• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.249-253
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• 1994

Postherpetic neuralgia is one of the most troublesome disease in pain clinic. Nine patients who suffered from postherpetic neuralgia for 1.5 to 8 month, has been treated with the epidural block for prognostic or therapeutic purpose. Epidural catheter was inserted as close to the involved neural roots as possible, and tip of epidural catheter was confirmed under fluroscopic guide. Epidural neurolysis was performed out intermittent injection of 1~3 ml of 6% phenol in saline and repeated 2~6 times over one or 7 days interval. Two patients reported satisfactory pain relief and 3 patients reported some pain relief. But 4 patients unchanged after phenol block. The overall duration of pain relief was not studied. Validity and safety of epidural phenol block was not confined. Further study will be necessary before application of epidural phenol block to postherpetic neuralgia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.108-111
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• 2011

Herpes zoster as a result of reactivated varicella-zoster virus is characterized by vesicular eruptions on skin and painful neuralgia in the dermatome distribution. Pain during an acute phase of herpes zoster has been associated with a higher risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia. The current therapies for herpes zoster including analgesics and sympathetic nerve block as well as antiviral agents are important to alleviate pain and prevent postherpetic neuralgia. However, in some cases, the pain does not respond well to these treatments. We had a case in which a patient with herpes zoster did not respond to conventional therapy so we attempted to administer intravenous infusion of vitamin C which resulted in an immediate reduction in the pain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.920-928
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• 2023

Objectives: This study reports on the effect of Korean medicine treatment, including Soeumin Bojungikgitang-gagambang, on a patient with postherpetic neuralgia. Methods: The patient received Korean herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture treatment, and acupuncture treatment for 22 days. We assessed changes in symptoms due to the treatment using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form (SF-MPQ), and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scale. We also measured the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) to distinguish neuropathic pain. Results: After treatment, the patient showed decreased NRS, SF-MPQ, and EQ-5D scores. Conclusion: The results indicate that Korean medicine treatment, including Soeumin Bojungikgitang-gagambang, is an effective management of symptoms in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.188-190
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• 1999

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of gabapentin on postherpetic neuralgia. Gabapentin is a known anti-seizure medication, whose cellular mechanism of action is not well understood. Unlike other anticonvulsant, gabapentin has the advantage of a low toxicity and favorable side effect profile. If has been recently recommended for use in treatment of neuropathic pain. Methods: Twelve patients with a diagnosis of postherpetic neuralgia were prescribed gabapentin after failure of routine therapeutic regimens. The dose of gabapentin ranged 300~1800 mg per day, in three divided doses. If initial dose was ineffective and no side effects were noted, the dosages was increased by 300 mg a day in divided doses, to the maximum level for 2 weeks. Patients were evaluated for analgesia using visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score (0; no pain, 10; worst possible pain) and possible side effects. Results: A significant decrease in pain scores with gabapentin were noted. There were several mild side effects such as dizziness, somnolence, dry mouth, constipation and facial edema, without need of special treatment. Conclusions: Gabapentin may be a useful adjunct for treating intractable postherpetic neuralgia with a minimal side effects.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2008

Objective : This study report the effect of traditional medical treatment on postherpetic neuralgia(PHN) 2 cases. Methods : We observed 2 PHN cases diagnosed Ganwoolqiche and prescribed herbal medication (Soyosan-Gagambang & Punsimgieum-Gamibang) for each case. Results : Both cases showed efficient clinical results, especially for the pains. Conclution : In this study, operated traditional medical treatment on PHN cases and could find good progress after treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.169-171
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• 2011

Postherpetic neuralgia is the most frequent complication of herpes zoster. Treatment of this neuropathic pain syndrome is difficult and often disappointing. Although postherpetic neuralgia is generally a self-limited condition, it can last indefinitely. Continuous epidural blockade for patients with acute zoster can shorten the duration of treatment. However, continuous epidural block has some complications such as infection, dural puncture, and total spinal and nerve damages. We report a case of myoclonus during continuous epidural block with ropivacaine, morphine, and ketamine in an acute zoster patient.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.244-247
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• 1996

A 67 year old male with postherpetic neuralgia complained of right anterior chest throbbing pain and also allodynia. We performed thoracic epidural block with 0.25% bupivacaine and 1% lidocaine. Oral carbamazepine and imipramine were also administred concomitantly. One month later, patient complained of fatigue, anorexia, pruritis, jaundice, and dark urine. Liver function test values were significantly elevated then. Therefore we removed the epidural catheter and ceased all medication. Liver function test values decreased rapidly after discontinuation of medication. Hepatitis might have developed as result of drugs administered and could have been prevented if the patient had been monitored with regular clinical laboratory follow up. The purpose of this case report is emphasize the importance of early regular laboratory test to detect any possible side effect that may occur by administration of drugs during treatment of chronic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2015

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a transient disease caused by the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) in spinal or cranial sensory ganglia. It is characterized by a painful rash in the affected dermatome. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most troublesome side effect associated with HZ. However, PHN is often resistant to current analgesic treatments such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids, and topical agents including lidocaine patches and capsaicin cream and can persist for several years. The risk factors for reactivation of HZ include advanced age and compromised cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Early diagnosis and treatment with antiviral agents plus intervention treatments is believed to shorten the duration and severity of acute HZ and reduce the risk of PHN. Prophylactic vaccination against VZV can be the best option to prevent or reduce the incidence of HZ and PHN. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, clinical features, and management of HZ and PHN, as well as the efficacy of the HZ vaccine.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.135-138
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• 1995

We experienced two cases of malignancy diagnosed during the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. One case was a lung cancer and the other case was a pancreatic cancer. Generally, herpes zoster frequently occurred in the patients who have immunosupressive disease, diabetes mellitus, malignancy and tuberculosis, etc. It is necessary to rule out malignancy in the patients who have herpes zoster, especially those patients whth severe eruptive cluster, persisting to the therapy or multifocal pain. So, we must carefully observe and follow up the patients to find out malignancy as well as to diminish the pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2011

Although postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common chronic pain syndrome, the pathophysiology of this disorder is not well known and management is often very difficult. N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists are known to be effective in PHN, and magnesium, a physiological blocker of NMDA receptors, is widely used to treat various chronic pain disorders. Here, we present a case of the PHN refractory to conventional treatment, which was treated successfully with transforaminal epidural injection of magnesium sulphate at the affected dermatome.