Foot drop post varicella zoster virus.
1Physiotherapy Outpatient Department, University Hospitals of Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Derby, UK.
BMJ Case Reports
|December 21, 2018
Summary
Shingles can cause leg weakness and pain, mimicking spinal issues. This case report highlights shingles as an unusual cause of polyradiculopathy, emphasizing the need for broader differential diagnoses in physiotherapy settings.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Physiotherapy
Background:
- Leg pain and weakness are common in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
- Spinal conditions are typical causes of neuropathic pain and motor deficits.
Observation:
- A patient presented with leg pain and weakness, initially suspected to be spinal radiculopathy.
- The presentation was an unusual cause of polyradiculopathy.
Findings:
- The patient's symptoms were ultimately attributed to shingles (herpes zoster).
- Shingles, typically known for skin eruptions and pain, can also manifest as significant motor loss.
Implications:
- Physiotherapists should consider viral infections like shingles in their differential diagnoses for leg weakness.
- This case broadens the understanding of shingles' potential neurological manifestations beyond cutaneous symptoms.
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