What is barber chair syndrome?
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.CauseBarber chair syndrome is caused by damage to the nerves, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.Underlying ConditionsBarber 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.EffectsNerve 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.TreatmentBarber chair syndrome is difficult to treat because of its sudden onset and because it is a symptom and not a disease in itself.
