There are symptoms in MS so strange they feel like folklore. One of them is Lhermittes sign — a sudden, electric jolt that shoots down the spine when the neck is bent forward. Often described as a “zing,” a “shock,” or “that weird thing that happens when I look down,” it’s as mystifying as it is maddening.
This post offers no scientific breakdown, just a moment of surreal delight. If your spine has ever zapped you in rebellion, you may just see yourself in the eccentric tale below.
Lhermittes Sign: A Nonsensical Phenomena
Introduction to Verse
For those unfamiliar, Lhermittes sign isn’t a neon warning above a Parisian patisserie — though that would be far more civilised. Instead, it’s a peculiar neurological phenomenon that often shows up in multiple sclerosis.
Bend your neck forward and—zap!—a bolt of electric sensation streaks down your spine and sometimes into your limbs. It’s not constant, not visible, and not particularly cooperative. Like many MS quirks, it has the gall to come and go on a whim.
People who live with Lhermittes sign may develop an instinctive chin tuck, avoiding the forward nod like it’s a trapdoor. Yet amid the spasms, sparks, and strange postures, humour remains a faithful ally. So with that in mind, we offer the following nonsense verse — whimsical, wired, and slightly unhinged.
The Curious Case of Sir Jolt McSpine
Sir Jolt McSpine was a knight of renown,
Who galloped in zigzags all over the town.
He bent at the neck for a ribboned saloon,
And lit up like lightning beneath a full moon.
His armour would clatter, his eyelids would twitch,
His fingers would fumble, his legs would un-itch.
And all of it started — quite simply, in line —
With a nod that triggered Lhermittes sign.
He tried not to look at his shoes or the floor,
But once dropped his spoon and collapsed to the door.
He tried rubber collars, and stilts for his chin,
But sneezed at a duck and got zapped from within.
The barbers refused him, the bishops just stared,
The pigeons all watched him like something impaired.
He’d curtsy to statues, then cry “I’m not fine!”
As the spark shot his spine from Lhermittes sign.
He met with a healer who painted his toes,
And taught him to balance small hats on his nose.
But no matter the hats or the toes or the balm,
The zappage returned with alarming aplomb.
So now Sir McSpine keeps his chin at half-mast,
And sips his hot soup from a siphoning flask.
He’s learnt not to glance at the crumbs on his vest,
For each humble nod is a perilous test.Reflection
Lhermittes sign is one of the more theatrical symptoms in the MS repertoire. Though not dangerous in itself, it can be jarring and uncomfortable — especially when it strikes mid-movement. It’s caused by a temporary disruption in nerve signalling, often due to demyelination in the cervical spine. But technicalities aside, what matters is that those who live with it often have to adapt their movements and posture just to avoid the electric surprise.
And sometimes, as Sir Jolt reminds us, it helps to find a bit of ridiculousness in the sparks.
Hopefully the following link will insulate you:
I often use electrical wiring as an analogy for the nervous system of multiple sclerosis.
Conclusion
From medieval misadventures to the very modern reality of neurological weirdness, Lhermittes sign proves that MS has a flair for the dramatic. Whether you’ve felt the jolt yourself or are simply marvelling at the body’s mischief, this verse is here to say: it’s okay to laugh. And sometimes, nonsense is the best antidote to the unexpected.
For more mischief, metaphors, and metaphorical helmets, do visit Nonsense Verse: Joyful Gems for the Foggy Mind.
For those living with Lhermittes sign, each tilt of the head can feel like a game of neurological roulette. But in the face of unpredictable jolts, a little nonsense goes a long way — turning spinal sparks into poetic absurdity, and proving that even our oddest symptoms deserve a story of their own.
We started this exciting, nonsensical journey from landing page for this section.
