Articles: neuralgia.
-
Chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve results in persistent mechanical hyperalgesia together with Fos protein expression in the lumbar spinal cord. We have examined the relationship between mechanical hyperalgesia and Fos expression within the lumbar spinal cord on days 14, 35 and 55 after either CCI or sham operation. To determine the role of NMDA receptor mechanisms in the maintenance of hyperalgesia and Fos expression, the NMDA antagonist MK-801 (0.3 mg kg-1 s.c.) was administered daily on days 28 to 34 after operation. ⋯ Fos expression in sham group animals was not inhibited by MK-801 treatment at day 35. These results indicate that Fos expression is maintained by differing mechanisms following nerve injury or sham operation. The functional consequences of Fos expression following nerve injury and sham operation are discussed.
-
To review treatment options for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). ⋯ Early diagnosis and treatment of herpes zoster may offer patients the best chance of preventing the development of PHN. However, if PHN does develop, the patient should seek treatment early for the best chance of pain relief.
-
Reg Anesth Pain Med · Mar 1999
Case ReportsAcute herpetic neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia in the head and neck: response to gabapentin in five cases.
The clinical presentations and pharmacologic management of three patients with acute herpetic neuralgia (AHN) and two patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), confined to the head and neck region, are described. ⋯ In view of the results in these patients, blinded, controlled studies are needed to determine the efficacy of gabapentin for treating AHN and PHN.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIontophoretic vincristine in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.
The effect of iontophoretic administration of vincristine in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) was investigated in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Twenty patients with intercostal or lumbar PHN for more than 6 months that was unresponsive to conventional medical therapy were randomized to receive vincristine 0.01% (n = 11) or saline (n = 9), by iontophoresis over 1 hour daily for 20 days. Demographics and median duration of pain were similar in both groups. ⋯ Moderate or greater pain relief was maintained in 30% of patients with vincristine and 33% of patients with placebo at follow-up on day 90. We conclude that iontophoresed vincristine is no better than iontophoresed saline in the treatment of PHN. The maintained improvement in both groups at 3 months follow-up may reflect the natural history of PHN, or might possibly by related to a beneficial effect of iontophoresis.
-
Anticonvulsant drugs, especially carbamazepine, are the treatment of choice for glossopharyngeal neuralgia. If no clinical response is obtained, surgical treatment, including nerve section or decompression, may be required. ⋯ Response was poor in patients who had undergone surgical nerve decompression. Gabapentin was concluded to be an effective therapeutic option for neuralgia of the IXth cranial nerve before surgery.