Management of Neuropathic Pain and the Physiotherapeutic Rehabilitation of Patients with Chronic Post-Herpetic Neuralgia

Abstract

Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a quite common chronic painful condition occurring as a direct complication of herpes zoster infection. PHN is triggered when the patient is infected with the varicella zoster virus (VZV). Patients with PHN often experience multiple types of pain such as burning pain, paroxysmal pain, aching, hyperalgesia and allodynia over a long period of time. The aim of this review was to evaluate how modern medicine confronts PHN, which types of medications can more efficiently relieve patients’ symptoms, how physical therapy can provide the necessary tools for analgesia and prevention, and what other types of physical rehabilitation can be used to integrate those people back to a more painless and sustainable reality. This review was based on articles found on different online databases such as Google scholar and PubMed using keywords as: post-herpetic neuralgia; medicament; neuropathic pain; physiotherapy; TENS; LLLT; rehabilitation; pain relief. Patients suffering from constant neuropathic pain have the right to live with dignity and rejoice. Different medications can be quite helpful and physical therapy can work as a tool for prevention and management of neuropathic pain.