Concerning the management of pain associated with herpes zoster and of postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

This simple method of achieving substantial pain control in patients with documented herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia has been effective in each of the patients in whom it has been used (the most recent 12 cases have been summarized for this report). It has been more effective than narcotic analgesics, oral anti-inflammatory analgesics, sedatives, tranquilizers, TENS, hypnosis and the wide variety of operative measures we have tried in the past. Although it was initially used pragmatically, there is now a reasonable rationale for its effectiveness that can be proposed based on more recent insights into the anatomy and neurophysiology of cutaneous nociceptors and the neuropharmacology of aspirin. In view of the widely held persuasion that the management of pain syndromes associated with herpes zoster (especially severe postherpetic neuralgia) is an unsatisfactory and frustrating venture, it seemed reasonable to report these more favorable clinical observations.