Postherpetic Neuralgia Pain Relief: How Acupuncture Can Help After Shingles

Living with pain day after day can be overwhelming.   If you or someone you love is struggling with postherpetic neuralgia, it can feel frustrating, isolating and at times hopeless. Traditional treatments often don't provide enough relief, leaving many people searching for better options.  Please know, you are not alone in this struggle and there is hope. 

While there’s no quick fix for postherpetic neuralgia, acupuncture offers a gentle, natural, and effective way to manage pain and support your body’s healing process.  Here at Northeast Acupuncture and Wellness, we specialize in difficult-to-treat conditions.  Your concerns will be heard, and we will partner with you to create a personalized treatment plan to help reduce your pain and improve your quality of life.  

In this article, we’ll explore what PHN is, the challenges it brings, and how acupuncture can provide comfort and relief to those who are suffering.

What Is Postherpetic Neuralgia?

Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) is a condition that sometimes develops after a person has had shingles. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus—the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus stays inactive in your body.  Years later, it can reactivate as shingles and cause a painful rash and blisters that usually clear up within a few weeks.

However, for some people, the pain doesn’t go away when the rash does.  Instead, it may linger for months or even years. This on-going nerve pain is called postherpetic neuralgia.

Who Experiences PHN?

While anyone who has had shingles can develop PHN, some people are more likely to experience it than others. These risk factors include:

• Older age: People over the age of 50 are more likely to get PHN. The risk continues to rise with age, and older adults often experience more severe and longer-lasting pain. About 10% of people over 50 who get shingles will develop PHN.  It is rare in people under 40.

  
  

• Weakened immune system: A weak immune system can make it harder for the body to keep the shingles virus under control.  People with cancer, chronic illness, or those taking medications that suppress the immune system, like chemotherapy or steroids, are at higher risk.

  
  

• Severe shingles rash: If the shingles rash is widespread or very painful, the chances of developing PHN increase.

  
  

• Early nerve symptoms before the rash: Some people feel burning, tingling, or itching in an area of skin a few days before the shingles rash appears. This early nerve discomfort may be a sign that PHN is more likely to follow.

  
  

• Delaying treatment: If antiviral medication isn't started within the first three days of the shingles rash, the risk of developing PHN goes up. Early treatment can make a big difference in preventing long-term nerve pain.

It’s important to note, if you’ve never had chickenpox, you can’t get shingles — and without shingles, you can’t develop PHN. 

Common Symptoms of PHN

The symptoms of PHN can vary from person to person, but common ones include:

• Burning, stabbing, or aching pain where the shingles rash was

• Sensitivity to touch, even from clothing or a light breeze

• Itching, numbness, or tingling sensations

• Sleep problems due to discomfort

• Mood changes like anxiety, sadness, or depression

  
  

Pain from PHN can be constant or it may come and go.  It may worsen at night or with temperature changes.   On average, pain lasts for about three months after the rash has healed, but for some it can last for more than a year.  

The Challenges of Living with PHN

The pain associated with PHN can be exhausting both physically and emotionally.   It can make it hard to concentrate, limit mobility, and make even simple tasks feel overwhelming.  Many people with PHN find that commonly used medications like painkillers, antidepressants, or nerve-blocking drugs don't always offer significant relief or may cause unpleasant side effects. Because of this, people often feel stuck without adequate treatment options. 

How Acupuncture Can Help Manage PHN Symptoms

Acupuncture is a natural treatment that has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves placing very thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body to help restore balance and promote healing.

For people with PHN, acupuncture can offer several benefits:

• Pain relief: Acupuncture can help reduce nerve pain by encouraging the body to release natural pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins.

• Reduced inflammation: It can calm inflammation in the nerves and surrounding tissues, easing discomfort.

• Improved circulation: Better blood flow can promote healing in damaged nerve areas.

• Stress and mood support: Acupuncture also helps regulate the nervous system, promoting relaxation and improving mood, which can lessen the emotional burden of chronic pain.

Many people find that regular acupuncture sessions, combined with lifestyle changes, can significantly decrease their symptoms and help them regain a better quality of life.

Additional Tips for Managing PHN

Along with acupuncture, there are other natural ways to support healing and reduce symptoms:

• Gentle exercise like walking, yoga, or tai chi can help improve circulation and mood.

• Stress management techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling, can help calm the nervous system.

• Healthy eating by choosing anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and omega-3-rich foods (like salmon and walnuts) can support nerve health.

• Proper sleep hygiene by keeping a consistent bedtime, creating a relaxing nighttime routine, and avoiding screens before bed can help improve sleep.

• Topical treatments such as soothing creams containing capsaicin or menthol may help numb nerve pain for some people.

Finding Hope and Healing

Living with PHN can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Gentle, holistic treatments like acupuncture can help activate your body’s natural healing abilities and offer meaningful relief—without the side effects that often come with medications.

At Northeast Acupuncture and Wellness, we understand the daily struggles that come with chronic pain. Our compassionate, personalized care is designed to ease your symptoms, support long-term healing, and help you feel more like yourself again.

If you're ready to explore a natural, supportive approach to managing your PHN symptoms, we invite you to book a consultation today. Take the first step toward a life with less pain and more comfort—you deserve it.