Spinal cord stimulation in postherpetic neuralgia and in acute herpes zoster pain

We studied the effects of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Data of 28 patients were prospectively investigated over a median period of 29 (quartiles 9--39) mo. In addition, four patients with acute herpes zoster (HZ) pain were studied simultaneously. After intractable pain for more than 2 yr, long-term pain relief was achieved in 23 (82%) PHN patients (median, 70 yr) during SCS treatment confirmed by a median decrease from 9 to 1 on the visual analog scale (P < 0.001). In five cases with serious comorbidity, the initial pain alleviation could not be stabilized. Spontaneous improvement was always confirmed or excluded by SCS inactivation tests at quarterly intervals. Eight patients discontinued SCS permanently because of complete pain relief after stimulation periods of 3--66 mo, whereas 2 reestablished SCS because of recrudescence after 2 and 6 mo. Considerable impairments in everyday life, objectified by the pain disability index, were also significantly improved (P < 0.001). In 4 patients with acute HZ pain, SCS was promptly effective and after periods of 2.5 (quartiles 2--3) months the pain had subsided. SCS seems to offer a therapeutic option for pharmacological nonresponders. IMPLICATIONS: In many patients with postherpetic neuralgia and acute herpes zoster pain is not satisfactorily alleviated with pharmacological approaches. We report on 23 of 28 patients with postherpetic neuralgia and 4 of 4 with acute herpes zoster whose chronic pain was improved by electrical spinal cord stimulation.     

A case of acute pain of herpes zoster with preceding immobility of the shoulder

A 62-year-old-man treated for nephrotic syndrome with steroid developed acute pain of herpes zoster after immobility of the shoulder. Steroids might have suppressed the first symptoms of pain. But immobility probably appeared as VZV infection developing to spinal ventral root. Suprascapular nerve block was effective for severe pain of the right arm. Sympathetic nerve contained in suprascapular nerve might have been blocked. Sympathetically maintained pain may occur when primary afferent neurons are excited by inflammation due to VZV infection. Pain was abolished 17 weeks after the onset of rash using blocks three times and amitriptyrin and valproic acid. Immobility was resolved seven months after the onset of rash.     

Relief of pain in acute herpes zoster by nerve blocks and possible prevention of post-herpetic neuralgia

PURPOSE: This report describes two cases of acute herpes zoster (AHZ) treated by nerve block resulting in immediate pain relief and possible prevention of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). CLINICAL FEATURES: Two elderly females with AHZ of cervical dermatomes and severe pain received deep cervical and greater occipital nerve blocks with a local anesthetic, epinephrine and steroid. In both patients, pain resolved immediately and permanently (one year follow-up) after a single treatment.Case #1: A 79-yr-old female with a mechanical mitral valve and anticoagulated with warfarin presented with AHZ of 17 days duration of the right C2, 3, 4 dermatomes and severe pain. A stellate ganglion block was not performed because of anticoagulation. Rather, a deep cervical root block at C3 and a greater occipital nerve block were performed with bupivacaine, epinephrine and methylprednisolone. No adverse events were evident. Case #2: A 73-yr-old female with a history of osteoarthritis and Meniere's disease presented with AHZ of seven days duration of the left C2, 3, 4 dermatomes and severe pain. Deep cervical root blocks at C3 and C4 and a greater occipital nerve block were performed with bupivacaine, epinephrine and methylprednisolone. Side effects of dizziness, hoarseness, hypertension and Horner's syndrome resolved in a few hours. A mild sensation of itching persisted for two weeks. CONCLUSION: This report illustrates the potential of nerve blocks in severe AHZ to treat acute pain and possibly prevent PHN.     

Bladder dysfunction with herpes zoster

Herpes zoster with bladder involvement.is rare. Forty-eight cases including one of our own are reviewed. Bladder symptoms appear when sacral nerve roots are involved. Patients generally have either urinary retention or irritative symptoms. Since pain followed by skin rash usually precedes the development of bladder symptoms, there usually is no diagnostic dilemma. Patients with paralytic symptoms tend to have negative cystoscopic findings, while those with irritative symptoms tend to have mucosal lesions compatible with herpes zoster lesions. The disease is self-limited, and symptomatic management is adequate.     

竖脊肌平面阻滞在急性或亚急性期带状疱疹中的镇痛作用

目的 评价超声引导下竖脊肌平面阻滞在急性期或亚急性期带状疱疹患者中的镇痛作用。
方法 采用前瞻性随机对照双盲法,纳入胸背部带状疱疹患者52例,男25例,女27例,年龄≥50岁,BMI 18～28 kg/m²,ASA Ⅰ—Ⅲ级,随机分为两组：竖脊肌平面阻滞组（E组）和对照组（C组）,每组26例。E组超声引导下竖脊肌平面阻滞注射0.4%罗哌卡因20 ml,C组皮下注射生理盐水2 ml,连续3 d。记录末次治疗后1个月疱疹部位疼痛的发生情况和静息和运动时视觉模拟评分（VAS）、ID-pain量表和McGill疼痛问卷简表（SF-MPQ）评分。记录末次治疗后第4周口服镇痛药物用量及药物相关不良反应的发生情况。
结果 与C组比较,E组末次治疗后1个月疱疹部位疼痛发生率明显降低（P<0.05）,末次治疗后1个月静息时VAS疼痛评分、ID-pain量表评分、SF-MPQ的疼痛总分及情感类评分均明显降低（P<0.05）,末次治疗后第4周羟考酮使用率明显降低（P<0.05）,药物相关不良反应发生率明显降低（P<0.05）。
结论 竖脊肌平面阻滞可明显减轻急性或亚急性期带状疱疹治疗30 d后的疼痛,并减少口服镇痛药物用量和不良反应的发生。     

Severe acute visceral pain from varicella zoster virus

Varicella zoster virus infection often will not present in the characteristic dermatomal distribution of vesicles in patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantation. We cared for a 51-yr-old man with severe abdominal pain after bone marrow transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The diagnosis of varicella zoster was not entertained until he developed a diffuse vesicular rash several days after the onset of pain. We report this case to alert others who may be consulted regarding pain management options for similar oncology patients. IMPLICATIONS: We report a patient with lymphoma, prior bone marrow transplant, and acute visceral pain for whom IV opioids in large doses proved inadequate. An interventional pain management technique was considered until characteristic varicella vesicles appeared over the patient's trunk. We report this case to alert others who treat oncology patients that the diagnosis of visceral zoster should be considered when patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantation present with severe visceral pain.     

Symptomatic herpes zoster and sciatica

Summary The author reports a case of a 44-year-old woman with sciatica due to a herniated lumbar disc complicated by the appearance of a zoster eruption over the same, or nearly the same, dermatome. Among the causative factors that trigger herpes zoster prolapsed intervertebral disc is not usually included.