Doris, a 70-year-old woman, contacted our clinic after developing a severe case of shingles. The outbreak primarily affected the left side of her scalp and extended to her ear. Her doctor prescribed antiviral medication and steroids to manage the condition. While the rash began to subside with this treatment, Doris experienced intense nerve pain in her scalp and was deeply concerned about potential damage to her hearing. Her doctor, closely monitoring her ear health, supported her decision to seek acupuncture as an adjunctive treatment to address her post-herpetic nerve pain.
Nerve Pain Treatment Plan
Our treatment plan focused on reducing inflammation, promoting nerve healing, and alleviating Doris’s pain. We treated local scalp points near the affected area with electroacupuncture to enhance the therapeutic effects and directly address the post-herpetic nerve pain. Then we selected systemic acupuncture points to support nerve regeneration and reduce inflammation. These points also nourished the Liver and Kidney to promote nerve health, harmonized the body’s Qi and Blood, and targeted general inflammation and pain.
Doris received two treatments during the first week. By the end of the week, she reported a 30% reduction in her nerve pain, which provided her with significant encouragement to continue. Over the next three weeks, she underwent five additional sessions. Afterward, her shingles rash was completely resolved and her post-herpetic nerve pain had improved by 60%.
Acupuncture Heals Nerves Best
In the following three weeks, Doris transitioned to weekly treatments, bringing her total to ten sessions. During this time, her nerve pain resolved entirely. Her hearing remained unaffected, as confirmed by her doctor, who expressed satisfaction with her recovery. Doris was relieved to return to her daily life free from the debilitating effects of post-herpetic nerve pain.
This case highlights the potential of acupuncture as an effective adjunctive therapy for severe shingles and the associated post-herpetic nerve pain. The combination of electroacupuncture and systemic acupuncture addressed both local and systemic healing mechanisms, resulting in significant pain relief and tissue recovery. Doris’s experience underscores the importance of a collaborative approach between acupuncture practitioners and conventional medical providers when managing complex conditions.
Integrative Treatment Approach
In conclusion, acupuncture played a pivotal role in Doris’s recovery by alleviating her post-herpetic nerve pain, accelerating her healing, and complementing her conventional medical treatments. This case illustrates how integrative medicine can offer substantial support for patients suffering from severe and debilitating conditions like shingles.
Next Steps
BOOK NOW to schedule an appointment online.
Watch Video About Our Shingles Treatment.
Learn about all the conditions we treat.
Focus Keyphrase: Post-Herpetic Nerve Pain
Image generated with https://perchance.org/ai-text-to-image-generator
What our Clients are Saying
I got the shingles shot and still got shingles! Anyway, a friend had gotten relief at Raleigh Acupuncture for her shingles, so I tried it. What a huge difference. The first week, before getting acupuncture, my pain levels from the rash were 10 out of 10. As soon as I started my acupuncture, the pain decreased. They had me better within a few weeks. I was thrilled and am very grateful.
My wife had gone through shingles a few years back and had gotten relief from acupuncture. So when I got it, we called the next day and set up an appointment. The docs at Raleigh Acupuncture are now two for two, helping both of us. Thank you!
I developed a terrible case of shingles last year. The rash ran from back to front. It was burning, painful and very itchy. I was beside myself. I had been to Raleigh Acupuncture for knee pain and decided to call to see if they could help. Sure enough, they said come in immediately. I’m so glad that I did. I felt better after the first treatment. I ended up having about half a dozen treatments over the course of two weeks. They completely resolved my shingles. I strongly suggest you try acupuncture for shingles. It works amazingly.
