Abstract:Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a neuropathic pain syndrome triggered by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), arises from pathological remodeling of both peripheral and central nervous systems. Its pathogenesis involves multi-level pathophysiological processes, including peripheral neuroinflammation, dysregulated ion channel expression, synaptic plasticity alterations in the spinal dorsal horn, and dysfunction of the cortico-limbic network. In recent years, non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have demonstrated significant clinical potential by selectively modulating pain perception-emotion integration networks. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms underlying PHN, evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of various non-invasive neuromodulation approaches, and explores the translational prospects of emerging technologies, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing individualized pain management strategies.
