Postherpetic Neuralgia?
Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of shingles. This condition damages the underlying nerves and tissue so that burning pain persists long after the rash dissipates. In some cases, the pain is located in the area where the original rash resided, but when more severe damage has occurred the pain can radiate well past the boundaries of the initial rash.

PHN pain is often reported as burning, stabbing and/or aching while a number of patients more accurately describe it as “worse than labor” or “akin to passing a kidney stone”. Often people with PHN can not stand light touch or bear the touch of clothing on the affected skin. Obviously debilitating, the pain can be constant or can ‘come and go’.

PHN pain can last for weeks or months. In a growing number of cases, PHN has been reported to last for years. According to the Mayo Clinic, depending on how long postherpetic neuralgia lasts and how painful it is, other problems can occur including:

  • Depression
  • Trouble Sleeping
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite

There’s Hope
“I had been diagnosed with shingles, and I thought it was going to be like the flu or any other virus. I’d have it and then get over it. Two months later the blisters were gone but the pain was so intense, I was begging them to put me in the hospital and just put me out. I couldn’t sleep because I was in constant pain. I couldn’t get out of the house. I thought it was going to kill me!

I started going to 5 Points Acupuncture for treatment and it kept getting better. After about a month, I told [Nancy Sencil] I was going out to play pickle ball again! It’s changed my life!”

-Terry

How We Shorten The Shingles Infection & Treat Postherpetic Neuralgia

While shingles isn’t life threatening, it can be extremely painful. Fortunately, early detection and treatment can dramatically shorten the lifespan of a shingles infection and lesson the chances of complications.

Western medicine practitioners usually recommend prescription antivirals and/or painkillers and often these medications can come with uncomfortable side effects.

At 5 Points Acupuncture we use acupuncture plus ATP Resonance BioTherapy(R) and O3 ReBoot Therapy(R) to target and treat the shingles virus using specially crafted microcurrent frequencies and ozone, a naturally occurring antiviral. In combining these two modern medical solutions with acupuncture we are able to speed up healing and lower your risk of complications like postherpetic neuralgia, vision loss and persistent skin infections. These therapies are non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical.

Caught early enough, we can reduce the duration of the infection by up to 60%

Back To Doing The Things You Love With The People You Love

At 5 Points Acupuncture, we have a 90% success rate in treating shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. The modalities and number of treatments needed will depend on the severity of your infection, how long you’ve had it and if there are any underlying medical issues.

To learn more about our services and our clinic, please visit our website at 5pointsacupucture.com. To schedule an initial consultation please contact us at 706-549-3176.