ArticlePain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain2025
Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Postherpetic Neuralgia.
Article in Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Narrative review: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for pain management in musculoskeletal rehabilitation: Mechanisms, clinical applications, and safety.The Journal of international medical research · 2026Review
- Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Postherpetic Neuralgia.Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTraditional therapies for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and postherpetic itch (PHI) often yield unsatisfactory outcomes. Previous investigations on extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) have demonstrated positive outcomes in pain and itch reduction in conditions resembling PHI and PHN, exhibiting neuropathic mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate the impact of ESWT on pain and itch associated with PHN and PHI.
methodInclusion criteria encompassed individuals aged 50 to 80 displaying symptoms indicative of PHN or PHP (persistent pain duration exceeding 3 months), undergoing conventional conservative therapies like combination medication and nerve blocks, with reported pain or pruritus scores surpassing 3 on a numerical rating scale (NRS) (treatment group, n = 10; sham stimulation group, n = 9). The experimental group received 2000 shock waves per treatment, with each shock wave comprising 100 impulses/cm
resultAfter two sessions of ESWT, pain scores significantly decreased (p = 0.04), with continued reduction through six sessions (p < 0.001) and at 1-month follow-up (p < 0.001). Pruritus scores also improved from session two (p = 0.03) and remained significant (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). Between-group differences became apparent after four sessions for pruritus (p = 0.06) and after six sessions for the 5-D Itch scale (p = 0.007). Pregabalin dosage was significantly reduced in the ESWT group (p = 0.04). No adverse effects were reported.
conclusionESWT, as a noninvasive therapeutic approach, significantly alleviated PHN-associated pain and pruritus.
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