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What Causes Radiating Pain In Lower Leg When Diagnosed With Ramsay Hunt Syndrome?
Question: I was diagnosed with XXXXXXX Hunt 25 years ago. For several years i did alright( i have an underlying herplex simplex with breakouts usually one spot on my bottom and occ on lips.) I had a second flare up 5years ago and since then have recurring rounds usually every few weeks and it only effects the left side of my body anywhere between head,face,jaw to midsection, or groin area and pain radiates down left leg to feet. Everything I've read re: XXXXXXX Hunt says nothing about recurring cylcles or effecting any other part except the head region. Could something else be causing these symptoms other than the Ramsay?
I went the route of taking valtrex along with prenisone when these occurred but am leary of continuing these drugs long term. What can you advise?
I went the route of taking valtrex along with prenisone when these occurred but am leary of continuing these drugs long term. What can you advise?
Brief Answer:
Post-herpetic neuralgia with lumbar disc disease?
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Madam.
I can understand certainly understand your concern and gone through your query in detail.
The possibility of Postherpetic neuralgia is high in your case.
This can be due to the viral reactivation in the nerves affecting the specific dermatomal segments of the body.
Additionally, it is important to rule out the lumbar disc disease which is causing pain radiation to the lower leg.
For this, I advise you to get an MRI of the lumbar spine.
Further management is based on test results.
Valtrex and Prednisolone are not the appropriate drugs for post-herpetic neuralgia.
Drugs like Gabapentin or Pregabalin will help to control the flares to a large extent.Please check with your physician if he can prescribe these drugs to you.
Let me know in case if you have further queries.
Thank you.
Post-herpetic neuralgia with lumbar disc disease?
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Madam.
I can understand certainly understand your concern and gone through your query in detail.
The possibility of Postherpetic neuralgia is high in your case.
This can be due to the viral reactivation in the nerves affecting the specific dermatomal segments of the body.
Additionally, it is important to rule out the lumbar disc disease which is causing pain radiation to the lower leg.
For this, I advise you to get an MRI of the lumbar spine.
Further management is based on test results.
Valtrex and Prednisolone are not the appropriate drugs for post-herpetic neuralgia.
Drugs like Gabapentin or Pregabalin will help to control the flares to a large extent.Please check with your physician if he can prescribe these drugs to you.
Let me know in case if you have further queries.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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