Hi folks! I'm kinda new here--was on NeuroTalk years ago, but for neuro and dizziness issues. 54-year-old woman, 50 lbs. overweight.

Anyway, I wanted to ask if anyone else gets this:

When I bend over at the waist, after a few seconds I get a distinct cold sensation on the outside of both thighs, whether I straighten up or not.

This now seems to happen several times a day. When it started maybe a couple months ago, it was just on one side, but now it's both thighs.

I do have scoliosis (curve less than 40 degrees) but have NEVER had significant back-pain issues and can bend over pretty easily (I do it all the time in my job as a library clerk).

Another sensory oddity is that when I bend my head down, I often get an electric buzz or "pulling" feeling somewhere in my lower body. This is called Lhermitte's, and it has been going on since 2000 with no explanation. MS has been ruled out by MRI (they cannot test my spinal fluid because they can't get it out, presumably because of my scoliosis!).

I've had lumbar and cervical MRIs and they do show some degeneration but no cord compression or slipped disks or pinched nerves.

My question (besides asking whether anyone else experiences such things):

Can the spinal cord, or the nerves exiting your spine, be affected by spinal degeneration so as to cause SENSORY disturbances even without causing PAIN?

I know that may be a far-out question, but I'd love any responses. I just can't figure this stuff out, and neurologists have quit on me.

Over the past 10 years or so my walking stamina has deteriorated to the point that I can only walk about a block before my hip muscles feel SO strained that I have to stop and rest them a bit before I can continue. (But no hip arthritis.) Walking is a terrible chore anymore, and I'm only 50 lbs overweight so that shouldn't be such a big issue, especially when I used to walk 2 miles fast without stopping, even at the same weight.

So that's why I'm concerned something is going on with my spine that they haven't identified (and aren't interested in trying, grrr).

Any thoughts welcome!! Thank you very much!!

Nancy T.