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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Sensitive spine
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Sensitive spine
by motheroftwo, Jul 11, 2005 12:00AM
Hi.
I have had als for over 5 yrs now, before i noticed my first symptom stiffness in left ankle, I noticed the below problem.
This is very hard to explain but i will try my best.
For the past 5 yrs my spine seems to be extremely sensitive, when I sleep at night I get a numb tingling spot in the middle of my back (where a bra strap would join)when this happens and I'm laying on my side, it makes my Back arch, as tho someone has touched my back. (like when someone runs their finger down your spine)mine is 1000 times worse. when it first started it would happen more than 20 times during the night, now approx 5 times.
If I'm sitting up and someone touches my spine it also happens, please can you tell me what maybe causing this ? nerve, relfex...
regards motheroftwo
I have had als for over 5 yrs now, before i noticed my first symptom stiffness in left ankle, I noticed the below problem.
This is very hard to explain but i will try my best.
For the past 5 yrs my spine seems to be extremely sensitive, when I sleep at night I get a numb tingling spot in the middle of my back (where a bra strap would join)when this happens and I'm laying on my side, it makes my Back arch, as tho someone has touched my back. (like when someone runs their finger down your spine)mine is 1000 times worse. when it first started it would happen more than 20 times during the night, now approx 5 times.
If I'm sitting up and someone touches my spine it also happens, please can you tell me what maybe causing this ? nerve, relfex...
regards motheroftwo
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, Jul 13, 2005 12:00AM
Sensory symptoms although rare can occur in ALS but to the extent that you desribe, I am not sure I can attribute this to ALS
In that case, there may be alternative explanations. Sometimes an area of sensitivity in that area of the back can be from a pinched nerve root off the thoracic spine - an MRI can evaluate for this. You may be describing Lhermitte's phenomenom - where a stretching of the neck causes an electric shock like sensation down the spine - it is usually due to a spinal lesion for instance an area of demyelination in MS, a compression of the spinal cord etc and is a sign that the spinal cord is irritated by something. This does not tyopically happen in ALS so other causes should be looked for also by MRI, blood test (B12, HTLV, and other causes of a MYELOPATHY)
Good luck
In that case, there may be alternative explanations. Sometimes an area of sensitivity in that area of the back can be from a pinched nerve root off the thoracic spine - an MRI can evaluate for this. You may be describing Lhermitte's phenomenom - where a stretching of the neck causes an electric shock like sensation down the spine - it is usually due to a spinal lesion for instance an area of demyelination in MS, a compression of the spinal cord etc and is a sign that the spinal cord is irritated by something. This does not tyopically happen in ALS so other causes should be looked for also by MRI, blood test (B12, HTLV, and other causes of a MYELOPATHY)
Good luck
Member Comments (2)
by motheroftwo, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
Thank you very much, I will discuss the problem further when i next visit my neuro thanks again.
