Subcutaneous Lidocaine Injection in Acute Herpes Zoster Neuralgia and Post-herpetic Neuralgia

Inclusion Criteria: * patients over the age of 18 * with acute HZ pain (rash duration \< 30 days * pain due to PHN (rash duration \> 3 months), Exclusion Criteria: patients on anticoagulants or have coagulation disorders, patients with psychomotor disorders patients with uncontrolled diabetes patients with bacterial infection or infectious discharge in the affected dermatomal region patients allergic to lidocaine patients with lesions in the facial or genital regions pregnant or breastfeeding patients