ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia is usually defined as pain persisting for more than one month after the onset of the eruption of herpes zoster, although there is a overlap between this and the pain of the acute zoster. Many approaches have been proposed to treat postherpetic neuralgia, however, it remains a source of frustration for both patients and physicians. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine more precisely the relationship between the effects of continuous epidural blockade and the time of treatment on postherpetic neuralgia. METHODS: We analyzed the results of 5 patients with postherpetic neuralgia for whom continuous epidural blockade was performed within 1 month after the onset of postherpetic neuralgia, and compared them with the results of 5 patients for whom continuous epidural blockade was performed after 1 month after the onset of postherpetic neuralgia. RESULTS: Continuous epidural blockade performed within 1 month after the onset of postherpetic neuralgia reduced pain significantly, compared to the results of continuous epidural blockade performed after 1 month after the onset of postherpetic neuralgia. CONCLUSION: Continuous epidural blockade performed within 1 month after the onset of postherpetic neuralgia may be the treatment of choice for the pain.