Magnetic stimulation in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia – a case report

Abstract

Herpes zoster (shingles) is an acute infectious viral disease that may develop in individuals who have previously had chickenpox. Unlike chickenpox, shingles is more likely to occur in adults, with the risk increasing with age. The paper presents treatment outcomes in a 63-year-old patient with severe thoracic pain persisting for 5 weeks. The treatment included 15 sessions of magnetic stimulation using a low induction variable magnetic field, performed once a day, which allowed to significantly reduce pain, as assessed using the Laitinen Pain Scale. The inclusion of magnetic stimulation as an element of comprehensive therapy also improved the patient’s quality of life, as assessed with EuroQol (a score of 25 before the therapy vs. 65 after the therapy).