Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy versus extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of iliohypogastric neuralgia postinguinal herniorrhaphy

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy versus extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of iliohypogastric neuralgia post inguinal herniorraphy.Measurement of the serum cortisol level and the carbamazepin medicament intake. 40 male and female patients with iliohypogastric neuralgia post inguinal herniorraphy were divided into two groups. Group (A) received the thoracolumbar pulsed electromagnetic field therapy.Group (B) received the thoracolumbar extracorporeal shock wave therapy, duration of treatment was 20 minutes, every other day for the 3 months as a total period of treatment in addition to the traditional physical therapy and medical care for 3 months in group (A) and in group (B) the following parameters were used as following: 1,000 impulses; energy flux density (ED) varied from the lowest (0.08 mJ/mm2) to the highest energy level (0.44 mJ/mm2), depending on patient’s pain tolerance, on the trigger point area,over the thoracolumbar region paravertebrally once every two weeks for 12 weeks (3 months) on the affected side, the handpiece of the ESWT device was positioned perpendicular on the target area of treatment and moved circular over gel that was used over the target area of treatment in addition to the traditional physical therapy and medical care for 3 months.