Korean J Pain.  2013 Jan;26(1):76-79. 10.3344/kjp.2013.26.1.76.

Newly Developed Urinary Retention and Motor Weakness of Lower Extremities in a Postherpetic Neuralgia Patient

• Lee MH
• Song JH
• Lee DI
• Ahn HS
• Park JW
• Cha YD

• KMID: 1779029
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2013.26.1.76

Abstract

During the early stage of postherpetic neuralgia, an epidural block on the affected segment is helpful in controlling pain and preventing progression to a chronic state. The main neurologic complication following an epidural block is cord compression symptom due to an epidural hematoma. When neurologic complications arise from an epidural block for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, it is important to determine whether the complications are due to the procedure or due to the herpes zoster itself. We report a case of a patient who was diagnosed with herpes zoster myelitis during treatment for postherpetic neuralgia. The patient complained of motor weakness in the lower extremities after receiving a thoracic epidural block six times. Although initially, we believed that the complications were due to the epidural block, it was ultimately determined to be from the herpes zoster myelitis.

Keyword

epidural; myelitis; neuralgia; postherpetic

MeSH Terms

Hematoma
Herpes Zoster
Humans
Lower Extremity
Myelitis
Neuralgia
Neuralgia, Postherpetic
Urinary Retention

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) A midsagittal T1-weighted image of the spinal cord. (B) A midsagittal T2-weighted image of the spinal cord. There is no increase in the signal intensity on the spinal cord in T1 and T2 weighted image of the MRI. The MRI showed no signs of hematoma, abscess, or arachnoiditis.

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