Triple-target regimen for treatment of chronic pain following post herpic neuralgia (CPPHN)‎ : a prospective trial at Jordan University Hospital (JUH)‎ pain unit

Abstract EN

Background : Chronic pain post herpic neuralgia (CPPHN) is one of the most difficult chronic pain problems.

It has been recognized that CPPHN has three components : central, emotional and peripheral.

Several studies have addressed the management of these components individually1-3.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of manging these three components together in the same patient.

Design : A prospective study.

Setting : Jordan University hospital, Department of Anaesthesia, Pain Unit.

Methods : Prospective evaluation of 50 patients with chronic (CPPHN) from March 1990-June 1997.

All patients had pain for more than 6 months upon entry to the study.

All patients were given Tramadol, amitryptaline and steroids for 6 months.

Subcostal block using Ethanol and Lignocaine was used once on day 5.

Pain assessment was performed according to visual analogue sequar (VAS).

Result : Complete cure was achieved in 70% of the patients at the end of 6 months therapy, mild tolerable pain continued in 10 %, moderate to severe untolerable in 20 %.

Conclusion : Combined management for the three components of (CPPHN) by using drugs and local block appear to improve the outcome of these patients