Pain diary shows an important role in the pain management of patients with chronic cancer pain, but it has not been mentioned in the nursing management of Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This study explored the impact of pain diary on patients with postherpetic neuralgia during hospitalization. Patients with postherpetic neuralgia were randomly divided into a pain diary group and a control group. During the hospitalization, the diary group was instructed to record the pain diary, and the control group was given routine care. Evaluating VAS score of the patients for 10 days on admission, Thai Brief Pain questionnaire score during mid-hospitalization, and the amount and satisfaction of the patient's condition information collected upon discharge. On the third day after admission, the VAS score of the diary group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The Thai Brief Pain results showed that the pain diary group had better mood, sleep and enjoyment of life than the control group. The number of patient's condition information from the diary group was significantly more than the control group, the diary group had better satisfaction with nurses and doctors than the control group. The short-term pain diary should have a better role in PHN hospitalization.