• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2010

Herpes zoster (HZ) is the secondary manifestation of an earlier infection with the varicella-zoster virus in one or more dermatomes. As reactivation of the virus is linked to an age-related diminished virus-specific and cell-mediated immunity, HZ develops mainly in elderly people. Acute zoster is painful, but does not incur lasting morbidity. Reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in the trigeminal nerve (Herpes zoster) occur with severe pain and rash in the oro-facial region. The acute pain decreases as the rash begins to heal. Postherpetic neuralgia(PHN), the most frequent complication of herpes zoster, is usually defined as pain in the involved dermatome that is still present 3 month after rash onset. The clinical characteristics of PHN are, eposodic stabbing pain, burning pain and allodynia, with hypoesthesia and/or dysesthesia. $Neurometer^{(R)}$(neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold: sNCT, Automated current perception threshold: CPT, neurotron incorporated. Baltimore, Maryland. 21209 U.S.A.) is convenient, rapid and noninvasive, and allows objective assessment of sensory disturbance. This case is about the postherptic neuralgia patient assessed with $Neurometer^{(R)}$. From this case, we reviewed the pathophysiology and the treatment of PHN and recommend the assessment of pain intensity with $Neurometer^{(R)}$ as quantitative and objective method.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.327-333
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• 2021

Zoster-associated pain (ZAP) in patients with herpes zoster (HZ) may persist for a long time, occurring even years after the rash has healed. In this case, the patient is diagnosed as having postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Prodromal symptoms can present with constant or intermittent pain, and are often accompanied by other symptoms, resulting in misdiagnosis and/or inappropriate treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the prodromal symptoms of ZAP through a multicenter study in Korea.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.353-374
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• 2008

The descriptive epidemiology of specific neuropathic pain disorders has not been well-des-cribed, although the burden of neuropathic pain is well recognized. The true incidence of neuro-pathic pain disorder is unknown, but it is believed to be under diagnosed and treated inade-quately, despite the development of various diagnostic system. The purpose of this study was to report the epidemiology of specific neuropathic pain as managed by all kinds of hospital in Korea. A descriptive analysis of the epidemiology of prevalent trigeminal neuralgia(TN)(n-=77,053 27,6%), atypical facial pain(AFP)(n=12,382 4.4%), glossopharyngeal neuralgia(GN)-(n=1,319 0.5%), post-herpetic neuralgia(PHN)-(n=84,598 30.3%), diabetic neuropathy(DN)-(n=85,989 30.8%), atypical odontalgia(AO)-(n=16,001 5.7%) and glossodynia(GD)(n=2,133 0.8%) and treatment departments and treatment durations from computerized Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service(HIRA) of Korea: January 2003 to December 2005, are reported with rates increasing over time for PHN and DN and decreasing for the other neuropathic pain disorders. Most patients were treated at private clinic record for 57.6-72.8% of patients except OA for 10.3%. The percentage of Dept of dentistry for outpatients was 3.2% for TN, 34.7% for AO and 15.4% for GD. Other neuropathic pain patients visited nearly medical clinic.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 1990

There are several methods for the treatment of herpetic neuralgia, but there is no method that results in complete remission. The laser has lately come into use to reduce several acute or chronic pains. Twenty six patients who suffered from herpetic neuralgia were treated with Ne-Ne and Ga Al AS lasers simultaneously 2 or 3 times per week. In order to determine the degree of pain relief, we used the visual analogue scale. The results were as follows. 1) Low level laser therapy (LLLT) was a non-invasive, simple method. 2) The improvement rate after 15 irrradiations of laser was 63%. 3) The Highest improvement rate (24%) was shown after one irradiation of laser. 4) Only one patient above age 60 (3.8%) developed postherpetic neuralgia. 5) There was no significant difference effects of LLLT between above and below the age of 60. 6) There was no complication during or after irradiation of laser.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 1990

Fifty-one cases of acute herpes zoster infection were analyzed to search for the most effective management strategy of the disease, including pain relief and decreasing the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia. Anti-viral treatment was not included. Analgesics and nerve blocks, such as stellate ganglion block or epidural block, were helpful. Corticosteroid was administered in most of the cases either systemically or epidurally or both. Epidural administration of local anesthetic in combination with corticosteroid seemed to have certain advantages of excellent pain relief as a result of sympathetic blockade and regional plus systemic anti-inflammatory effects of the steroid, although this was not proved by definite statistical evidence.

• CELLMED
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.76.1-76.3
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• 2024

Objective: To improve patients' postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) symptoms using Ortho-Cellular Nutrition Therapy (OCNT). Methods: A Korean woman in her forties suffering from neuralgia due to herpes zoster was treated with OCNT for approximately six months. Results: After initiating OCNT, the patient gradually experienced reduced neuralgia symptoms in the chest, flank, and back areas. Approximately six months later, she no longer felt discomfort from these symptoms. Conclusion: OCNT can be beneficial in alleviating symptoms of neuralgia in patients suffering from PHN.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.93-105
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• 2008

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.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the treatment pattern of patients with neuropathic pain (NeP) in Korea through computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRAS) over three years' period from 2003 to 2005. The results showed that the numbers of treatment visits were the highest for diabetic neuropathy (DN), followed by postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in order. Top 3 specialties for treatment visits due to NeP conditions were neurology, neurosurgery and anesthesiology. While cost of a treatment visit was higher in anesthesiology and emergency clinics compared to other clinics, there was a tendency to increase costs for visits to clinics of rehabilitation medicine and family medicine over the three years. Cost of dental visits was relatively high for TN, atypical facial pain (AFP) and atypical odontalgia (AO). Surgeries frequently applied to patients with NeP were sympathetic plexus or ganglion block, block of peripheral branch of spinal nerve and cranial nerve or its peripheral branch block. Most common prescribed medication were anticonvulsants, anti-inflammatory analgesics and anti-psychotic drugs while anti-inflammatory analgesics were overwhelmingly frequently prescribed for AO and glossodynia. Based on the results of this study, NeP disorders more relevant to dentists were AO, TN and AFP, TN of which seems to be the most important in terms of patients' number and cost for treatment visits. This indicates that dentists, especially oral medicine specialists should actively participate in management of TN, AO and AFP and share relevant information with patients and community.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 1990

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) causes intractable pain which disturbs sleep and daily life. Numerous drugs and treatment strategies have been introduced for the management of PHN. However, no single regimen has proved to be effective. I analysed 38 patients with PHN. Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant and chlorpromazine were most commonly prescribed. Stellate ganglion blocks for the head and neck pain and epidural blocks for the rest part of the body were most frequently given. Triamcinolone acetate was administered epidurally in most of the cases or by iontophoresis on the affected skin area in two cases. Complications were related to the technique of the nerve block and the side effects of drugs administered. Repeated nerve blocks with tricyclic antidepressant and steroid therapy were thought to be the most effective for the treatment of postherpetic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-58
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• 1990

A case of severe complications following intrathecal administration of 45 ml of hypertonic saline solution for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia was presented. Transient immediate complications included were tachycardia, hypertension, neck stiffness and muscle twitch. Pulmonary edema, paralytic intestinal obstruction, and the cauda equina syndrome including sphincter disorder with atonic urinary bladder developed shortly after the injection. Tenesmus and sensory abnormality around perineum and soles were the longlasting complications.