Causes of sciatica: any common factors with herpes zoster?
Having suffered in the last three months from sciatica, then herpes
zoster (shingles) for the second time – fortunately overlapping and not
entirely concurrent - it was helpful to read Clinical Reviews [1] [2] on
both these conditions in recent issues of the BMJ. No specific label had
been attached to my severe hip and leg pain, in spite of a collaborative
effort by osteopath, GP, radiologist at local hospital, and patient. At
the time, before I went down with shingles, I did tentatively suggest some
kind of infection as a possible cause of my hip and leg pain. So I have
been interested to read the clinical reviews and the rapid responses that
have suggested that cause and diagnosis of `sciatica` is not a simple
matter, that imaging may be indicated “if there are indications that the
sciatica may be caused by underlying disease (infections, malignancies)
rather than disc herniation”, and that more research is needed.
A recent rapid response [3] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/334/7605/1211#169502 to the Clinical
Review on herpes zoster suggested use of vitamin B12 for this condition. I
idly wondered whether my recent craving for Marmite might be significant?
It is also interesting to speculate, or even to seriously consider, if
there might be any possible connection between the two episodes,
implicating an infectious (viral) cause(s) for both. Could there be a
common causal factor?
References:
[1] David W. Wareham, Judith Breuer. Herpes zoster. Clinical Review.
BMJ 2007; 334:1211-1215
[2] B.W.Koes, M.W. van Tulder, W.C.Peul. Diagnosis and treatment of
sciatica. BMJ 2007 334:1313-1317
Rapid Response:
Causes of sciatica: any common factors with herpes zoster?
Having suffered in the last three months from sciatica, then herpes
zoster (shingles) for the second time – fortunately overlapping and not
entirely concurrent - it was helpful to read Clinical Reviews [1] [2] on
both these conditions in recent issues of the BMJ. No specific label had
been attached to my severe hip and leg pain, in spite of a collaborative
effort by osteopath, GP, radiologist at local hospital, and patient. At
the time, before I went down with shingles, I did tentatively suggest some
kind of infection as a possible cause of my hip and leg pain. So I have
been interested to read the clinical reviews and the rapid responses that
have suggested that cause and diagnosis of `sciatica` is not a simple
matter, that imaging may be indicated “if there are indications that the
sciatica may be caused by underlying disease (infections, malignancies)
rather than disc herniation”, and that more research is needed.
A recent rapid response [3]
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/334/7605/1211#169502 to the Clinical
Review on herpes zoster suggested use of vitamin B12 for this condition. I
idly wondered whether my recent craving for Marmite might be significant?
It is also interesting to speculate, or even to seriously consider, if
there might be any possible connection between the two episodes,
implicating an infectious (viral) cause(s) for both. Could there be a
common causal factor?
References:
[1] David W. Wareham, Judith Breuer. Herpes zoster. Clinical Review.
BMJ 2007; 334:1211-1215
[2] B.W.Koes, M.W. van Tulder, W.C.Peul. Diagnosis and treatment of
sciatica. BMJ 2007 334:1313-1317
[3] George Y. Caldwell. Liver extract and cyanocobalamin in treating
herpes zoster. Bmj.com rapid response 26th June 2007
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/334/7605/1211#169502
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests