WHAT IS THIS? It's started over the past week. Whenever I put my chin to my chest, it feels like somebody is holding my ankles and giving them an electric shock. The faster I move my chin to my chest, the stronger the sensation.
I've been diagnosed with Lyme Disease and Babesia, and am 23 weeks pregnant.
Posted by minimonkey (Member # 8693) on :
I have no idea how the pregnancy does or doesn't affect this... --- but
What you have sounds like "L'Hermitte's Sign." It is a nerve shock sensation that happens with neck flexion -- it shoots quickly down the neck and into the extremities. I used to have it really badly, but mine affected mainly hands and arms, (which is a more common presentation, I think.)
Just a warning here: It is considered a "hallmark" sign of MS, but LYME can cause it too, several of us here on the board have or have had it -- so don't freak if you look it up and find mainly references to MS.
Mine has mostly gone away with abx.treatment, but still flares up briefly from time to time.
Hope that helps.
Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :
i get the electric shocks in my feet feeling when I am herxing. It has never been related to head position. MS has been ruled out in my case.
i dont have answers just my experience, good luck, trails
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
I've had this a few times with different movements. Usually during yoga, I guess I'm moving my chin at the time.
Interesting to me is that it mentions B-12 deficiency, something a lot of Lymies have. I only had one shock over two years, but I've had it a few times since starting to supplement B-12. Kind of odd.
As far as causes mentione in the article, I had a brain MRI recently. I had to small white matter lesions, but they made no mention of MS, while they did mention Lyme as a potential cause.
I also had a cervial and thoracic spine MRI recently. I do have slight arthritis in my cervical spine, but nothing I was told to worry about and it hasn't worsened over three years.
I know pregnancy can cause restrictions on nerves resulting in Bell's Palsy. I wonder if a similar thing is involved here? I would still suggest contacting your LLMD and your OB/GYN, just in case.
-Aniek
Posted by dontlikeliver (Member # 4749) on :
Yes, that sounds like L'Hermittes. But, DON'T PANIC about that. I did when I had it a few years ago because I googled it and it pointed to MS.
This is before I knew I had Lyme, and I now know that ANY inflammation of spinal chord can cause it, including Lyme.
BTW, I only had it for a short while, and never had it again (the L'hermittes).
DLL
Posted by minimonkey (Member # 8693) on :
Interesting about the b-12 connection. I have been doing b-12 injections on and off for a while now -- WOW do they ever help with nerve pain for me (something I've had for years.) I supplement between injections with sublingual b-12, but it doesn't help as much as the shots. I never considered b-12 until I started researching chronic illnesses.
Of course, the many, many ducks I saw over the years never once mentioned this....
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