Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) Practice Exam

What type of pain can sympathetic blockade help reduce?

1. Postherpetic neuralgia

2. Diabetic neuropathy

3. Chronic migraine

4. Muscle pain

The correct answer is: Postherpetic neuralgia

Sympathetic blockade is particularly effective in reducing postherpetic neuralgia, which is a condition that results from damage to the nerves caused by the herpes zoster virus, commonly known as shingles. This type of pain often involves a combination of neuropathic pain due to nerve damage and sympathetic nervous system involvement, leading to heightened sensitivity and persistent pain. By interrupting the pain pathways involved in the sympathetic nervous system, sympathetic blockade can alleviate the excessive pain signaling associated with postherpetic neuralgia. It helps in decreasing the overall pain by targeting the specific nervous system pathways that become overly sensitized after herpes infection. This targeted approach can improve the quality of life for patients suffering from this debilitating condition, making it a suitable choice for treatment. The other conditions listed, although they involve pain, do not typically respond to sympathetic blockade in the same direct manner as postherpetic neuralgia. Each of the other pain types—diabetic neuropathy, chronic migraine, and muscle pain—have different underlying mechanisms that may not be effectively addressed through sympathetic blockade. Understanding the mechanisms of pain in these conditions highlights the specificity and effectiveness of sympathetic blockade particularly for postherpetic neuralgia.