris,
Roxann,
Sandra,
Missy,
Patze, Yes
Terri,
Denise,
Heather....I know you don't know, and don't have blue fingers yet, right?  Do you ever get cold hands and/or feet and/or nose that take a long time to warm up?
Kimi,
Janna, Yes