Falls secondary to postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

Falls are a major health issue for older people. They can cause death, disability, pain and distress. Each year, 1.57 million older people fall more than three times, and 75 000 fracture their hips. The rate of hip fractures is predicted to double within the next 40 years, as the population ages and levels of frailty increase. This article uses a case history approach to identify and treat modifiable falls risk factors that have developed following efforts to treat postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).