Post-Herpetic Neuralgia  Pharmacological Approaches  Interventional Approaches  Neurostimulatory Approaches  Psychological/Mind-Body Therapies Conventional Approaches Neurostimulatory Approaches TENS: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) can be administered by a health care professional or by a patient at home using a TENS device, a small portable unit with electrodes that are placed on the skin surrounding the painful area. The unit generates a low voltage electrical impulse that causes a mild buzzing sensation that can alter the way the brain reads pain messages. This scrambling of normal pain signals can often mask and thus lessen pain. The patient is able to make adjustments in the electrical current and can turn the device on and off as needed. A good number of studies, including case studies and clinical trials, have been done on the use of TENS for neuropathic pain. Most of these have found TENS to be moderately helpful for some patients, with no adverse effects (Kanazi, 2000) (Robertson, 1990) (Long, 1979) (Wolf, 1981). Because of this TENS can be an important addition to the management of PHN pain in elderly patients. TENS, like an analgesic drug, stops the pain while it is being used (Bates, 1980). It is rarely used alone in pain relief and should be a part of a multidisciplinary treatment approach. (Thorsteinsson, 1987). Spinal Cord Stimulation: An electrode can be placed into the spine and connected to a small generator that delivers an electrical current. The approach has been available for decades. There are no studies of spinal cord stimulation in patients with PHN, yet this population, like others with neuropathic pain, would be considered for a trial if other non-invasive therapies were not helpful.