Feeling Cold Water Drops on Skin and Multiple Sclerosis Link

Strange Skin Sensations Like Cold Drops of Water on the Head and Multiple Sclerosis

Having odd skin sensations can be alarming and frustrating. One of the strangest is feeling cold water dripping or running down parts of your body when nothing is there. Called Lhermittes sign or symptom, it can occur with certain medical conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS).

Understanding Lhermittes Sign

Lhermittes sign involves having transient electric shock-like or tingling sensations running down the back and into the limbs when bending the neck forward. Some describe it as feeling like cold drops of water trickling down the back or head.

These odd sensory disturbances happen because bending the neck places tension on nerve fibers in the cervical spinal cord damaged by inflammatory demyelination from MS. The damaged myelin disrupts proper signaling in the nerves.

Link Between Lhermittes Sign and Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis involves the immune system improperly attacking and damaging myelin in the central nervous system. Myelin provides the insulating protective covering around nerve fibers.

As MS progresses and causes worsening demyelination, nerve signaling slows, becomes disrupted or blocked. This can manifest as strange bodily sensations, numbness, tingling, pain, and other neuropathic symptoms.

Lhermittes phenomenon indicates myelin damage in the cervical spinal cord region likely related to MS inflammatory lesions. One study using MRI imaging found 80% of MS patients with Lhermittes sign had cervical spinal cord lesions.

Other MS-Related Skin Sensation Symptoms

In addition to feeling cold drops of water on the head and back, MS can also cause other unusual skin sensations including:

• Burning sensation
• Itching without a rash
• Pins and needles tingling
• Numbness
• Painful skin hypersensitivity
• Tight skin sensation

Areas most prone to abnormal skin feelings include the extremities, back, torso and face. But they can occur in any part of the body as MS damages myelin in both the brain and spinal cord.

Triggers Causing Sensory MS Symptoms to Flare

Certain triggers can make odd skin sensations temporarily worse in MS patients including:

• Increased body temperature from hot bath, exercise, sun exposure
• Neck position changes
• Muscle tension in shoulders and back
• Stress and fatigue
• ight clothing rubbing on skin

Paying attention to what worsens or improves skin symptoms provides insight into contributing factors. This allows patients to utilize helpful coping treatments.

Treatments Offering Relief for Unpleasant Skin Sensations with MS

While MS has no cure, various treatments can provide relief from uncomfortable skin symptoms like feeling cold water trickling as well as other sensory disturbances the disease causes.

Medications to Calm Nerve Hypersensitivity

Sensations of cold drops on the skin or other areas often come from damaged myelin causing neighboring nerve fibers to become overly sensitive and easily excitable.

Medications that calm nerve activity, also called neuromodulators, can dampen down this hypersensitivity and provide symptom relief. These include anticonvulsants like gabapentin or pregabalin and certain antidepressants like amitriptyline or duloxetine.

Steroid Therapy to Reduce Inflammation

Steroid drugs like prednisone or intravenous methylprednisolone can calm inflammation making MS nerve damage and related sensory symptoms worse. Though not suitable for long-term use due to side effects.

Complementary Treatments Offering Comfort

Complementary therapies like massage, acupuncture, relaxation practices, and hot/cold therapy can also ease the discomfort of MS odd skin sensations and make them more tolerable.

Massage therapy helps relax muscle tension affecting skin nerves. Acupuncture releases natural pain-relieving endorphins. Meditation and guided imagery take focus off the unpleasant sensations. And alternating hot and cold packs can desensitize uncomfortable skin hypersensitivity.

Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Transdermal electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy uses a small battery-powered unit applying adhesive electrodes to the skin that send mild electrical impulses to the nerves.

Gentle electrical stimulation from TENS interferes with pain signals, providing temporary but substantial relief for MS patients from skin pain, burning, and tingling sensations.

Seeking Effective Symptom Relief for Bothersome Skin Sensations with MS

Uncomfortable skin symptoms like feeling cold drops of water rolling down the neck, back and limbs significantly impact quality of life for those with MS.

Thankfully various medications, steroid therapy, complementary treatments, and nerve stimulation modalities can help provide relief from bothersome skin sensations related to MS nerve damage.

Working closely with your neurologist to determine the optimal therapies and lifestyle adjustments to best control your individual MS skin symptoms leads to the greatest improvements in comfort and daily functioning.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.