LOW ENERGY IPL THERAPY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RECALCITRANT POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA

抄録

Herpes zoster is a common health problem particularly for the elderly. The pain persisting after the zosteriform lesions have resolved is termed post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and is considered a very common and extremely painful, debilitating complication. There are several approaches available to manage PHN, yet persistence of the pain is a very common vexing problem. Light therapy and in particular low-level laser/light therapy (LLLT) is increasingly applied nowadays. It has been suggested that LLLT is possibly beneficial in the management of many different medical conditions, including pain, wound healing and nerve injury. The present study evaluates the application of low incident energy intense pulsed light (IPL) as a possible photobiomodulative approach that can enhance healing and bring relief pain in recalcitrant cases of PHN in elderly patients.