A Comparative Study Between Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Management of Post-herpetic Neuralgia of the Sciatic Nerve

Background and purpose: Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most frequent chronic complication of herpes zoster, resulting in post- infectious severe neuropathic pain. Due to drug resistance severe pain; patients with PHN suffer from reduced physical activities, social and psychological manifestations as well as decrease in the quality of life. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) versus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia of the sciatic nerve.

Methods: In an eight weeks period of treatemnt, 52 patients were randomly and equally assigned into two groups. Both groups received conventional physical therapy treatment protocol. Moreover, group (A) has an additional TENS application and group (B) had PEMFS application. TENS and the PEMFT were applied once daily, three times per week for 20 minutes for each session. Assessment performed pre and post intervention using visual analogue scale (VAS) and estimation of the carbamazepine intake (CMI).