Electrical shock and neurological side effects.

[bverystrong]

I recieved a shock from 230 volts, it threw me back and into the ground. I went to the emercency room, EKG, chest X-rays came out fine. I do feel like I am in a fog and not thinking as sharp as I used to. This happened yesterday(April 3rd, 2008). Any advise would help. Thank you.

[drgeroulis]

Thanks for your question.

Below is reference to a landmark retrospective study of employees of a national electrical energy company.
The authors reviewed the electrical trauma survival experience of workers between 1970 to 1989 of 100,000 to 120,000 persons. 2080 workers suffered electrical burns. 515 people (25%) had post-injury complications.
These were further subdivided into 63% burn related
amputations in 5%; 18% neuropsychiatric; 12% sensory; 5% orthopedic; and 1% cardiovascular. "Vision related changes due to conjunctivitis, keratitis, and cataracts; auditory sequella, with conductive or sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo; and anosmia. In 59 of the 515 patients, disability was considered serious, with impairment rating from 31% to 100%". Gourbiere E, Corbut JP, Bazin Y. Functional consequence of electrical injury. Annals N Y Acad Sci 1994;720:259-71.

By the way, injuries above were below 1000V.

In another series, it seems that a small percentage of people may end up with benign neurologic symptoms such as ringing in the ears (tinnitus), sometimes minor hearing loss, however, on the whole, do quite well with many having minimal if not, no residual problems. Hope that helps.