Acupuncture Painkilling Relief For Shingles Found
- 02 April 2017
Acupuncture relieves pain due to shingles, reduces the need for painkillers, speeds the healing of herpes zoster lesions, and reduces the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia . Tianjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers combined acupuncture with standard drug therapy. Patients receiving both drug therapy and acupuncture in a combined treatment protocol had superior patient outcomes compared with patients using only drug therapy.
Three month follow-up examinations determined that the incident rate of postherpetic neuralgia plummeted to 3.33% in the group receiving acupuncture plus drug therapy. The group receiving only drug therapy had a PHN incident rate of 30%. The addition of acupuncture to the treatment protocol decreased the PHN rate by 26.67%.
The VAS scores in the acupuncture plus drugs group were significantly better. The addition of acupuncture to drug therapy decreased pain levels, patients required less painkillers, and herpetic lesions healed faster. The researchers conclude that the combination of acupuncture plus drug therapy is safe and effective for the treatment of acute herpes zoster .
- Ashi
- LI11
- Jiaji
Additional acupoints were administered based on differential diagnostic patterns. For hyperactivity of liver fire, the following acupuncture points were added:
- TB6
For dampness and heat in the spleen and stomach, the following acupuncture points were added:
- SP6
- BL17
Articles On Shingles Treatment
The virus that causes chickenpox is also what causes shingles. Itâs called varicella zoster. It can lie quietly in your nerves for decades after causing chickenpox but suddenly wake up and become active.
The main symptom of shingles is a painful rash that comes up on one side of your body or face. See your doctor as soon as you can if you think you might have this condition.
Your doctor may want to put you on medications to control your infection and speed up healing, cut inflammation, and ease your pain. They include:
Preventing Nerve Pain After Shingles
But if you’re worried about PHN, don’t despair. There are medications that can cut your risks of getting the condition. There are three antiviral drugs used: famciclovir , valacyclovir , and acyclovir . These medications need to be started within two to three days of the onset of shingles.
“If you look at the clinical trials with any of these drugs in people over 50,” says Dworkin, “they cut the rate of pain at six months in half. That’s a very significant improvement.” They are also very safe and have few side effects, he says.
But who needs the drugs? Dworkin says there’s not a clear consensus yet.
There are some obvious cases. “I think everyone would agree that someone who is over 50 and has severe symptoms should get preventative treatment,” he tells WebMD.
But for younger people or those with fewer risk factors, the course is less clear.
“Some people think that everyone who gets shingles should get preventative treatment with antiviral medicines, because the medicines are so safe and have such few side effects,” he says.
Others argue that preventative treatment should only be given to those at greater risk. The main reason for this, Dworkin says, is cost.
“A full course of treatment could cost anywhere between $100 and $160,” he says. “That can add up, and insurance companies might not want to pay if the risks are very, very low.”
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When Chronic Pain Comes From The Nerves These Nerve Pain Medications Can Help When Added To Other Pain Relievers
For chronic muscle and joint pain, effective therapies include rest, ice and heat, anti-inflammatory medications, and time. Usually, the pain calms down and you feel better.
However, muscle and joints may be only part of the picture. For instance, pain can be coming primarily from irritated nerves, along with the injured and inflamed muscle or joint.
Often the discomfort is only arising from nerve pain. Typical signs of this “neuropathic” pain include sharp, stinging pain or pain that radiates from one part of the body to adjacent areas. One of the most common causes is diabetes, although it can also be brought on by injury, infection, and some medications.
“People say things like, ‘My knee hurts and I feel like it’s coming up to the middle of my thigh and down to my shin,” says Dr. Padma Gulur, a pain medicine specialist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. “In those cases, the nerve may be involved.”
In neuropathic pain, the nerve that was the mere messenger of pain now becomes the actual source. Narcotic pain relievers don’t often help and even when they do, they should not be used as a long term solution. Fortunately there are other options. Certain drugs that were originally developed to treat depression and seizure disorders also damp down inappropriate or excessive pain signaling in the nerves.
What Causes Nerve Pain
Nerve pain can be due to problems in the central nervous system , or in the nerves that run from there to the muscles and organs. It is usually caused by disease or injury.
Common causes include:
- trapped nerves, such as in carpal tunnel syndrome
There are other conditions associated with nerve pain.
Sciatica is pressure on the nerves of the lower back that causes pain down the leg. The pain can be accompanied by pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the leg.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome associated with burning or aching pain in different parts of the body. The cause is not well understood, but it can be triggered by emotional distress and poor sleep. There may be genetic factors, too.
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the peripheral nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body are damaged. Its caused by diabetes, autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
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I Tried Everything For Shingles Heres What Worked
- Michaels Blog
- I Tried Everything for Shingles.
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For the last 3 1/2 weeks, Ive been suffering from shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. It is a terrible condition. There seem to be many cures and treatments for it that are either questionable, or in the case of Western medicine, have a potential for adverse side effects. Most people suffer from post-herpetic pain that can go on for weeks, months, or even years.
Acupuncture Points For Shingles
There are certain diagnostic patterns that are common withshingles, and in turn, there are specific acupuncture points that are obviouslynot universal for everyone, but are great treatment protocols to use as aguideline when taking on a shingles patient.
Wind-Heat Acupuncture Points for Shingles:
- UB40 Bend Middle Wei Zhong located at the midpoint of the transverse crease of the popliteal fossa between the tendons of biceps femoris and semitendinosus. It is used to clear blood heat, and in the way of shingles aids in itching, oozing, inflammation, and good for heat conditions.
- SP10 Sea of Blood Xuehai located 2 cun above the superior medial border of the patella on the bulge of the medial portion of the quadriceps femoris . It is also used to clear blood heat, and in the way of shingles aids in pain, swelling, itching, and skin problems from damp-heat or hot blood.
- LI11 Pool at the Bend Qu Chi located at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU5 and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. It clears heat, and in the way of shingles aids in damp heat skin diseases that are red, itchy, oozing, or inflamed.
Meridian Related Acupuncture Points forShingles:
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Can I Prevent It
The FDA has approved two shingles vaccines, Zostavax and Shingrix. A vaccine is now recommended for everyone 60 and older. People from 50 to 59 may want to talk to their doctor about it if they have ongoing pain or skin issues or have a weakened immune system.
The vaccines cut the chance of shingles by at least 50%. Even if you still get shingles, the painful period is shortened and you reduce your risk of postherpetic neuralgia.
Early treatment for shingles can also lower your chances of getting this complication. So if you think you have it, call your doctor right away. The main treatment is with antiviral drugs during the early stages of shingles, within 2 to 3 days of symptoms coming on. Medications used include:
NIH. National Institute on Aging: âShingles: How Long Does Shingles Last?â
UCLA Health: âAbout Postherpetic Neuralgia,â âPostherpetic Neuralgia: Symptoms.â
Mayo Clinic: âPostherpetic Neuralgia: Symptoms,â âPostherpetic neuralgia: Definition,â âShingles: Causes,â âPostherpetic neuralgia: risk factors,â âPostherpetic neuralgia: Causes.â
National Health Service : âPost-herpetic neuralgia — Treatment,â âPost-herpetic neuralgia: Signs and Symptoms.â
American Academy of Family Physicians: âShingles.â
Center for Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia: “Surgical options for treating postherpetic neuralgia,” “Treating shingles with tricyclic antidepressants to lessen the risk of PHN.”
Lyrica: “PNH: How Lyrica Works.”
Assessment Of Reporting Biases
New treatment for the pain of shinglesFunnel plots will be used to assess reporting biases if 10 or more studies are included in a meta-analysis. Such a funnel plot asymmetry could be caused by publication or related biases, or by systematic differences between small and large studies. If a relationship is identified, the clinical diversity of the studies will be further examined as a possible explanation and described in the text. However, since graphical evaluation can be subjective, Eggerâs method will also be used to access the reporting biases.
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A Word About The Shingles Vaccine
If you are age 60 or over and have not had shingles, talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine. Not only will it reduce your risk of developing shingles, but if you do develop shingles, youll be more likely to have a mild case. And, just as important, youll be much less likely to develop PHN if youve had the vaccine.
Relieving Pain With Acupuncture
The ancient art of acupuncture has been used in Asia for centuries to treat many conditions and relieve pain. It’s now being used in the United States and other Western countries to ease everything from low back pain, to nerve pain , to headaches, fibromyalgia, and menstrual cramps and more.
Traditional Chinese acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely fine needles into the skin at specific “acupoints.” This may relieve pain by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain-killing chemicals, and by affecting the part of the brain that governs serotonin, a brain chemical involved with mood.
In Chinese acupuncture, the acupuncturist may turn or twirl the needles slightly or apply heat or electrical stimulation to enhance the effects. He or she may also burn a therapeutic herb near the skin this is called moxibustion.
A Japanese form of acupuncture involves more shallow needle insertion than in Chinese acupuncture, and the needles aren’t usually manipulated. Korean acupuncture focuses on applying needles to points in just the hands and feet.
The acupuncturist typically inserts four to 10 needles and leaves them in place for 10 to 30 minutes while you rest. A usual course of treatment includes six to 12 sessions over a three-month period.
For more on treating common pain conditions and learning about other mind-body solutions to relieve pain, buy Pain Relief, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.
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How Do I Treat Recurring Pain From Shingles
Q: I am 75 years old. Early last year, I developed shingles. This appeared as blisters around the left side of my waist from the navel to the spinal cord.
The burning, pinching and scratching sensation was extremely painful.
Within three months, the blisters disappeared, leaving black and white spots around the waist, but with most of the skin around the area now back to normal.
Of late, I have been experiencing a terrible burning and pinching sensation, resulting in a lot of pain again.
I have been applying home-made ayurvedic lotion, which gave me some relief for about two months.
But the pain has since returned. It comes in bouts at regular frequency.
This has constrained my normal day-to-day activities.
Please advise me on how to reduce the pain.
A: In traditional Chinese medicine , shingles and the subsequent pain, called post-herpetic neuralgia, are probably due to a deficiency in the functions of the stomach, spleen and liver.
The liver is responsible for the flow of qi in the body. Good circulation of qi and blood are required for good health.
When the liver is weak – due to ageing, mood swings, excessive alcohol, depression and anxiety – qi in the liver will stagnate.
When it has stagnated for a prolonged period, it will create “heat”, “fire” and toxins.
These will circulate to the liver meridian and gall bladder meridian, and trigger shingles with red blisters along both meridians, which pass through the face, eyes, chest and side of the waist and ribs.
What Is Postherpetic Neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia is a nerve pain that persists after a shingles rash has cleared. If your pain from shingles goes but then returns at a later date, this too is called PHN.
Shingles is an infection of a nerve and causes a typical rash. It is caused by the chickenpox virus. About 1 in 5 people have shingles at some time in their lives. Shingles can occur at any age but it is most common in people aged over 50. Most people with shingles have pain but the pain usually eases soon after the rash clears. PHN is pain that persists . See the separate leaflet called Shingles for more details.
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Symptoms And Complications Of Shingles
An episode of shingles will normally last for 2 to 4 weeks. The patient will generally feel a tingling sensation in the affected area at first. This will be followed by pain, and then a rash.
- Pain patients experience a localised band of pain in the affected area. The pain tends to be continuous, dull, or of a burning sensation and its intensity can vary from mild to severe. There may also be occasional stabbing pains. Some patients cannot even wear clothing or allow the area to be touched.
- Rash several days after the onset of pain, the rash will appear. It starts off as red blotches on the skin, and rapidly develops into itchy blisters similar to those of chickenpox. The blisters may be there for about one week, and then become yellowish, flat, and dried out. A minor scar may be left on the skin.
Sometimes there may be additional symptoms including confusion, fatigue, fever, headache, upset stomach, abdominal pains, etc.
Blisters produced during shingles
A number of complications can occur as a result of shingles. They are more likely if you have a weakened immune system or are elderly.
Post-herpetic neuralgia is the most common complication resulting from shingles. Some patients experience severe nerve pain if the nerves are damaged. The pain can last for a very long time even months or years after the rash has disappeared.
Other possible complications include:
Have Shingles Get Treatment Take Action
If you have shingles, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your risk for developing PHN. Ask whether preventative treatment with antiviral drugs makes sense. If your doctor says it’s not necessary, ask why.
The full implications of the psychological risk factors for PHN aren’t clear yet, says Dworkin. But he suggests that people with shingles should try to stay active and connected.
“If psychological distress is a risk factor for PHN,” he says, “then we think that people who have shingles might benefit from getting out and not being isolated and homebound.”
You might make an effort to stay connected to family and friends and not to dwell on your symptoms. Also, keep in mind that even if you do develop PHN, there are treatments that can help.
“We have about a half dozen types of drugs that are used as first-line treatments for PHN,” says Dworkin. They include lidocaine patch , pregabalin , gabapentin , capsaicin , carbamazepine , tricyclic antidepressants, and painkillers.
The most important thing is to get prompt medical attention if you think you might have shingles.
“If you have a one-sided rash — especially if you’re over 50 — see your doctor right away,” says Dworkin. “It could be shingles. And we know that prompt treatment can dramatically reduce the likelihood of developing long-term pain.”
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How Can It Help People With Shingles
In an acupuncture treatment for shingles, the acupuncturist employs different techniques, including fire needling. This method involves the use of specialised needles that are heat resistant. Following the principles of TCM, the acupuncturist works on different acupoints on the body which correspond to the affected meridians, which may include those in the large bowel, thyroid, spleen and kidneys, just to name a few.
Clinical studies show that combining acupuncture with conventional medications for shingles produces greater pain reduction, allowing the person suffering from shingles to function normally again.
There may be no specific drug that can completely stop herpes zoster infection, but maintaining a balanced flow of energy within your body’s meridians or energy pathways might just turn out to be your personal cure for shingles. To find a qualified acupuncturist in your local area who can help you with your condition, check out the Natural Therapy Pages’ complete listing of natural healthcare professionals.
Learn more about Acupuncture here.Or find best practitioners of Acupuncture near you.
Rebooting The Nervous System
Pain relief from shinglesItslike restarting a computer, Dr. Rosenquist says. When its running slowly oracting weird, you restart it. We are trying to turn that nerve off. When itcomes back on, hopefully it will send an appropriate transmission as opposed toa pain transmission.
Treatmentoptions for PHN patients include:
- Intercostal nerve blocks: A local anesthetic can be injected between two ribs.
- Thoracic epidural injections: Anti-inflammatory medicine can be injected into the space around the spinal cord to decrease nerve root inflammation and reduce pain.
- Tricyclic antidepressants: Medications such as amitriptyline may be used to relieve pain.
- Membrane stabilizers: Medications such as gabapentin can be used to reduce the pain associated with PHN.
- Capsaicin cream: This topical cream can be applied to the affected area to relieve pain temporarily.
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Patientswith refractory PHN rarely need opioid pain medication. However,you should be evaluated by a physician. We cant make a blanket statement abouttreatment. It is individualized, she says.
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