I finished treatment Jan. 27 and have been improving until about 10 days ago when I started getting a tingling on my upper left neck to behind my ear and a weird sensation down my spine when I looked down. It did seem to be positional in that repositioning would make it go away. I looked on this site quite a while to find it described and named - l'hermitte's sign. I did some Googling and learned more about it and have seen both the chemo and radiation Drs. who agreed with what I found. It is a side effect that in most cases is supposed to go away eventually. Chemo doc mentioned cisplatin. Radiologist talked about the radiation. I also found an article about a study done on the connection of l'hermitte's sign and IMRT.

Just wondering how many of us have dealt with this and how long it takes to manifest fully before starting to go away. How severe it can become and how long it lasts. It doesn�t seem to bother me except when I�m sitting at my computer at work or relaxing at home.

Ray,
Richard has had this sensation off and on since the treatment ended. In fact, last week we were on a long hike and he kept looking down and was really feeling it. Until I read your post, I didn't know there was a name for it and assumed it was one of the side effects of treatment. Richard's nickname for it is the Zapper. He was also treated with cisplatin and IMRT. Geri

My hematologist called this Sensory/Peripheral Neurapothy. He said it is a form of nerve damage associated with the chemo treatment (Cisplatin) and also caused by tumors, diabetes, and other issues. I've noticed over the past couple of years it seems to be more prevalent with stress or fatigue and seems to shift in areas on me. Sometimes in my hands/feet, when I'm walking or active I feel it in my thighs, and lately I've had bouts with it in my neck and face. My Dr.'s have said that the treatments are sometimes harder on your system than living with the symptoms. I'm ok with the symptoms (At least for now)! I'm breathing!! LOL... Seriously, best wishes to everyone who has to endure the side effects to whatever degree.
Steve

I'll be damned! I have always had problems with my lower back. After my chemo and rads. I just wrote the neck thing up to yet another nerve being pinched. I had no idea. Well! I noticed mine started in Feb. and is still going today. Not as bad, but it's still there. When it first started it was so bad it hurt. Now either it's gotten better or I've gotten use to it. It doesn't hurt quit as bad.
Thanks for asking the question!
Amy

Amy, a pinched nerve was one of my concerns. I found what it was called on this site thanks to Rileymc doing a search for tingling. I then googled it and found out more. I have since noticed that Tizz mentioned it as far back as 2004.

I just hope it goes away. I finished TX in january and thought i would get through this with no long term side effects. I do hope it goes away.

I've also been feeling some neck and shoulder pain this past week and am hoping it was because of my rasslin' with a lawn aerater over about a half an acre last weekend and not some muscle fibrosis starting to manifest. It seems to come and go and move around.

Oh well, sometimes it's two steps forward and three steps back. It's only been six months and i'm usually feeling pretty good.