Mycobacterium leprae has a predilection for infecting skin and peripheral nerves of
face, arms, and legs. The nerve pain due to the leprous neuritis usually occurs ia
advanced lepromatous leprosy and early tuberculoid leprosy. In the acute illflammation 6f
the reactive phase of leprosy, esp. in reversal reaction, the nerves are acutely or
suddenly attacked resulting in severe pain, nlarked tenderness and thickening of the
nerves. The medical treatment of leprous neuritis may involve steroids or thalidomide, to
control the acutely reactive state in addition to splinting of the limbs, but the nerve pain
in leprous patients is still often troublesome in out-patient clinics. The authors have
evaluated the therapeutic effect of steroid local injection for ulnar nerves having
inflammatory swelling, spontaneous nerve pain and tenderness, and voluntary muscle
test of ulnar nerve supplying muscles before and after injections. The results are as
follow :
1) The local injection of the steroid of 1/5 to 1/10 amount of systemic doses into the
inflamed nerve was very effective in subsiding spontaneous pain, swelling and
tenderness.
2) The muscle power after injection of the steroid in addition to physic-therapy was
much improved.
3) The patients suffering from insomnia due to severe nerve pairs were able to sleep
without difficulty.
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