Epidural injection of local anesthetic and steroids for relief of pain secondary to herpes zoster.

We treated 12 cases of cutaneous herpes zoster (HZ) with epidural bupivacaine and methylprednisolone acetate. Treatment was effective for HZ of less than seven weeks' duration. The course of HZ of greater than three months' duration (postherpetic neuralgia) was not improved. The administration of epidural bupivacaine plus methylprednisolone acetate was no more effective than when bupivacaine alone was used. Epidural injection of bupivacaine with or without methylprednisolone acetate is the treatment of choice for the pain of cutaneous HZ.