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Pain and allodynia in postherpetic neuralgia: role of somatic and sympathetic nervous system
Author(s) -
Nurmikko T.,
Wells C.,
Bowsher D.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1991.tb04923.x
Subject(s) - allodynia , postherpetic neuralgia , medicine , blockade , anesthesia , neuralgia , sensation , neuropathic pain , pain sensation , hyperalgesia , nociception , neuroscience , psychology , receptor
The immediate effects of selective sympathetic and somatic blockades on pain and tactile allodynia in 12 patients with long‐standing ophthalmic or high cervical postherpetic neuralgia were compared. For the duration of the somatic blockade, pain was completely abolished in 11 patients and allodynia in 8 patients. In contrast, during the sympathetic blockade only one patient reported total pain relief and three a marginal attenuation of pain while eight remained unchanged; and no patient reported clear alleviation of allodynia. After successful somatic blockade, pain and allodynia reappeared with tactile sensation while thermal sensation was still absent. Pain and allodynia appear to be related to sensory impulses travelling along the large rather than the small diameter fibres; and the sympathetic system may only have a limited role.