Herpetic pain with complex regional pain syndrome-like symptoms that recovered with limited-duration spinal cord stimulation combined with physical therapy

Abstract

An 83-year-old female patient suffered from herpes zoster in the left arm and developed complex regional pain syndrome-like symptoms, including drug-resistant pain and immobilization of the arm. A dramatic relief of the symptoms was achieved by limited-duration spinal cord stimulation for 1 week combined with physical therapy 40 days after onset, and the patient completely recovered. This clinical course suggests that intensive spinal cord stimulation treatment during the acute phase not only brought about a rapid palliation of pain, but it was also useful to enhance the effects of aggressive physical therapy without blocking any motor nerves.