Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to determine the therapeutic effect of Short Wave Diathermy (SWD) in the symptomatic management of chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) pain. Three cases of chronic PID were referred from the Obstetric and Gyneocology department of Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH) and a Private Gyneocology 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 lasted for 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 months follow up assessment. The third patients who received no SWD had her pain reduced from 6 to 4 and on follow up, slightly reduced to 3 while still on medications. It was concluded that SWD is effective in the symptomatic management of chronic pain in PID.

Keywords: Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Short Wave Diathermy, Pain.