No abstract available.
Neuralgia, Postherpetic*

No abstract available.
Neuralgia, Postherpetic*

No abstract available.
Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Risk Factors*

Numerous treatment modalities for acute or subacute herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia have been introduced. Therefore, we updated the treatment modalities by conducting a wide review of the medical literature and we created a new treatment algorithm for herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia.
Herpes Zoster ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic

BACKGROUND: The lidocaine patch has been effectively used as a first-line therapy to treat neuropathic pain such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the topical piroxicam patch as a treatment option for the treatment of PHN. METHODS: Eighteen patients completed a 3-session study, applying three different patches (lidocaine, piroxicam and control) in random order. A maximum of three patches were applied to the most painful area for three consecutive days (12 hours on followed by 12 hours off). Each session was conducted at least seven days apart. The changes in visual analog scale (VAS) scores based pain intensity, quality of sleep and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: When compared to the control, both the lidocaine and piroxicam patches significantly reduced the mean VAS scores of pain intensity of all different types. However, the lidocaine patch was better at reducing allodynia, whereas the piroxicam patch was more effective for dull pain. The lidocaine patch worked faster than the piroxicam patch for the response to overall pain relief. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest the use of the piroxicam patch for dull pain and in patients where the lidocaine patch is contraindicated.
Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Lidocaine ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Piroxicam

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a debilitating complication of herpes zoster, especially in elderly and comorbid patients. Unfortunately, the currently available treatments have shown limited efficacy and some adverse events that are poorly tolerated in elderly patients. Scrambler Therapy, proposed as an alternative treatment for chronic neuropathic pain recently, is a noninvasive approach to relieve pain by changing pain perception at the brain level. Here, we report our clinical experiences on the effect of Scrambler Therapy for three patients with PHN refractory to conventional treatment.
Aged ; Brain ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Pain Perception

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster is a significant and troublesome disease. The pain of acute herpes zoster may be severe, but is usually transitory. Some patients, especially the elderly at particular risk, go on to develop neuralgia. Unfortunately, neuralgia is often severe and refractory to most forms of treatment. The purpose of this study was to estimate improved rates of neuralgia according to associated factors. METHODS: We observed the improved rates of neuralgia in 123 patients who had herpes zoster with severe pain and treated with antiviral therapy after admission. Also, we compared them by age group, dermatomal distribution, and initiating day of antiviral therapy. RESULTS: At 4 weeks of treatment, the improved rates of neuralgia according to age younger group was high and older group was low. The improved rates of neuralgia according to the starting day of treatment was high 100% in 1 day, 76.5% in 2, 65.0% in 3days, and 18.2% in 7 days after skin eruption. CONCLUSION: In herpes zoster with severe pain, age and initiation of antiviral therapy are significant predictors of neuralgia.
Aged ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Skin

Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) is a useful drug for treating neuropathic pain. However, tremors are one of the relatively frequent side effects of TCA. A female patient, who was suffering from postherpetic neuralgia, was treated with amitriptyline starting with 10 mg/day. She developed resting tremors on the second day after increasing the dose to 30 mg/day. This case highlights the need for the careful use of amitriptyline in the treatment of neuropathic pain in elderly patients.
Aged ; Amitriptyline ; Female ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Tremor*

There are several methods for the treatment of herpetic neuralgia, but there is no method that results in complete remission. Laser has lately come into use to reduce several acute or chronic pains. In order to determine the degree of pain relief by lasers, 26 patients of herpetic neuralgia were irradiated with both He-Ne and Ga-Al-As lasers twice to theree times per week and the results were analysed using visual analogue scale. The results were as follows. 1) The improving rate after 15 irradiations of laser was 63% 2)The highest improving rate(24%) was shown after one irradiation of laser(p<0.05). 3) Only one patient above age 60(3.8%) developed postherpetic neuralgia. 4) There was no significant differenc of effects of LLLT between above and below age 60. These results suggest that LLLT is non-invasive and simple method which was effective not only in controlling the herpetic neuralgia but in perventing the postherpetic neuralgia.
Chronic Pain ; Humans ; Low-Level Light Therapy* ; Neuralgia* ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic

There are several methods for the treatment of herpetic neuralgia, but there is no method that results in complete remission. Laser has lately come into use to reduce several acute or chronic pains. In order to determine the degree of pain relief by lasers, 26 patients of herpetic neuralgia were irradiated with both He-Ne and Ga-Al-As lasers twice to theree times per week and the results were analysed using visual analogue scale. The results were as follows. 1) The improving rate after 15 irradiations of laser was 63% 2)The highest improving rate(24%) was shown after one irradiation of laser(p<0.05). 3) Only one patient above age 60(3.8%) developed postherpetic neuralgia. 4) There was no significant differenc of effects of LLLT between above and below age 60. These results suggest that LLLT is non-invasive and simple method which was effective not only in controlling the herpetic neuralgia but in perventing the postherpetic neuralgia.
Chronic Pain ; Humans ; Low-Level Light Therapy* ; Neuralgia* ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic