• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.136-141
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• 1991

Fifteen patients was analyzed on effect of the management of postherpetic neuralgia by local anesthesia on the special region at pain clinic in Youngnam University Hospital. The results were on follows : 1) The frequency of occurrence of sex and the lesion side were similar in all patients. 2) The age of incidence was between 50 and 70 years old. 3) The most frequent site of lesions was the neck. 4) There was no relationship between age and treatment time. 5) Whole patients was done average 7-10 time local injection.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.242-248
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• 2013

Varicella (chickenpox) is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by primary infection with the varicella zoster virus (VZV). Following the resolution of chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in the dorsal sensory and cranial ganglion for decades. Shingles (herpes zoster [HZ]) is a neurocutaneous disease caused by reactivation of latent VZV and may progress to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is characterized by dermatomal pain persisting for more than 120 days after the onset of HZ rash, or "well-established PHN", which persist for more than 180 days. Vaccination with an attenuated form of VZV activates specific T-cell production, thereby avoiding viral reactivation and development of HZ. It has been demonstrated to reduce the occurrence by approximately 50-70%, the duration of pain of HZ, and the frequency of subsequent PHN in individuals aged ${\geq}50$ years in clinical studies. However, it has not proved efficacious in preventing repeat episodes of HZ and reducing the severity of PHN, nor has its long-term efficacy been demonstrated. The most frequent adverse reactions reported for HZ vaccination were injection site pain and/or swelling and headache. In addition, it should not be administrated to children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised persons or those allergic to neomycin or any component of the vaccine.

• 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 Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2022

Postherpetic neuralgia(PHN) is one of the most common intractable chronic pain syndromes. This review was conducted to investigates the trends in recent clinical studies of PHN in China and to find out the efficacy of Chinese medicine treatment for PHN. Based on CNKI databases, nineteen randomized controlled trials(RCTs) were analyzed. The search focused on the authors, publication year, sample size, age, duration of illness, treatment period, lesion sites, methods, outcome measures, and results of the selected articles. Four studies used herbal medicine. The most frequently used herbs were Angelicae Gigantis Radix(當歸) and Corydalis Tube(玄胡索). Eighteen studies used acupuncture treatment. The most frequently used acupoints were ST36, LR3, LI4. Three studies used moxibustion and 5 studies used cupping treatment. In all nineteen studies, the efficacy of Chinese medicine treatments was confirmed. More varied and scientifically designed clinical studies are required to develop treatments for PHN. The results of current study could be used as guidance for further studies of treatment on PHN.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2021

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of acute herpes zoster. The treatment of PHN remains a challenge for clinical pain management. Despite the effectiveness of anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and lidocaine patches in reducing PHN, many patients still face intractable pain disorders. In this randomized controlled study, we evaluated whether hydromorphone through intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) was effective in relieving PHN. Methods: Patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups, one group received oral pregabalin with IV normal saline, another group received oral pregabalin with additional IV PCA hydromorphone for two weeks. Efficacy was evaluated at 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatments. Results: Two hundred and one patients were followed up for 12 weeks. After treatment, numerical rating scale (NRS) score of patients in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference of NRS scores between the two groups was statistically significant at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. The frequency of breakthrough pain in the hydromorphone group was significantly lower than that in the control group 1 and 4 weeks after treatment. After treatment, the quality of sleep in the hydromorphone group was significantly improved compared with the control group. The most common adverse reactions in the hydromorphone group were dizziness and nausea, with no significant respiratory depression. Conclusions: IV PCA hydromorphone combined with oral pregabalin provides superior pain relief in patients with PHN, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.226-228
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• 2005

Zoster sine herpete (ZSH) is a varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation without a zoster that is difficult to diagnose early after onset. This study examined 12 patients who presented with intercostal neuralgia, had no history of trauma, cutaneous eruption and no scar of a herpes zoster on the lesion. Two patients had a vertebral compression fracture. Two patients had a history of a zoster in the other site. No other suspicious findings were observed. Ten of the twelve patients were checked for the IgG and IgM varicellar zoster virus antibody. All the patients tested positive to the Ig G antibody test and only one patient tested positive to the IgM antibody test. One patient was confirmed to have ZSH and the other patients were suspected of having ZSH. All the patients were treated for postherpetic neuralgia, resulting in a significant decrease in the intercostal neuralgia.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.104-108
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• 2018

Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone, characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a nerve block method that is used for treatment of neuropathic pain in the head, neck and upper extremities, especially trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome. SGB can modulate and stabilize the sympathetic nervous system, which prevents it from overexcitation and improves symptoms of syncope. The authors report a patient who was treated for pain and edema of both upper extremities with SGB, then showed improvement in recurrent syncope followed by chest pain and overall quality of life.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.269-272
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• 1992

We experienced a case of pleural effusion while treating postherpetic neuralgia in a 70 year old male patient. The patient had scar and color change on the skin along the course of the right Th4-5 intercostal nerve, characteristics of healed herpes zoster. The patient also complained of severe pain along the lesion site which made sleeping difficult. He had been treated with; epidural blocks with or without catheterization; epidural or regional corticosteroids; multiple intraspinal and intercostal blocks with local anesthetic; or neurolytic, alcohol, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, etc., for about six months by the time of pleural effusion development. We came to the conclusion that the effusion was due to pleural irritation by multiple intercostal nerve blocks, because it was bloody and developed on the affected right side, although the patient had a history of a certain hepatic pathology and pulmonary tuberculosis which may be a predisposing factor to the effusion.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2009

Background: There have been limited reports on the effectiveness of 5% lidocaine patches (L5Ps) for treating a few types of chronic pain. We utilized L5Ps for chronic pain patients with various diagnoses and who had incompletely responded to their current treatment regimen. This study aimed at describing the results of a retrospective review of an open-label L5P trial to assess L5Ps' effectiveness and safety for treating various chronic pain patients. Methods: The chronic pain patients with pain lasting longer than 6-month duration were offered a 2-week L5P treatment trial. The patients were maintained on their other analgesic regimens. The treatment effect was measured according to the change from the baseline visual analog scale (VAS) to the week 2 VAS. After a 2-week trial, the patients were asked if they perceived pain improvement with L5Ps by using a four-item Pain Relief Scale (1 = a lot of relief, 2 = slight relief, 3 = no change, 4 = worse pain). Results: In the combined patient population (n = 177), 2-week treatment with the L5Ps significantly improved the week 2 VAS (P = 0.000). Significant improvement in the VAS was reported by the chronic pain patients with postherpetic neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, degenerative osteoarthritis at knee joint, and other maladies. A higher proportion of the chronic pain patients reported improving their pain by the L5Ps. Seven patients experienced mild or moderate patch-related adverse events. Conclusions: The L5P provided clinically meaningful pain relief in some refractory chronic pain patients without any severe adverse events.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.103-105
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• 1988

Ramsey Hunt Syndrome occurs when herpes zoster afters the facial nerve. It causes vesicular eruption of the pinna, external auditory meaturs and ear drum, severe otalgia with associated facial paralysis and vertigo. We experienced a case of Ramsey Hunt syndrome and managed it with repeated sympathetic blocks using a stellate ganglion block. We achieved early resolution of the eruption, relief of pain and prevention of postherpetic neuralgia. We concluded that SGB was effective treatment against Ramsey Hunt Syndrome.