Hi, have posted seperately about a suspected bout of Optic Neuritis before Christmas. It’s the first time anyone has ever mentioned MS to me but have had a history of mild neuro type symptoms over the last 4-5 years, which have mainly been dismissed as viral/anxiety. Anyhow, wanted to ask about L’Hermittes. On Monday, and again today, I have had several instances of sudden, short lived, repeated and (to me at least) severely painful electric shock sensations in my left leg (same side as my bad eye). They run from the groin area of my left leg all the way down the inside front into my foot, and they literally feel like I am being tasered. Each “surge” lasts the length of time it takes to “run” from hip to toe - maybe a second, but they come in bursts - ie once it triggers it happens several times in a row. I have googled and the only answers I can find is Sciatica (but this seems to be at the back of the leg) or L’Hermittes. And to my dismay L’Hermittes seems to be also strongly associated with MS. They have occurred at various times, when brushing teeth, when doing paperwork and when leaning into fridge, driving. Etc. so I can’t find a common denominator from the point of view of the joint, but wondered if maybe I am triggering it by leaning my head down as the info about L’Hermites suggests? But I can’t “make” it happen by putting my chin to my chest, so it is quite random. So the reason I am posting is to ask - 1) does this sound like L’Hermittes? 2) I am waiting for more tests about my eye, and I know the ophthalmologist has written to GP to recommend she “considers” a neurologist referral. So should. I wait for that or does this warrant booking a GP appointment? I feel a bit silly doing so because it’s so intermittent, but have to be honest, my gut tells me this symptom is very wrong and not a normal ache/pain. Thanks Leah 
hI Leah,
It does sound like L’Hermittes but many strange symptoms occur in Neurology.
G
L’Hermitte’s sign describes electrical buzzing sensations in the limbs and body brought on by movement of the neck. These sensations are known as paraesthesia and include tingling, buzzing, electrical shocks, partial numbness and sharp pains. L’Hermitte’s is most often triggered by lowering the head so that the chin touches the chest. The sensations usually only last for a second or two. It has been called the “barber shop” symptom because it is often evoked when the hairdresser asks you to lower your head when he or she shaves the back of your neck.
L’Hermitte’s is associated with a number of conditions including arthritis, cervical spondylosis, disc compression, pernicious anaemia, tumours and multiple sclerosis. In many cases, the cause cannot be found.
Because the cervical spinal cord is a frequent target for multiple sclerosis it is a very common symptom of MS. Aproximately two thirds of people with multiple sclerosis experience L’Hermitte’s symptom at some point during the course of their disease.
In MS, L’Hermitte’s is an indicator of lesions in the cervical spine (the part of spine in the neck). Movement of the neck causes the damaged nerves (the demyelinated neurons) to be stretched and send erroneous signals. The symptoms can occur anywhere below the neck and many people with MS find that it moves around their body from one day to the next.
Thanks G - actually that was one of the pages I found when I googled. Do you think it is worth speaking to the GP about?
Hi, I’ve never found L’Hermittes painful, it was more like an intense buzzing. When I did have it It always occured when I lowered my neck. It was caused by several lesions in my cervical spine. Definitely mention it to your GP, as it will be recorded on your notes and will warrant a neuro referral. When I did have this symptom, it was only when my head was lowered, and didnt happen in ‘bursts’ as you mentioned. As soon as I lifted my head, it was gone.
I get it in my foot and knee. It is not painful…a little unsettling but i think of it like a mobile phone vibrating. When it is in my foot it can be on all day.
Hi thanks for your replies - so maybe not L’Hermittes at all then? I can’t be sure it is bent head that starts it because it doesn’t happen when I try and make it happen, so I can perhaps breathe a sigh of relief! though it is still happening, and I wonder if having my head bent does trigger it? I was woken this morning with it, and I noticed my head was bent forward at the time…I decided to call the docs and make an appointment anyway, so am booked in on Monday morning. Thanks, bodies are weird aren’t they! Lol Leah
It does sound like L’Hermittes. I have read a few different pages on it which says its like an electric shock. I havent yet been diagnosed with MS but I do have arthritis and back pain (could be that). It is extremely painful to me and thankfully very quick!
you can say that again Lelole
Hi Mac - mine certainly is
Weird it only posted half of my post - Hi mummy3 thanks for your reply, so you have the electric shocks too? I must admit that mine are very intense and painful but also very brief and intermittent which is good! I do have a stiff neck and back at the moment (not arthritis) so maybe something to do with that - if the doc doesn’t suggest otherwise I’ll book in to see the chiropractor. Hope it passes for you soon
Thanks leole. Yes I get them too. They seem to come out of nowhere and makes me catch my breath. I couldnt say how often they happen but they do happen. I know exactly what you mean. It really doesnt feel like an electric shock!
Thanks mummy3 - docs later this morning so I’ll let you know what he/she says. Haven’t had any at all since Saturday morning, so fingers crossed it’s gone x
I have L’hermittes, for me it causes painless buzzing / vibrations around my tail bone when I lower my head (chin towards chest) - it can move around on occassion, sometimes the toes or thigh … but mostly tail bone.
However, I also get buzzing / vibrations not related to L’hermittes (flexing of neck downwards)… buzzing / vibrations are quite common in MS however.
Hi TPATH, I am not convinced mine is LHermittes but I do think that it is something weird happening because I have never experienced anything like it before or since. Luckily for me it seems it has gone away for the time being… To try and take back a bit of control I have booked in to see an osteopath on Friday to find out if they can help me. I do get weird buzzing and tingling elsewhere too, but it only stays for a day or part of a day and then goes, and doesn’t seem to be triggered by anything in particular (that I have noticed, but perhaps I will pay more attention next time). I had my docs appointment yesterday, and if I am honest I made a pigs ear of it! I mentioned the electric shock thing in amongst explaining all the weird things that went on all that time ago, and got really stressed and upset… Amongst all of the information we talked about it got a bit lost, and she was more focused on gathering information for the neuro referrals letter, so I never found out what she thought it was. Leah
My non L’Hermittes vibrations seem to trigger when my core body temperature is up … bit of excerise etc - or swealtering myself beside the fire!
That’s interesting - I have noticed many times when coming out of the shower a buzzing sensation on my scalp like a vibrating mobile phone. Also have had weird itching prickling sensations on my arms after a shower - not relieved by any cream or antihistamine or even scratch and not any rash or dry skin. Hadn’t associated either with heat, but it’s a possibility…