title: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in combination with cobalamin injection for postherpetic neuralgia: a single-center randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with locally injected cobalamin in relieving pain and improving activities of daily living in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients (≥50 yrs old) with postherpetic neuralgia with a pain score of 4 or greater were randomized to receive TENS and local injections of cobalamin or lidocaine or a combination of cobalamin and lidocaine for 8 wks. Treatment efficacy was assessed on the basis of worst pain severity, global impression of change, activities of daily living, and quality-of-life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time × group interaction, group differences, and time effect on worst pain at each follow-up point were statistically significant (P < 0.05) among the groups. In the group receiving TENS and local injection of cobalamin and in the group receiving TENS with a combination of cobalamin and lidocaine, the mean ± SD pain scores were 4.0 ± 1.4 and 4.1 ± 1.2 at endpoint, 28 and 26 patients achieved pain reduction of 30% or greater, and 14 and 10 perceived worst pain of 3 or less, respectively. The activities of daily living and quality-of-life data at the study endpoint showed significant benefits in the group receiving TENS and local injection of cobalamin and in the group receiving TENS and a combination of cobalamin and lidocaine (P < 0.05). In the group receiving TENS and local injection of lidocaine, the mean ± SD pain score was 6.1 ± 1.2 at the endpoint relative to baseline (P < 0.05), and only six patients achieved pain reduction of 30% or greater.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TENS in combination with local cobalamin injection has a significant analgesic effect.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine (GX, GX, YF, WZT) and Department of Nuclear Medicine (ZWL), Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xú
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Wei Zhen
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhong Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000628:therapy*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008012:Lidocaine; D014805:Vitamin B 12