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Role of low-level laser therapy in post-herpetic neuralgia: a pilot study

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of low-level laser radiation at a wavelength of 650 nm for treating post-herpetic neuralgia, an extremely painful condition which frequently occurs severely in old age and may persist for years with no predictable course. In total, fifteen patients were included in the present study, out of which 8 were females and 7 were males aged between 42 and 82 years. All patients were treated through 16 sessions for 8 weeks, and pain scoring was done on a visual analogue scale and statistical analysis was made for comparison before and after treatments. The final pain score was 0 in 11 patients although their initial pain score was severe in 8 and moderate in 3 patients. In three patients, pain reduced to mild intensity (2–3), and in one, the final pain score was 4 on the visual analogue scale. Patients treated during the present study have not complained for recurrence of pain or any other abnormality even after many months since completion of the therapy. Overall, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) proved itself an excellent therapeutic modality for the relief of pain in post-herpetic neuralgia patients, which may replace pain management medicines in future.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Mr. M. Aslam, deputy chief scientist (NILOP); Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, former director NILOP; and Brig. (Rtd) Dr. Falak Sher Khan Bhatti, former director PAEC General Hospital, for providing us the LLLT system which has been used in the present studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission General Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Rushqia Mukhtar

  2. Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Shifa International Hospital Islamabad, Islamabad, Capital Territory, Pakistan

    M. Umar Fazal & Salman Saleem

  3. Agri. & Biophotonics Division, National Institute of Lasers and Optronics College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (NILOP-C, PIEAS), Nilore, Islamabad, 45650, Pakistan

    M. Saleem

Authors
  1. Rushqia Mukhtar
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  2. M. Umar Fazal
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  3. M. Saleem
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  4. Salman Saleem
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Rushqia Mukhtar or M. Saleem.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The present clinical trial was approved by the ethical committee of PAEC General Hospital through approval letter No. hosp-1(1)/13.

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All patients were informed about the study and a written consent was obtained from them.

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Mukhtar, R., Fazal, M.U., Saleem, M. et al. Role of low-level laser therapy in post-herpetic neuralgia: a pilot study. Lasers Med Sci 35, 1759–1764 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-02969-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-02969-5

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