Management of postherpetic neuralgia when convential drug therapy is failed or contradicted

MANAGEMENT OF POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA WHEN CONVENTIAL DRUG THERAPY IS FAILED OR CONTRADICTED

 

 Running Title: Alternative treatments for PHN

Irban, Arzu, M.D., D.E.S.A *,  Koran, Serhat M.D.**

*Pain Specialist, Prof. at Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, MedipolUniversity, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Email:airban@medipol.edu.tr  GSM: +90 532 641 73 34. Fax: +90 212 460 70 70.

**Assis. Prof. at Department of Family Medicine, Medipol University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

E.mail: serhat.koran@medipol.com.tr GSM: +90 5058775133.  Fax: +90 212 460 70 70.

 

Abstract:

Here, four cases with postherpetic neuralgia treated with different methods were presented when conventional therapy is failed or contradicted. In cases at the late stages of disease, radiofrequency treatment (pulsed /conventional) was effective as it prevents transmission and spinal modulation of noxious stimulus. In cases at the early stage of disease; virustatic, immunomodulating, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of ozone makes ozone therapy an important alternative to conventional drug treatments. As a conclusion, in case of failure or contradiction of conventional treatment; RFT and ozone therapy should be kept in mindas effective treatment methods.

Key word: Herpes zoster; postherpetic neuralgia; radiofrequency treatment; ozone therapy