This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I noticed it for the first time when I was running on Monday. Now whenever I run if I put my head down too quickly my legs shoot with a tingling sensation that also seems to tire them out. I've continued running since if I don't tilt my head quickly nothing happens and even if I do I don't get dizzy or lightheaded or anything, just the odd sensation. The effect goes away after I'm done with my run no matter how I move my head. Sorry I post so many questions and don't have much to add, I'm just not all that familiar with anything yet.

Matt,

I beleive you are experiencing L'hermittes Sign. You can find a lot of information on this, and it seems to be somewhat common. I had this as well, but it has since gone away.

Brock

Thanks. I looked some stuff up about it and that sounds exactly like what I'm getting. It does go away sometimes then?

yep, it's an indicator of a neck lesion. i had one, it's a lot better now, but not perfect. no l'hermitte's any more, but i know the old cord is not 100% either. you could try taking some b12, i.e. 1000mcg sublingual methylcobalamin, (or hydroxycobalamin) and a b-100 complex too. might do some good!

Yes, in my case it did in fact go away. It started mildly with a light tingle in the middle of my back, then it progressed to a decent jolt down my right leg (of course only when I would touch my chin to my chest, that type of movement of the neck). It is completely gone now. I have no residual issues from that.

Brock

Hey Matt

I have had ms for nearly 9 yrs now, and L'Hermittes was my main presenting symptom. I had it on and off for many years (along with other stuff), and yes, it often goes away. Unfortunately, I have had it permanently for the past year (since a couple bad relapses in 2006), along with many other worsening issues (not relevent here).
It can present as tingling/pins and needles or electric shocks down your back to your legs/feet or arms/hands, on either side or both, when flexing the neck - bending your head forward. Sometimes slight movement can provoke it, and sometimes it takes serious flexion - really depends on where in the c-spine the lesion is and how far it extends.

In ms it is caused by a lesion or inflammation in the c-spine (but it can be caused by other things, like cervical spondylosis, disc degeneration etc).
If you do have a c-spine lesion, you may find that the tingling disappears as the inflammation subsides - this is usually what happens, and if you don't get other lesions in those areas, you may never have the tingling again!
Best of luck, keep running, and I hope you do well.

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Al

My girlfriend has had it for approx. 1 month, then it suddenly disappeared in 2 days, 1 month ago. It comes back sometimes in a very mild way when she puts her head back very quickly, but it seems to be less and less frequent.