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What Causes Electric Shock Sensations In Leg Post Treatment For Herpes?
Question: About two months ago, I believe that I was exposed to herpes. I had a handful of blisters on my penis which scabbed and healed, I had numbness on my penis and around my anus, and I had some tingling sensations on the sole of my left foot. Two doctors on this site reviewed my photos and symptoms and diagnosed herpes.
Now, the blisters, the tingling, and most of the sensitivity loss have gone, but I experience a mild shocking sensation when I lean my head forward. It feels like a very mild electric current running from my upper thigh to my foot. I am told this is called Lhermitte's Sign which is a hallmark of MS. I'm 29 and in reasonably good health. Should I be concerned about MS or is this a fleeting symptom of herpes?
Now, the blisters, the tingling, and most of the sensitivity loss have gone, but I experience a mild shocking sensation when I lean my head forward. It feels like a very mild electric current running from my upper thigh to my foot. I am told this is called Lhermitte's Sign which is a hallmark of MS. I'm 29 and in reasonably good health. Should I be concerned about MS or is this a fleeting symptom of herpes?
Brief Answer:
Probably related to herpes.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Regarding the Lhermitte's sign, if as you describe it the current sensation is located into your limb, then it wouldn't qualify as a Lhermitte sign because it starts into the upper spine first, afterwards running down into the back and limbs. So if the spine is not involved it's not Lhermitte's signs which appears in cervical spinal cord lesions.
So unless there are other symptoms no need to panic about MS. After a herpes eruption it is possible that there are some abnormal sensations during the nerve regeneration process, so if the sensations are on the same limb involved by the herpes eruption it is not unusual. In a young healthy patient with good regeneration abilities they should disappear gradually, if really bothersome some medication like gabapentin for neuropathic pain can be used. It simply alleviates the symptoms though, doesn't affect the natural healing process, so if symptom not very bothersome medication is not really necessary.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Probably related to herpes.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Regarding the Lhermitte's sign, if as you describe it the current sensation is located into your limb, then it wouldn't qualify as a Lhermitte sign because it starts into the upper spine first, afterwards running down into the back and limbs. So if the spine is not involved it's not Lhermitte's signs which appears in cervical spinal cord lesions.
So unless there are other symptoms no need to panic about MS. After a herpes eruption it is possible that there are some abnormal sensations during the nerve regeneration process, so if the sensations are on the same limb involved by the herpes eruption it is not unusual. In a young healthy patient with good regeneration abilities they should disappear gradually, if really bothersome some medication like gabapentin for neuropathic pain can be used. It simply alleviates the symptoms though, doesn't affect the natural healing process, so if symptom not very bothersome medication is not really necessary.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor,
Thank you for the quick reply. Does the fact that the shocking sensation only occurs when moving my head toward my chest have any significant bearing on your assessment?
Thank you for the quick reply. Does the fact that the shocking sensation only occurs when moving my head toward my chest have any significant bearing on your assessment?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Yes, that is a good question. I noticed that detail in your original query and I did find that a little puzzling I must admit, as herpetic neuralgia at that site shouldn't be related to head movement.
But it doesn't change my opinion regarding Lhermitte's sign though, as I said it is related to cervical cord lesions so should include spine and spreads to all four limbs not only the one involved by cutaneous signs. Your symptom in the meanwhile is pretty far away anatomically speaking, the nerves covering that region exit from the lumbar spinal cord. So it's hard to relate an MS cord lesion (or any other cervical/head conditions) to your issue in the absence of other symptoms.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Yes, that is a good question. I noticed that detail in your original query and I did find that a little puzzling I must admit, as herpetic neuralgia at that site shouldn't be related to head movement.
But it doesn't change my opinion regarding Lhermitte's sign though, as I said it is related to cervical cord lesions so should include spine and spreads to all four limbs not only the one involved by cutaneous signs. Your symptom in the meanwhile is pretty far away anatomically speaking, the nerves covering that region exit from the lumbar spinal cord. So it's hard to relate an MS cord lesion (or any other cervical/head conditions) to your issue in the absence of other symptoms.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Okay. That relieves some anxiety and thank you . What would be some other symptoms of MS?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Glad to have been of help.
As the term "multiple" in its name suggests MS can have different manifestations according to where new lesions appear. You would have to consider whether you might have had any manifestation in the past as well, as usually it is in the form of bouts, called relapses, which do improve afterwards over several weeks and one might have dismissed them as not important.
Some of the most common possible manifestations are: blurring of vision (on usually one eye), double vision, weakness of the limbs, numbness, tingling or other abnormal sensations, loss of balance with gait difficulty, difficulty with coordination, urinary retention or incontinence.
Now you might ask why couldn't the electrical current sensation count as a relapse with sensations signs which is a possibility as I do mention. But the fact that it is in that same limb affected by your herpetic lesions (which are not related to MS) makes it unlikely, it would be too much of a coincidence for two different conditions involving the same area.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Glad to have been of help.
As the term "multiple" in its name suggests MS can have different manifestations according to where new lesions appear. You would have to consider whether you might have had any manifestation in the past as well, as usually it is in the form of bouts, called relapses, which do improve afterwards over several weeks and one might have dismissed them as not important.
Some of the most common possible manifestations are: blurring of vision (on usually one eye), double vision, weakness of the limbs, numbness, tingling or other abnormal sensations, loss of balance with gait difficulty, difficulty with coordination, urinary retention or incontinence.
Now you might ask why couldn't the electrical current sensation count as a relapse with sensations signs which is a possibility as I do mention. But the fact that it is in that same limb affected by your herpetic lesions (which are not related to MS) makes it unlikely, it would be too much of a coincidence for two different conditions involving the same area.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much, Dr. Taka. You've been very helpful, and I will use our dialogue as a resource when meeting with my primary care physician tomorrow.
My final query relates to your statement regarding vision problems. I haven't had blurry vision or "black gaps" in my sight, but I have noticed in the past couple of weeks a white "blip" or spot at times. It is a small white dot that flashes randomly, usually when I'm staring at a the television or my iPhone in dark or dimly lit spaces. Does this seem relevant to MS, herpes, or another possible issue?
My final query relates to your statement regarding vision problems. I haven't had blurry vision or "black gaps" in my sight, but I have noticed in the past couple of weeks a white "blip" or spot at times. It is a small white dot that flashes randomly, usually when I'm staring at a the television or my iPhone in dark or dimly lit spaces. Does this seem relevant to MS, herpes, or another possible issue?
Brief Answer:
Not related.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your appreciative words.
That loss/blurring of vision I mentioned is due to damage of the optic nerve, which takes the signal from the eye to the brain. So while some flashing could be present as well, that damage would lead to a constant loss of vision (for some days or weeks at least) not changing in a matter of seconds. So that phenomena shouldn't be related to MS, not to herpes either.
It looks more probable like what is called an Entoptic phenomenon, a normal finding present in many normal people but not always aware of that, related to the white blood cells going through the thin capillaries of the retina.
Not related.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your appreciative words.
That loss/blurring of vision I mentioned is due to damage of the optic nerve, which takes the signal from the eye to the brain. So while some flashing could be present as well, that damage would lead to a constant loss of vision (for some days or weeks at least) not changing in a matter of seconds. So that phenomena shouldn't be related to MS, not to herpes either.
It looks more probable like what is called an Entoptic phenomenon, a normal finding present in many normal people but not always aware of that, related to the white blood cells going through the thin capillaries of the retina.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor,
I visited my primary care physician today, and he believes that my symptoms are most likely due to a pinched nerve. I am scheduled for an x-ray in the near future as well. However, I have read MS patients describe nerve pain/sensation in their legs after flexing their necks without feeling any pain/sensation in their backs/spines. Ultimately, I'd like to know if I should insist on an MRI. Do you think I should?
I visited my primary care physician today, and he believes that my symptoms are most likely due to a pinched nerve. I am scheduled for an x-ray in the near future as well. However, I have read MS patients describe nerve pain/sensation in their legs after flexing their necks without feeling any pain/sensation in their backs/spines. Ultimately, I'd like to know if I should insist on an MRI. Do you think I should?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
If an exam is to be scheduled that would have to be MRI. To be honest I wouldn't expect x-ray to be of much benefit, it would show fractures, dislocations or arthritis changes of your spine which aren't that likely considering your age and lack of any trauma.
I still do not think it to be MS given the relationship in time with your herpetic eruption corresponding to that same limb which would better explain that symptom. I am also supposing the doctor did not find any signs related to MS in his physical exam (change in reflexes, spasticity).
However since this has obviously become a source of worry for you and yes, there is that particular element of neck flexion trigger, a MRI can be done to rule out a neurological lesion.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
If an exam is to be scheduled that would have to be MRI. To be honest I wouldn't expect x-ray to be of much benefit, it would show fractures, dislocations or arthritis changes of your spine which aren't that likely considering your age and lack of any trauma.
I still do not think it to be MS given the relationship in time with your herpetic eruption corresponding to that same limb which would better explain that symptom. I am also supposing the doctor did not find any signs related to MS in his physical exam (change in reflexes, spasticity).
However since this has obviously become a source of worry for you and yes, there is that particular element of neck flexion trigger, a MRI can be done to rule out a neurological lesion.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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