Efficacy of nerve block in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia

Objective To investigate the efficacy of nerve block in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia. Methods Fourteen patients with postherpetic neuralgia were treated with different nerve blocks in accordance with the diseased skin area, four times for one course, except one patient who gave up the treatment. VAS were recorded before the treatment, every time after the treatment and at 1, 4 weeks after the treatment course. The efficacy was assessed and the side effect were observed. Results Compared with pretreatment, VAS was significantly decreased after the treatment course (P<0.05) . Total excellent rates were 84.6% (11/13 cases) , 92.3% (12/13 cases) at different time-points respectively, and the total effective rates were both 100% (13/13 cases) at 1 and 4 weeks after the course. No side effects were found in all patients. Conclusion Nerve block is an effective method to treat the postherpetic neuralgia without side effects. Key words: Nerve block; Neuralgia, postherpetic; Trigeminal ganglion; Paravertebral block