10 Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
Symptom #9: Lhermitte’s Sign
Lhermitte’s sign or phenomenon is also known as the barber chair phenomenon where the affected individual experiences an uncomfortable electrical sensation that runs down the back into the limbs. Lhermitte’s sign is positive when the electrical sensation occurs with neck flexion while Lhermitte’s phenomenon is positive when the sensation occurs with neck extension. It indicates that there is a lesion or compression of the spinal cord in the upper cervical region or lower brainstem.
It is often considered a classical finding among patients with multiple sclerosis but can also be observed in conditions such as transverse myelitis, radiation myelopathy, vitamin B12 deficiency, and many more.
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