Abstract
Thirty-nine patients (25 female and 14 male) were treated for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). A linear analog scale from 0-10 was used to score the results (10 represents extreme pain. O represents no pain), A 904 nm low energy infrared laser pulsed at 4000 Hz (Hertz) was used, A laser head containing 10 diodes. emitting a total of 6 mW (milliwatts) per s was placed over the affected area for 20 min. Patients received approximately 7 joules of energy per treatment (five treatments = 1 session). Each treatment had a rest period of 4h before next treatment. Pain was reported for 6 months to 1 year on average. Subjects peak pain level was a mean of 8.54 (median = 9.00). Eighteen of 39 subjects (46.2%) reported the maximum pain level of 10 before treatment. At the end of treatment subjects scored their pain level at a mean of 3.28 (median = 2.00). After treatment 11 of 39 subjects (28.2%) reported a pain level of zero (no pain). One year later subjects rated their pain level at a mean of 2.74 (median = 1.00). Fifteen of 34 subjects (44,1%) reported a pain level of zero. For the sample (N = 39) increasing age is a significant predictor of level of pain from shingles (p < 0.05). For subjects aged 60 years or greater (N = 27). The reported level of PHN pain decreased significantly after treatment (p < 0.05).
