Postherpetic Neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a debilitating sequela of varicella zoster reactivation that usually is preceded by herpes zoster (“shingles”) infection. As the virus resides in sensory neuronal ganglia, the distribution of the zoster rash, and the subsequent neuralgia, occurs in the distribution of that sensory ganglion or one of its distal afferent fibers. This makes it a potential target for peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for patients who have chronic PHN that is inadequately managed with more conservative approaches. PNS provides a minimally invasive treatment option for durable pain relief in PHN.