Pain in back during adrenalin rush situations

I'm 41 and over weight. When i get an adrenaline rush I get shooting pains up and down my spine. If feels like electric shooting pains running up and down with a pulse. Its very painful and I can't move my body and feel like I want to collapse, until I've calm down and it goes. This has been happen for the last few years. Anyone know why and how to stop It. If it's fight or flight why does it happen has it very disabling and can't do either of fight or flight until it stops.

It's so frustrating that there is no definite diagnosis. The fact that so many now experience this and so many diminish our reality in these moments. Years ago I experienced this and when I searched there was no one like me. Now when I search I find a long thread of kindred spirits. That's what I call us since only we are experiencing this. My "spasm" (my definition) hits in moments of anxiety, stress and/or heightened fear, panic and anger. Not only do the spasms become so intense that they drop me to the floor in almost a seizure situation, I become immobilized, except for the spasms and I also develop extreme cotton mouth that prevents me from speaking clearly. Not only is it dangerous when driving that I have to pull over until I can regain control but it's embarrassing in a public situation. I recall I was testifying as a witness to a jury and it happened. They had to stop, recess and get me water... I remember talking to a police officer who thought I was on drugs when it kicked in. I've learned that Traffic situations and public speaking are the usual triggers for me so I avoid and prevent situations that may cause it to kick in. I don't speak publicly and I drive slowly with extreme spaces between myself and others. At all costs, I avoid everything and anything that would put me in a situation of confrontation. While this never happened when I was younger, I do know I had an extremely rough childhood and am wondering if others may have had same and maybe it's a psychological situation we experience which triggers a physical reaction? JDspastastic

I, too, have these spasms. Sometimes coffee seems to make things worse but always stress is a trigger. Do any of you feel coffee (caffeine) might be a trigger? I had two attacks last week rushing to work. High stress, bad traffic, unreasonable boss. Caffeine. Took two flights of stairs and it hit me as I walked in my office. Had to take a phone call while I was experiencing my spasms. Awful. Glad I was NOT on Skype or person might have called 911.
I’ve had these throughout my life. Stress always a trigger.
Let me/us know if anyone has suggestions. Oh. I’m a 64 YO Irish-American

I had an attack like this today after chasing off a prowler and I had a massive adrenaline rush . I recognized the location of the pain as both kidneys (at least it appeared to me to be there ) .Years ago I had mild kidney stone episode and this was in the same location . .At first I assumed I threw my lower back out but when I realized my kidneys hurt I looked up 'kidney pain with adrenaline rush' and noticed hundreds of very similar victims .Also learned that the adrenal glands sit atop the kidneys . - I haven't seen any recommendations .

OMG I have been googling this symptom for years!!! My doctor says "back strain" which it is NOT. I am a 61 year old female who has had this now for 10-15 years. No back injuries that would preclude this. Extreme spasms and radiating pain in mainly my right lower back... but now it radiates all throughout my back and spine in a throbbing debilitating spasm, whenever I experience adrenaline. This past year it has now been upgraded to happen sometimes when I am on the toilet (not straining, just "pooping" normally. No doctors have an answer.

I am 31. Morbidly obese. I exercise as I can and eat relatively healthy. I guess this condition is not weight related, as most of you are young and healthy. I have been experiencing this condition for about 10 years now. Mine seems to happen most when I have to use the bathroom and am rushing to a Beth room as I’ve held it long enough. Once I sit and urinate the extremely painful paralyzing throbbing starts. My pain is localized to the back of my neck and upper spinal area. It is intense, so bad I clinch my teeth and almost drop to the ground with every pulsation. It takes about 3-5 minutes to relax. Then I’m back to normal. Doctors can’t seem to figure this out. If anyone has gotten a diagnostic or resolution please share as no one can seem to figure this out. I often wonder if I am experiencing mild heart attacks each time this happens. Respiratory issues run in my family, however I am the only obese member. Everyone else is/was skinny and healthy.

You are all experiencing Adrenal Fatigue (some may be more extreme and experiencing Adrenal Failure). During fight or flight scenarios (it should really be called Fight, Flight or Freeze, since Freezing is more common than the other two in most people). Basically, when in the FFF situation, your adrenal glands are dumping out all the adrenaline your body can muster and none or little of the Cortisol your body needs to counter balance this. The end result is your adrenal glands on your kidneys continue to try pulling more adrenaline, but there is none left and this causes the throbbing pain that will pulsate with each and every heart beat you experience.

You need to see your doctor and insist your Cortisol levels are tested and explain the pain your are experiencing and that this is Adrenal Fatigue or Failure.

You can take some supplements to try control this, such as Vit B6 as it will support Cortisol production, but you'd have to do it daily at the maximum dose and that may only make it a little better.

If you have naturally high test levels or have been getting TRT therapy, this can cause the problem or make it worse. I'm not sure if other medications have been associated with the same problem.

Good luck.

So I’m a little alarmed for myself honestly because looking through these replies everyone seems to be over atleast 35 and I’m only 25 and had the exact same symptoms for a couple years now and I wouldn’t call myself excellent health since I’ve smoked for around 10 years already and drink quite often but everyone that I described this too couldn’t understand what I meant. I’ve had it happen while I was driving once but luckily it didn’t last long like op said they normally last around 45seconds to a couple minutes. But yeah if anyone happens to know of any sort of stretches or something that can possibly reduce the chances of experiencing this pain again I’ll take any advice.

thank you, this is the most helpful suggestion I have seen here - include one from a medic who obviously misunderstood the symptoms.

I’m 58 healthy, and I have same problem for,the last 10years or so, seems like pain gets worse with every episode mostly traffic related. I never talked to anyone about it but it’s got to be adrenal related. I hope it makes you feel better, you are not alone.

The common thread seems to be that just about everyone is sitting down while driving. We just have to avoid those stressful situations.

Your story sounds really familiar to me.. About 24 years ago the doctor treated me for pain, by giving me some medicines in my lumber with a needle. (about 4 times or so during one year). They were thinking about giving me a pain pump or something.. This because of symphysiolisis. Since years I experience the pain you describe. I also had epidural when I gave birth to our youngest son. My middle son, who had an operation on his knee, and for this he had epidural, experiences the same things... We always thought it must be from putting something in our lumber.. Hope this helps..

I just found this thread as I was trying to find answers as to why I feel immense pain during and after an adrenaline rush. I am 32 years old, have been experiencing this symptom for about 10 years now. I have Ms but the neuro doc says that sysmptom is not connected to MS and has no idea why it’s happening. I am considered overweight now but it started when I was not. At the time of the first occurrence I was on omeprazole the Mirena IUD and hydrocodone. I am currently on no medication whatsoever and it is happening more intensely now and the after effects cripple me for about 20 minutes while my muscles spasm and my body twitches. It happens during moments of fear, excitement, and anger. It starts at the base of my spine and shoots all the way up to the base of my skull. My back arches and I sometimes even fall forward onto the ground. I’m glad to know I’m not alone out here in this as many docs for evenbelieve it’s real. Please if anyone finds answers as to what causes this symptom, please contact me at ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** posting of private information such as name, phone number or email address is not allowed in order to protect your privacy*** Please read our Terms of Use​

Is one's life in danger during these attacks?

Is the attack life-threatening?