Treatment Options For Lhermitte's Sign

Lhermitte's sign is a sudden unpleasant sensation that radiates from the top of the neck and down the spine. It is considered to be a neuropathic pain flare up triggered by certain movements of the head and neck. Individuals who have experienced Lhermitte's sign often describe it as an electric shock or a strong vibration. Lhermitte's sign has a strong association with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis because the sensation is caused by nerve cells with no myelin on them. Multiple sclerosis is a disease where the immune system attacks nerve cells and destroys the myelin sheath protecting them. Other causes of Lhermitte's sign include vitamin B12 deficiency, spinal cord compression, transverse myelitis, lupus, disc herniation, and Bechet's disease. Learn about the options available for treating Lhermitte's sign now.

Improve Overall Posture

Improvement of posture refers to the proper alignment of the head in relation to the neck and spine. The poor posture most associated with Lhermitte's sign is the forward head posture that puts the weight of the head in front of the shoulders rather than right above them. This places unnecessary stress and pressure on the cervical spine, which can trigger Lhermitte's sign. Additionally, the muscles responsible for holding up the weight of the head are continuously compensating for the increased pull of gravity on the head from the forward head posture. A hunched upper back can also cause strain on the neck muscles that can trigger the onset of Lhermitte's sign. A physiotherapist who specializes in the areas of stiffness, spasms, spasticity, balance, and correction of posture. can provide techniques and help improve a patient's overall posture.

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Treatments Through Medication

Numerous types of medications may be used to help treat frequent or excessive Lhermitte's sign. If treatments through medication are available to treat the underlying cause of Lhermitte's sign, they will be prescribed first. Anticonvulsants or anti-seizure drugs have been shown to help stand in place of myelin and protect nerves that have little to no myelin sheathing, which inhibits the main trigger of Lhermitte's sign. Muscle relaxing medications can also be prescribed to help reduce the occurrence of the sensation, as they stop spasms of the neck muscles that can induce Lhermitte's sign. In addition, steroid medications may be prescribed as they are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that work the same as the naturally occurring adrenal gland producing anti-stress hormones. Antidepressants, sodium channel blockers, and traditional pain medications may be prescribed as well for Lhermitte's sign due to their pain signal blocking properties.

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