I have MS symptoms that occur during and after exercise
Lhermitte’s sign and paresthesia are striking sensations that come with a walk
I’ve been trying to improve my health through lifestyle changes, which I hope will have a positive effect on my multiple sclerosis (MS). In an earlier column, I discussed my struggles to eat a healthy diet. An update: I now eat more fish (not just salmon) and vegetables. I learned how to cook tilapia in my air fryer. Last week I took a bag of homegrown grape tomatoes to work as a snack. These are baby steps, but I’m moving in the right direction.
Now on to exercise. I have two dogs that love to go for walks. I intend to walk them daily, but I’m easily persuaded to skip a day if the weather isn’t great or I’m tired. I’m trying to change that mindset, though, and get daily exercise. Still, I don’t walk fast. I blame some of that on the dogs, as they’re out to find smells more than exercise; we usually walk 1.5-2 miles in about 30-45 minutes.
I’ve noticed two MS symptoms that are associated with my exercise.
A pair of odd sensations
One of those is Lhermitte’s sign, or the “barber chair phenomenon.” I typically experience Lhermitte’s sign only when I’m walking for exercise. This electrical, shocklike sensation occurs when I bend my chin to my neck, and it radiates down my spine and into my arms, hands, legs, and feet. It’s not painful, but rather an odd buzzing sensation.
As a child, I remember touching a lamp in the bathroom with wet hands, getting shocked, and experiencing vibrations in my hand and arm for a few minutes. That’s the only experience I can think of that’s similar to Lhermitte’s sign.
Up to 40% of people with MS get this symptom, which is associated with lesions in the lower brain stem and upper cervical spinal cord. I have lesions in both of those areas. Walking most likely triggers the sensation in me, as my chin is probably bobbing up and down when I move.
Neck movements, fatigue, stress, and heat can trigger Lhermitte’s sign. I don’t understand why heat would worsen it, but the sensation is significantly stronger when I walk in warmer weather. Fortunately, I don’t continue to experience it after my walks.
But once my walk is over and I sit down, I feel as if bugs are crawling on the outer sides of my legs, usually limited to my ankles to midcalf. This sensation comes and goes for about an hour. It’s not painful, but it is annoying; the natural reaction is to scratch, swat, or look at the legs if something seems to be crawling on them. I have to repeatedly tell myself to ignore this sensation and not react to it. That’s easier said than done, especially for those of us who’re scared of spiders!
This symptom, widespread in MS, is called paresthesia — unusual sensations, like pins and needles, crawling bugs, or tickling. It’s likely caused by MS nerve damage. I’m thankful my paresthesia is not associated with pain and is not always present.
Despite these two MS symptoms, I’m committed to improving my daily exercise routine and allowing my dogs to live their best life.
Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
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Comments
Lisa Kandel
I have recently started walking during my lunch break at work. I start out strong, but by the time I'm done, my legs fill like jelly. Very thick and hard to move. Depending on the weather, I feel worse. Heat makes me sick. I have determined that anything 76 degrees and above cause all my MS symptoms to start occurring. Once I cool down, I feel world's better. I do know that my recovery is not as fast as it used to be most times. Stay blessed!
Brian Epstein
I get the same pain. It's peripheral neuropathic pain. I'd wake up in the middle of the night with this feeling. It was so intense, it took me a long time to get back to sleep. Now I take pregabalin before I go to bed which helps immensely. I also often get the feeling in the evenings. I use cannabis for that. It doesn't eliminate it entirely, but it lessens it quite a bit.
Cindy Shoulders
Hi Leigh Anne, my name is Cindy and I was diagnosed with MS 22 years ago. One of the things I’ve learned along the way is the reason symptoms increase when we get hot… Heat causes the nerves to expand a little bit, which in turn aggravates the scars MS has created in our nerves. It doesn’t make it worse, it just aggravates an old wound, so to speak.
If you haven’t already, please read the Wahls Protocol by Dr. Terry Wahls to learn more about food sensitivities that can also increase symptoms, pains & needles. I am in her latest clinical trial and believe strongly in her work.
I do not walk easily in very long stretches, but I do exercise regularly incorporating strength training, stretching, functional training a& cardio. I’ve learned lots of modifications over the years that help me keep going and I firmly believe this is why I’m still doing as well as I am. I’d be happy to chat with you sometime if you’d like for me to share what I do.
Meanwhile, I believe you’re doing great and are on the right path to your personal growth & healing. Keep it up!!
Cindy Shoulders
Ernest Simmons Jr
I have multiple symptoms and a long long history of pain headaches vertigo fatigue and tinnitus, doctors who have examined me have pointed out the the several areas of my back from my cervical spine thoracic spine and lumbar and most recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and I have had cancer in my prostate and treated in 2011 at the VA hospital and they had problems with trying to remove my prostate? I have served in Vietnam 69 and 70 and I have been diagnosed with having Agent Orange in my body, My history of medical issues is very long and it all is helping me to fall back into my PTSD 70% major depressive and anxiety that I know has gotten far far worse making my ability to function so much harder I’m lucky if I’m able to get two hours if any ?
Pam McCullough
Reading your description of what you experience during walks , especially in warm weather, was like reading my own words. I experience Lhermitte’s sign during the walk, and sensations of bugs crawling all over my back, after the walk. I Jazzercise several days a week, and am not bothered by either issues. I live in TX, and love to walk, but the weather here has curtailed that activity.