J Korean Pain Soc.  1990 Dec;3(2):139-143.

Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy on Herpetic Neuralgia

• Moon WB
• Kim HK
• Baik SW
• Kim IS
• Chung KS

Abstract

There are several methods for the treatment of herpetic neuralgia, but there is no method that results in complete remission, The laser has lately come into use to reduce several acute or chronic pains. Twenty six patients who suffered from herpetic neuralgia were treated with Ne-Ne and Ga Al AS lasers simultaneously 2 or 3 times per week. In order to determine the degree of pain relief, we used the visual analogue scale. The results were as follows. 1) Low level laser therapy (LLLT) was a non-invasive, simple method. 2) The improvement rate after 15 irrradiations of laser was 63%. 3) The Highest improvement rate (24%) was shown after one irradiation of laser. 4) Only one patient above age 60 (3.8%) developed postherpetic neuralgia. 5) There was no significant difference effects of LLLT between above and below the age of 60. 6) There was no complication during or after irradiation of laser.

MeSH Terms

Chronic Pain
Humans
Low-Level Light Therapy*
Neuralgia*
Neuralgia, Postherpetic