Thursday, June 04, 2009 Mattie asks

Q: L'hermitte's sign-what does it feel like?

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anybody has experienced L'hermitte's sign, and could describe what it feels like?

Everything I've read says that it is an electric-shock like sensation running down the spine and into the arms and legs. Can it be a tingly, almost-itchy, shivery kind of feeling?Or does it burn? I have sensations that run down my spine and into arms and legs but they feel a bit different from a normal electric shock from static carpet or something. What does it feel like to you?

Thanks for your help!

Mattie

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Answers (2)

Lisa Emrich, Health Guide

6/ 4/09 12:50pm

Hi Mattie,

The one time which I had a very mild L'hermitte's sign it felt like a buzzing in my hands. Not a large shock down the spine or limbs, but an increased buzzing. What it did was increase my already present symptoms which were caused by lesions in my neck. Like you, I'd be curious to know if others feel more subtle symptoms rather than the big electric shocks.

Hollyk

6/ 4/09 4:36pm

This is good to know Lisa, Thank you! Can the buzzing go upwards towards your head?

Token

6/ 6/09 11:11am

This gives me some info. to think about--never knew about L'hermitte's. I did have a "zinging", which I called "lightning" first going from my knee to foot, then from hip all the way down the Outside of my left leg to the foot. This started about 6 weeks after I fell off my scooter. An MRI showed I had a cyst pressing on a nerve & that was the cause. After the cyst was drained, I felt fine. But now it's been 2 months & I'm getting that feeling again.

Mattie

6/10/09 7:13pm

Thanks everone,

It is really helpful to hear of your experiences. I am reasonably new to this forum and it is very reassuring - thank you all for helping me out. It has now been about a week and a half since the "pain" shooting down my back started again and it is getting much less frequent now which is a relief!

I hope you all keep well, thanks again,

Mattie (Mathilda)

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Q: L'hermitte's sign-what does it feel like?

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