I have tingling sensation in my neck and back which reduce on stretching the neck. Why?

Question

Hello doctor,

About a week ago, I started to notice a fuzzy tingling sensation going down my neck and back when I look down at the floor. If I continue to stretch my head forward and back, I no longer get the sensation down my back and neck, but this sensation will come back after I have not looked down for a while. The closest thing I can find that matches my symptoms is the L’Hermitte sign.

I do not have any other symptoms, my vision is fine, I have no problems with balance or anything else associated with MS (as L’Hermitte is typically found in MS sufferers) but this was the only disease I could find that fit my symptoms best.

Nothing is painful it is just a weird sensation. I have had no accidents or traumas to my neck or anywhere, and I do not take part in any aggressive physical activity. I am otherwise active and healthy, BMI of 26.2. I am a 25-year-old male. Just to mention, I do have a bad back posture if this is contributing?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to our portal.

Your query will be addressed properly and you will be provided with best of the treatment, I assure you that.

Now Coming to your condition, your BMI (26.2) comes in preobese category which could be one of the cause of tingling sensation because weight puts more pressure on your spine and your bad posture may add up to your condition. Do you spent lots of time in front of screen like mobile or laptop? Given your medication history, are you taking it for asthma? Which other medications have you taken for it before? Is it under control?

I can prescribe you proper drugs and exercise, but I have a few questions about your condition that need to be asked. If you can join me for the follow up, or hotline chat, it will help me to analyze you properly and you will be fine with proper guidance.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to our portal.

As we sit continuously in front of the screen, our neck tends to tilt forward or any bad posture unknowingly, and it remains in that position several times, which puts extra stress on our cervical spine.

The neurons from the cervical spine mainly supply our upper limb and shoulder. If it is getting pressed, tingling sensation and pain will follow the corresponding part. Now you do not seem to have that complaint so your nerve roots are definitely not damaged. So you do not have any trouble there. And sometimes, stress on the eyes can also lead to headache and occipital lobe heaviness which is close to cervical spine.

So, I recommend you when you are in front of screen every 15-20 minutes, look for at least six meters away (on wall or anything) and blink your eyes continuously for 20-30 times. It will help you to get relieved of eye stress. And try to place your screen at the level of eyes so you do not have to look down or up. (eyes and screen angle should not be more than 30°).

Now I am recommending you some posture exercises like chin tuck, pec stretch, lying on your back, get on the edge of your bed and keep your neck and head a little hanging from bed now do upward and downward movement of the neck. It will help with any problems of the neck apart from relieving the pain.

One more thing, take A-Z tablets for 90 days, it has Folic acid and vitamin B12 and many other vitamin and minerals which will nourish your damaged cell and also keep your immunity strong. You can continue your asthma medication as prescribed by your doctor.

And yes, regarding L'hermitte sign, it feel like you got an electrical shock that much severe it is. So what you were feeling was definitely not that. Follow all the measures as told. Tell me if it improved after 15 days.