Abstract

Identifying the etiology of peripheral neuropathy can be difficult due to the wide variety of possible causes for this symptom. A detailed patient history and physical exam is vital to discover the correct diagnosis and avoid unnecessary treatment. This case report examines a 61-year-old female who presented with a two-week history of increasing paresthesia, paresis and decreased sensation of the feet and hands. She had undergone surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis shortly after her symptom onset. Further details from her history and physical exam suggested a possible GBS, which was later confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. We suggest that a more thorough assessment at her initial presentation could have prevented her from receiving spinal surgery; allowing her to receive earlier treatment for GBS.