2012 has seen a stream of patients in the Norwich clinic suffering with Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN). After an attack of shingles / chicken pox (involving the herpes virus), the nerve involved can remain incredibly sensitive and continue to elicit pain for months. Many cases of PHN are self limiting and can be helped with conventional medications such as anti-depressants and opiates. However if the drugs don’t work – there is little else recommended. A small percentage (3%) of cases will continue with severe discomfort and as many as 40% are estimated to struggled to some degree or another long term.
Acupuncture has a good history of addressing nerve pain in general – Prior to 2011 I had little experience with PHN, this year changed that! From the hips, to the back to the face – I had to learn how to use acupuncture effectively for this condition. The most resistant case was of neuralgia remaining 2 years after the original infection with minimal relief from medication. Using electro-acupuncture and infra red heat, all remaining PHN cleared up after the 4th session – even I was surprised! I found as a rule with successful cases, the first session of acupuncture gives relief for the rest of the day only. The second session usually lasts into the next day, the third extends for several days and by the 4th or 5th we are seeing substantial pain relief. On top of acupuncture, I ask all patients to stop drinking any coffee and sometimes to take a good quality B-vit complex.
Most PHN patients see me twice for one to one appointments before they are moved to the multi-bed acupuncture clinic on Thursdays to continue their sessions at reduced rates. Please ask your GP for a referral letter for further reductions.
The Norwich Community Acupuncture Clinic runs from Norwich city centre at The Complementary Health Care Clinic 01603 665173.
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