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The Curious Bag
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Barber chair syndrome, also known as L'hermitte's sign, is a sudden sensation that passes from the back of the neck down the spine and feels like an electric shock. It is triggered when the head is moved forward.
Cause
Barber chair syndrome is caused by damage to the nerves, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.
Underlying Conditions
Barber chair syndrome is often a symptom of multiple sclerosis and occurs in 25 percent of MS patients, according to the National Institutes of Health. The sensation can also be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency, disc herniation, cervical spondylosis and Behçet's disease.
Effects
Nerve damage affects how the brain sends messages between the brain and spinal cord, according to The Multiple Sclerosis Trust. The brain may misinterpret the messages as pain when there is no physiological cause for pain.
Treatment
Barber chair syndrome is difficult to treat because of its sudden onset and because it is a symptom and not a disease in itself. However, treatment with weak electromagnetic fields can reduce its incidence in MS patients, the NIH reports.
Origin
L'hermitte's sign is named for French neurologist Jean L'hermitte, who first wrote about the sensation in an article in 1924.
Source:
Multiple Sclerosis Trust: L'hermitte's Sign
National Institutes of Health: Resolution of Lhermitte's Sign
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