LHermittes agony...

[teddie999]

Hi all

For just over a month now I have been suffering with L'Hermitte's Sign.

Electric shocks, vibrations, numbness/tingling etc etc all on neck flexion. It radiates through different parts of body (no more than a second) - varying from little fingers & trunk (underneath pecs) to inner thighs & inner ankles. I get it on both sides.

Very strange sensation and extremely unique to any else I have ever experienced.

To summarise:

- 32 male caucasian
- X-ray showed mild scoliosis C & L region
- C spine MRI normal
- brain MRI normal
- blood tests all normal (b12 was 1150)
- Neuro confirmed LS symptom but nothing else from physical exam

I have absolutely no other symptoms. This is despite having been reading about MS online for the past month...(!)

I am trying to establish whether this is presenting of MS. I am told:

"If LS persists you have some challenges as early MS dx can be tricky where isolated symptom. Lesions may be too deep to be picked up by regular MRI. FLAIR brain MRI (o gadolinium enhanced ) is most sensitive way to detect lesions."

The neuro said there's nothing he can do for me right now. I should wait to see if it develops. As my LS is through little fingers, trunk, inner thigh and inside right Achilles (strangely) I requested MRIs of thoracic and lumbar spine. The neuro said its not worth it and I should wait.

He also said a spinal tap and evoked potential tests were not worth it either. I seeking a second neuro's opinion.

I was wondering if there were many more out there who's MS presented with LS. I know of one user here already - but the neuro I saw yesterday claimed he'd never seen presenting LS and it was usually a very advanced symptom of MS.

Appreciate any advice.

Ted

[kwarendorf]

I agree 100% with everything Shell said. You should feel good that your doctor is looking for answers, rather than patting you on the head and dismissing you :-)

Kyle

[teddie999]

The LS continues and I have mild sensory spells with dizziness. This goes with sleep (seem to be suffering bizzare fatigue and some insomnia).  

I have experienced mild MS hug too, lasting few days to a week at a time - feels like I can't get full lung of air.

MRI clear last year and overdue the next one. Taking multi, vit d, magnesium and Valium (v eases LS and hug, I've found).

teddie999

[teddie999]

No, the neuro said that he didn't think it warranted treatment at this stage. I was in no real shape to argue with him at the time. I was trying to come to terms with the news of the LP results and just stumbled out of his office in a daze.

Thanks for the link and the comments. I'll look more at treatment at CIS stage.

[teddie999]

Hi all

Thought I'd share an update for the purposes of this thread I started sometime back.

I had the results from the visual evokes test and lumbar puncture.

- Visual evokes were normal.
- Lumbar puncture, much to my surprise & disappointment, showed oligoclonal bands in my CSF.

I've moved from possible MS to probable MS. Neuro's booked me in for MRIs in 6 months and told me to watch out for sensory symptoms.

I do not get a diagnosis until evidenced relapse.

Well doublevision1 - turns out l'hermittes is likely to be presenting of MS afterall......

[teddie999]

I know about the anxiety you mention! I saw another neuro yesterday and he has referred me for lumbar puncture and visual evoked potential tests. If these come back negative then he will be 95% sure that I do not have MS 'at this current time'. Might be time to get the finances/insurances in order just in case...

[teddie999]

Nancy - I have slight scoliosis of both thoraric and lumbar spine which was picked up by Xray. MRI of cervical spine shown slight reduction in lordosis.
The orthopaedic surgeon said LS wasn't directly caused by scoliosis but it may have contributed to it. I cannot recall the exact description but it had something to do with restricting blood flow? (I should try and find out again rather than guess).