Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a pain syndrome characterized by unilateral sharp pain in the sensory distribution of the ninth cranial nerve. The first line of treatment for GPN is medical. However, it usually provides only partial relief. Pulsed radiofrequency has been proposed as safe, nondestructive treatment method. We present two cases of secondary GPN that was managed with pulsed radiofrequency by extraoral approach. The results were satisfactory.
Glossopharyngeal Nerve ; Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases* ; Neuralgia ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment*

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment of nervous tissue has been proposed as a less neurodestructive technique alternative to continuous RF heat lesioning. Recently, clinical reports using PRF have shown favorable effects in the treatment of a variety of focal pain areas, even in non-nervous tissues; however, the mechanism of effect underlying this treatment to non-nervous tissue remains unclear. We report the case of a 67-year-old male who presented with pain reliving point in the posterior neck. The patient had pain in the posterior neck for 3 years. The pain subsided with pressure applied to a point in the posterior neck. There were no specific abnormal findings on laboratory testing and radiologic examinations. After PRF treatment to the pain-relieving point, he had pain relief which lasted more than 5 months.
Aged ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most difficult pain syndromes to treat. Invasive treatments may be considered when patients fail to obtain adequate pain relief from noninvasive treatment approaches. Here, we present three cases of PHN in the mandibular branch treated with ultrasound-assisted mental nerve block and pulsed radiofrequency treatment. None of the patients had adequate pain relief from the medical therapy, so we performed the mental nerve block on the affected side under ultrasound assistance. Two patients showed satisfactory pain relief continuously over 12 months without any further interventions, whereas one patient only had short-term pain relief. For the patient had short-term pain relief we performed pulsed radiofrequency treatment (PRFT) on the left mental nerve under ultrasound assistance. After PRFT, the patient had adequate pain relief for 6 months and there was no need for further management.
Humans ; Nerve Block* ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment* ; Ultrasonography

Pulsed radiofrequency treatment has an analgesic effect by neuromodulation of the central pain pathway without neural injury. However, lack of knowledge regarding the exact mechanism on neuropathic pain makes the use of pulsed radiofrequency treatment controversial. Here, we describe a case of satisfactory pain relief after ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment in a patient with supraorbital herpetic pain refractory to medication. This case indicates the potential of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment in patients with postherpetic supraorbital neuralgia.
Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment* ; Ultrasonography

A 60-year-old man presented with pain on the left cheek and lateral nose. The patient had been diagnosed with facial herpes zoster in the left V2 area 6 months previously. Medical treatment was prescribed for 6 months but it had little effect. We blocked the left infraorbital nerve under ultrasound guidance, but pain relief was short term. Therefore, we performed pulsed radiofrequency treatment on the left infraorbital nerve under ultrasound guidance. Six months after the procedure, the reduction of pain was still maintained, and there was no need for further management.
Cheek ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Nose ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment of nervous tissue has been proposed as a less neurodestructive technique alternative to continuous RF heat lesioning. Recently, clinical reports using PRF have shown favorable effects in the treatment of a variety of focal pain areas, even in non-nervous tissues; however, the mechanism of effect underlying this treatment to non-nervous tissue remains unclear. We report the case of a 67-year-old male who presented with pain reliving point in the posterior neck. The patient had pain in the posterior neck for 3 years. The pain subsided with pressure applied to a point in the posterior neck. There were no specific abnormal findings on laboratory testing and radiologic examinations. After PRF treatment to the pain-relieving point, he had pain relief which lasted more than 5 months.
Aged ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment

Amputation neuroma can cause very serious, intractable pain. Many treatment modalities are suggested for painful neuroma. Pharmacologic treatment shows a limited effect on eliminating the pain, and surgical treatment has a high recurrence rate. We applied pulsed radiofrequency treatment at the neuroma stalk under ultrasonography guidance. The long-term outcome was very successful, prompting us to report this case.
Amputation ; Catheter Ablation* ; Neuroma* ; Pain, Intractable ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography*

Pudendal nerve block (PNB) is performed for differential diagnosis and treatment of chronic pelvic and perineal pain. Several block methods, such as transvaginal, transperineal, computerized tomography-, ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided approach are currently under practice. Compared to others, a fluoroscopy-guided approach has several advantages, such as its relatively low cost, facility and ease of landmark recognition. We depicted a fluoroscopy-guided PNB technique to selectively block and elaborate a pulsed radiofrequency treatment in a 51-year-old man with chronic pelvic and perineal pain. The patient had undergone a ganglion of impar block with a limited pain relief. Thereafter, a PNB was performed and the pain was relieved significantly for 2 weeks. Further PNB with a pulsed radiofrequency treatment reduced the pain for more than 8 weeks. The pain relief sustained up to the time of this report. The fluoroscopy-guided PNB and pulsed radiofrequency treatment allowed simplicity in manipulation and precision in performing the procedures with a favorable outcome.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Fluoroscopy ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pudendal Nerve ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment

Pharmacological management is the first choice for treatment of the trigeminal neuralgia patients; however, if this mode of treatment fails a minimally invasive procedure should be performed. One of the most commonly used procedures is conventional radiofrequency lesioning of the Gasserian ganglion. Despite its popularity and success rate, this technique has disadvantages such as diminished corneal reflex, masseter weakness, numbness and anesthesia dolorosa. As a result, many studies have been conducted in an attempt to find a better method of treating trigeminal neuralgia. We report here a case of a trigeminal neuralgia patient that was treated with pulsed radiofrequency lesioning of the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerve due to pain in the frontal head that was refractory to the pharmacological treatments. Following the procedure, the Visual Analogue Scale score for pain decreased to 1-2/10 and the pain relief persisted for 7 months. These results indicate that pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the peripheral nerve may be useful for trigeminal neuralgia patients that do not respond to pharmacological treatments.
Anesthesia ; Head ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Reflex ; Trigeminal Ganglion ; Trigeminal Neuralgia

We describe a rare case of pulsed radiofrequency treatment for pain relief associated with meralgia paresthetica. A 58-year-old female presented with pain in the left anterior lateral thigh. An imaging study revealed no acute lesions compared with a previous imaging study, and diagnosis of meralgia paresthetica was made. She received temporary pain relief with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks twice. We performed pulsed radiofrequency treatment, and the pain declined to 25% of the maximal pain intensity. At 4 months after the procedure, the pain intensity did not aggravate without medication. Pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation treatment on the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve may offer an effective, low risk treatment in patients with meralgia paresthetica who are refractory to conservative medical treatment.
Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Block ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Thigh