Shortwave Diathermy in the Management of Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Pain: Case Reports

The purpose of this case study was to determine the therapeutic effect ofShort Wave Diathermy (SWD) in the symptomatic management of chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) pain. Three cases ofchronic PID were referred from the Obstetric and Gynaecology department of Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH) and a Private Gynaecology Hospital in Kano, Nigeria, for Physiotherapy. SWD was administered to 2 of the patients using the cross-fire technique for an average of 15 exposures for 30 minutes on alternate days, while the third patient did not received SWD, but was on antibiotics and analgesic. The study lastedfor one month. Two patients that received SWD had their pain reduced from an average of6.5 to zero on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and still remain at zero without any medication at 4 monthsfollow up assessment. The thirdpatients who received no SWD had her pain reducedfrom 6 to 4 and onfollow up, slightly reduced to 3 while still on medications. It was concluded that SWD is efftctive in the symptomatic management of chronic pain in PJD.