Herpes zoster is an infection by the varicella zoster virus in a partly immune compromised person such as old age, cancer, immune deficiency disease. When either the upper lumbar or sacral segments are involved, serious urinary retention caused by central spread of herpes zoster from dorsal root ganglion can occur. The urinary disturbance appears to have been due to motor dysfunction of detrusor muscle, trigone muscle, and internal sphincter. We experienced two cases of zoster affecting different segments of the spinal cord and resulting in urinary retention.