Emergence of pain due to lumbar disc herniation in previously painful lower limbs : report of three cases

Abstract

We report three patients who developed de novo pain in the previously painful lower limbs. One patients had post-stroke central pain, and two had postherpetic neuralgia. Pain on movement, neurological examination, and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine suggested that the pain was caused by lumbar disc herniation. The three patients had a positive straight leg raising test on the painful side after development of the new pain. When aggravation of pain occurs in previously lower painful limbs, lumbar disc herniation should be borne in mind.