Unfortunately, you had an attack of shingles. Now the lesions have dried up and you are left with a very distracting burning pain called “postherpetic neuralgia.” You want permanent and significant relief without side-effects. Acupuncture is a wonderfully effective way of managing the pain of this condition.
I know acupuncture is really effective for postherpetic neuralgia because in my 25 years of clinical experience, I have treated a large number of people who have had it. With few exceptions, everyone has been very happy with the results. The treatments are straight-forward and relaxing. Superficial needling is done around the areas of pain, where the active lesions used to be, and along the spine to affect the nerves that enervate the painful areas. Other points on the legs and feet may be treated as well.
The pain-relieving effects of acupuncture are well documented. Postherpetic neuralgia occurs when the nerve fibers are damaged during the active phase of shingles. The messages that the nerves send from the skin to the brain become confused and exaggerated, and the resulting pain can last for months or even years. Acupuncture repairs the functioning of the nerves by re-establishing normal neurotransmitter production. Exactly how it does this is not completely understood by modern medicine. It also increased the production of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers.
I have been able to help people who have had this pain for years, even when it is on the face or around the eyes. Generally about 10 treatments are needed, though fewer or more might be necessary.
I invite you to read testimonials from some patients who were kind enough to write them.