Abstract:objective: to explore the clinical efficacy of pain-point low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy combined with pulsed radiofrequency in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: Sixty patients with PHN were selected and divided into a control group (Group A) and an observation group (Group B) of 30 cases each. Group A: pulsed radiofrequency treatment; Group B: low-frequency electroacupuncture combined with pulsed radiofrequency treatment. Visual analogue scale (VAS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were performed before (T0), 1d (T1), 1w (T2), 2w (T3), 4w (T4) and 12w (T5) of treatment. self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS); infrared thermal imaging (ITI) (temperature difference ?T°C between the patient"s herpes lesion area and the corresponding healthy area) was performed at T0 and T1 and heart rate variability (HRV) was analysed; T0 and T5 analgesic dosage and adverse events during treatment were recorded. results：There were no statistical differences in the general data and pre-treatment VAS, SAS, SDS, ITI, HRV and analgesic medication between the two groups (P > 0.05); after treatment, the VAS scores of Group B were lower than those of Group A at T3, T4, and T5, and the SDS and SAS of T4 and T5 were lower than those of Group A. The ITI (?T℃) of Group B was lower than that of Group A at T1, and the LF of HRV was lower than that of Group A. The LF/HF was closer to the normal range than Group A (P < 0.05); the dosage of analgesic drugs of Group B was reduced compared with that of Group A at T5 (P < 0.05). close to the normal range (P < 0.05); at T5, the dosage of analgesics in Group B was reduced compared with Group A (P < 0.05). conclusion: Pain point low-frequency electroacupuncture therapy can make up for the poor efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency on peripheral pain in some PHN patients, and at the same time can improve the patient"s anxiety, depression and other painful emotions.
