L'Hermittes triggers

[amas]

Many of you probably won't know me since it's been a while and I didn't post often but I'd like to know how others experience the L'hermittes sensation.

I've dealt with L'hermittes off and on for years now but these last three weeks it's been constant and this last week it's been a big  problem.  I am getting this sensation down my left leg without having to move my head.  I can be sitting and rotate my ankle and I'll get it, or tense up and it will happen, while walking without "noticable" movement of my head, while in bed moving my legs, etc.  It's pretty constant.  Anyone else get it this easily?

I've understood that this symptom originates from cervical lesions, which I do have, but am curious if can also be caused by a lesion elsewhere, say in the thoracic area. Also, I'm curious if anyone has the problem of arms falling asleep a lot when laying down.  This happens to me in certain positions and I think it is because of the cervical lesions.  Any thoughts?
Thanks!

[jensequitur]

I have a couple of lesions in my thoracic spine - one long diffuse one around the braline, which makes my back feel really weird if I press on it (like with the toilet tank) and one at T11, which causes my leg weakness.  I also have numbness in areas from my feet to my hips.  There's a great post by Quix that she just put up about the lumbar area and lesions in the spine - check it out.

[amas]

Quix I was starting to think that it must be a thoracic lesion. They had looked for a lesion on my thoracic spine but were unable to find one over a year and a half ago. My doctor says I still  have one because of the  symptoms I deal with.  In fact, the first week when the "true" Lhermittes started my numbness came on so strong traveling up from my feet to my hips.  I had never had it that bad so I knew something was up and I believe that it is also coming from my thoracic lesion? Thanks for the info.  

As for the Tegretol, anyone know if it's just for pain because the intensity lessened since the Lhermittes has slowed down some. I rather not take another medication.  For now I can live with the shock feeling coming from walking.

[Nancy T]

Thanks for that explanation, Quix.

I have had Lhermitte's-type sensations with certain movements other than bending the head. (Although I certainly get Lhermitte's with head-bending, too.)

At one point I was getting an electric buzz in my knee when bending my head. But one day during that episode, I would get the same buzz in the same place just when taking a deep breath.

At other times, I could get Lhermitte's buzzing in my fingertip(s) from simply turning my head (not bending).

Early on, I would get a funny sensation in my tailbone when bending slightly forward at the waist.

So even if the term "Lhermitte's" is reserved for paresthesias when bending the head, there certainly seems to be a "companion" phenomenon of certain other movements causing some irritation of the spinal cord and thus paresthesias. Does that make sense?

I remember some other people complaining of shocks (down the back?) when walking or going over bumps on a bicycle.

So, amas, I don't think what you're experiencing is unheard of! I hope it gets better for you.

Nancy (not diagnosed with anything)

[Quixotic1]

By definition L'Hermitte's requires the bending of the neck to occur.  So what you are having is a different paresthesia that does not require irritation of the lesion in the neck to occur.  The shock sensation is a good clue that this is due to a lesion in the spinal cord, but you are not describing a real L'Hermitte's except for the part that is elicited by flexion of the neck.

It is quite possible to have lesions in the thoracic spine that act as you describe, but these will not be affected by flexion of the neck.  The thoracic spinal cord is not "bent" during movements of the neck.

I was put on Tegretol for my Trigeminal Neuralgia and it was WONDERFUL!!!  I hope you have the same experience.

Quix

[starryeyes1]

I get the shock/buzzy feeling sometimes when I look down. It usually affects my lower legs and feet. It feels like a zinger. It doesn't happen all the time. I have had this since the beginning symptoms usually after being stressed or walking a while.

I have a lesion on the pons, which is what causes my being off balance. I was told back when I first got the MRI that there weren't any lesions on my spine. ??

Kristi

[figuerpa]

Amas,

I get it when I move my head down, it use to be only when I bent my head all the way down but now it is the slightest movement down and I get the shock down my left leg, over the last week it has started in my right leg as well just not as bad as my left leg.

My arms always fall asleep especiall my left one and my leg too. I have had it fall asleep while driving but luckily it is my left leg so it isn't that big a deal. Also my left hand and arm fall asleep if I use it to much, like with typing, but not sure if that is related to any of this or if it is just carpel tunnel or something.

I hope you get over this soon.

My best wishes

Paula

[Lulu54]

Hi amas, as you remembered we are a very good place to pop in and out of as you have a need.  I have no experience with Tegretol, but I'm thinking several other people here have used it.  hopefully one of them will see this and give you some input.

welcome back!
Lulu

[amas]

Yes it's hard to keep still and avoid moving a cetain way when your running around after kids.  I have three myself and unfortunately this past week when it really kicked in, my kids started school. No time to baby myself.

I called my neuro last Friday and he prescribed a generic medication of Tegretol for the pain.  I wasn't able to fill it until Monday and now the pain has calmed down so I haven't taken it. It figures, I suffer for 3 weeks, finally decide to call my dr. and do something about it and then it tapers somewhat.

The pain isn't so often now, only when I bend my neck but I am still getting the shock sensation pretty much everytime I take a step or even stand for a few minutes.  It's as though I have a lingering shock sensation that just doesn't leave. Very uncomfortable. I believe the medication was for the pain and not necessarily for the shock itself.  It's a seizure medication that I would have to bring up the dose slowly and wean off of slowly afterwards. So I don't want to start it until I'm able to verify if it will benefit me or not. Maybe someone has taken this medication before and can let me know.

Thanks

[lovemy6monkeys]

I seem to get it mostly if I get overheated. Luckily, mine isn't painful, just a buzzing/chills feeling from my neck & shoulders down my back. It fades by the time it reaches my lower back. As far as I know, I have no real lesions, though with my symptoms my neuro suspects lesions in my brain stem area and my dorsal column.

~Jess

[VictoriaDouglas83]

I get it when I look down.  It doesn't even have to be all the way down.  If I just slightly put my neck down, I get an electrical shock down my spine into my left leg.  I try not to move me head that way a lot, but it's kind of hard with two young kids running around.

It hurts, and when it happens I have to take a minute or two to settle down.

My arm and leg (left side) fall asleep often.  When I'm laying down, sitting or standing.  I've had it even when I was driving and it kind of scared me a bit.

I just had a MRI last night of my brain and cervical spine.  I don't know what it showed yet, but my neuro said that usually the lhermittes originates from cervical lesions.

Good luck!!

Victoria