Hey everyone: Can anyone explain L'hermitte's sign to me?

[maxthecat9196]

I get a strange electrical jolt/buzzing sensation- but only inside my head.  It doesn't run down my spine- so when my doctors ask me about it, I have to say no.  Is this the same thing?  It does only happen when I bend my head downward, but it stays in my head.  It feels like someone has applied one of those thumping back massagers at high speed to the base of my skull.  It only lasts a few seconds.  Is this L'hermitte's sign?

Tammy

[maxthecat9196]

Thanks for the info!  I guess that handles it. These weird little zaps can't be l'hermitte's.  

Tammy

[Red_Star]

"As a result of our findings and discussion, we suggest the following as an extended definition of LS: a transient, short-lasting sensation felt at the back of the neck, lower back or other parts of the body following neck movement, commonly flexion. The sensation is usually electric-like but can be tingling, buzzing or otherwise. It propagates rapidly and disappears on resuming normal posture." - "Reappraisal of Lhermitte's sign in multiple sclerosis" Al-Araji AH, Oger J. From the Multiple Sclerosis Journal - August 2005.

Causes of Lhermitte's sign include:

Multiple Sclerosis
Trauma
Vitamin B12 deficiency (subacute combined degeneration)
Spinal cord compression
Transverse myelitis
Behçet's disease
Disc herniation
Cervical spondylosis
Arnold Chiari malformation
Tumours
Radiation myelopathy
High dose chemotherapy
Discontinuation syndrome associated with certain psychotropic medications such as SSRI's

[maxthecat9196]

Ok, so I've done a bit more research.  Since I am not taking any SSRI's, and am therefore NOT weaning off of them...  I have also been tested for epilepsy, and gratefully I don't have that either.  

It looks like it may not be l'hermitte's sign- unless you guys have heard differently.  (Please tell me...)

Could it be just another of the zaps we get everywhere else?
Tammy