The post-mastectomy pain syndrome and the effect of topical capsaicin

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Abstract
Gs implied involvement of the territories of other cutaneous branches of the intercostal nerves as well as the intercostobrachial nerve. A variety of treatment approaches were unsatisfactory. Twelve of 14 patients completing treatment with topical 0.025% capsaicin showed improvement after 4 weeks and 8 (57%) were judged to be good or excellent responses. Six months after the trial's completion 50% of those followed continued to have good pain relief. This therapy should now be subjected to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. ∗Correspondence to: C. Peter N. Watson, Smythe Pain Clinic, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ont. M5G 2C4, Canada. Submitted August 16, 1988; revised February 15, 1989; accepted March 16, 1989. © Lippincott-Raven Publishers....