Abstract
Background: Associations of inflammation with occurrence of pain and paralysis in shingles have been well documented. Thus, the anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture might improve or hasten pain relief and motor recovery in patients with shingles-associated pain and paralysis. Objective: To describe the possible role of acupuncture in motor deficit recovery and pain relief in a male patient with post-zoster neuralgia and limb paralysis. Case Summary: The patient developed burning pain over his right shoulder followed by red painful vesicles over the right arm and right shoulder weakness. Despite hydrocodone, rofecoxib and gabapentin, these symptoms persisted. His physical examination and laboratory tests were normal except for the deltoid muscle strength of 1/5, and the C4 dermatome rashes. He received a 10-day course of intravenous acyclovir and prednisone, massage therapy, physical and occupational therapy. The rashes resolved. The pain-10/10 in severity-and paralysis persisted, even one month post-hospital discharge. In line with the Traditional Chinese Medicine method, 3-4 acupuncture treatments per week were administered to the patient for 3 months. By the end of the 1st month of treatment, the patient muscle strength was 4/5 and his pain was 3/10. By the 3rd month, his muscle strength was 5/5 and his pain was down to 1/10. At the 18-month follow-up, he had normal muscle strength and was off all analgesic drugs. Conclusion: The usefulness of acupuncture in the treatment of shingle-related neuropathic pain and motor paralysis merits further study in a large, controlled clinical trial.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 45-49 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Neuropathic Pain and Symptom Palliation |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 18 2006 |
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Keywords
- Acupuncture
- And post herpetic neuralgia
- Neuropathic pain
- Post-zoster paresis
- Shingles
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Cite this
Possible role of acupuncture in the treatment of post-zoster limb pain and paresis : Case report and literature review. / Liu, David Dongjie; Childs, Gwen V.; Raji, Mukaila.
In: Journal of Neuropathic Pain and Symptom Palliation, Vol. 1, No. 3, 18.04.2006, p. 45-49.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Possible role of acupuncture in the treatment of post-zoster limb pain and paresis
T2 - Case report and literature review
AU - Liu, David Dongjie
AU - Childs, Gwen V.
AU - Raji, Mukaila
PY - 2006/4/18
Y1 - 2006/4/18
N2 - Background: Associations of inflammation with occurrence of pain and paralysis in shingles have been well documented. Thus, the anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture might improve or hasten pain relief and motor recovery in patients with shingles-associated pain and paralysis. Objective: To describe the possible role of acupuncture in motor deficit recovery and pain relief in a male patient with post-zoster neuralgia and limb paralysis. Case Summary: The patient developed burning pain over his right shoulder followed by red painful vesicles over the right arm and right shoulder weakness. Despite hydrocodone, rofecoxib and gabapentin, these symptoms persisted. His physical examination and laboratory tests were normal except for the deltoid muscle strength of 1/5, and the C4 dermatome rashes. He received a 10-day course of intravenous acyclovir and prednisone, massage therapy, physical and occupational therapy. The rashes resolved. The pain-10/10 in severity-and paralysis persisted, even one month post-hospital discharge. In line with the Traditional Chinese Medicine method, 3-4 acupuncture treatments per week were administered to the patient for 3 months. By the end of the 1st month of treatment, the patient muscle strength was 4/5 and his pain was 3/10. By the 3rd month, his muscle strength was 5/5 and his pain was down to 1/10. At the 18-month follow-up, he had normal muscle strength and was off all analgesic drugs. Conclusion: The usefulness of acupuncture in the treatment of shingle-related neuropathic pain and motor paralysis merits further study in a large, controlled clinical trial.
AB - Background: Associations of inflammation with occurrence of pain and paralysis in shingles have been well documented. Thus, the anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture might improve or hasten pain relief and motor recovery in patients with shingles-associated pain and paralysis. Objective: To describe the possible role of acupuncture in motor deficit recovery and pain relief in a male patient with post-zoster neuralgia and limb paralysis. Case Summary: The patient developed burning pain over his right shoulder followed by red painful vesicles over the right arm and right shoulder weakness. Despite hydrocodone, rofecoxib and gabapentin, these symptoms persisted. His physical examination and laboratory tests were normal except for the deltoid muscle strength of 1/5, and the C4 dermatome rashes. He received a 10-day course of intravenous acyclovir and prednisone, massage therapy, physical and occupational therapy. The rashes resolved. The pain-10/10 in severity-and paralysis persisted, even one month post-hospital discharge. In line with the Traditional Chinese Medicine method, 3-4 acupuncture treatments per week were administered to the patient for 3 months. By the end of the 1st month of treatment, the patient muscle strength was 4/5 and his pain was 3/10. By the 3rd month, his muscle strength was 5/5 and his pain was down to 1/10. At the 18-month follow-up, he had normal muscle strength and was off all analgesic drugs. Conclusion: The usefulness of acupuncture in the treatment of shingle-related neuropathic pain and motor paralysis merits further study in a large, controlled clinical trial.
KW - Acupuncture
KW - And post herpetic neuralgia
KW - Neuropathic pain
KW - Post-zoster paresis
KW - Shingles
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746895410&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33746895410&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1300/J426v01n03_05
DO - 10.1300/J426v01n03_05
M3 - Article
VL - 1
SP - 45
EP - 49
JO - Journal of Neuropathic Pain and Symptom Palliation
JF - Journal of Neuropathic Pain and Symptom Palliation
SN - 1543-7698
IS - 3
ER -