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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