Korean J Pain.  2011 Mar;24(1):53-56. 10.3344/kjp.2011.24.1.53.

Relief of Postherpetic Neuralgia with Transforaminal Epidural Injection of Magnesium: A Case Report

• Yu HK
• Lee JH
• Cho SH
• Kim YI

• KMID: 2278098
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2011.24.1.53

Abstract

Although postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common chronic pain syndrome, the pathophysiology of this disorder is not well known and management is often very difficult. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists are known to be effective in PHN, and magnesium, a physiological blocker of NMDA receptors, is widely used to treat various chronic pain disorders. Here, we present a case of the PHN refractory to conventional treatment, which was treated successfully with transforaminal epidural injection of magnesium sulphate at the affected dermatome.

Keyword

epidural injections; magnesium sulphate; N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor; postherpetic neuralgia

MeSH Terms

Chronic Pain
Injections, Epidural
Magnesium
N-Methylaspartate
Neuralgia, Postherpetic
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
Magnesium
N-Methylaspartate
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Posterior-anterior fluoroscopic image shows spreading of contrast media in left T3 nerve root and epidural space.

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