What Is Lhermitte’s Sign?
Also known as Lhermitte’s phenomenon, Lhermitte’s sign refers to an electric shock-like feeling that happens on the neck. It may radiate down the spine into other body parts, such as the arms, legs, and trunk. This symptom was first described in 1917 by two French scientists: Charles Chatelin and Pierre Marie. However, it was not until 1924 that another French scientist named Jean Lhermitte made the phenomenon more widely known with his published study. That’s why it was named after him: Lhermitte’s sign. In addition, Jean Lhermitte was the first one to identify that this is an early sign of multiple sclerosis that happens when other diseases affect the spinal cord. [2]
