Shingles Pain Relief With Laser Treatment

Low Level Laser Treatment is very effective for shingles pain relief.  It quickly and safely relieves the excruciating pain that comes with shingles.  A recent study published in the Journal of Practical Pain Management states that ALL of the patients noticed immediate improvement of their pain within the first three treatments. Some reported as much as 95% relief of their pain.¹

Shingles pain is caused by a virus called Herpes zoster.  This is the virus that originally gave you chickenpox as a child.  The virus then hides in the nerves next to your spine, called the dorsal root ganglia. It can remain dormant for years without causing problems, however it can be triggered to erupt again.  That eruption results in a rash, blisters, and the burning, searing pain called shingles. (Kind of like a mini version of the Kilauea Volcano eruption in Hawaii).

We use the latest technology in Low Level Laser Treatment (LLLT).  It is a drug-free, non-invasive, pain -free therapy.  LLLT uses  red and infrared light in the form of laser and super-pulsed light emitting diodes.  It’s safe, doesn’t produce heat, and there are no known side-effects.  It relieves pain by stimulating the body’s own anti-inflammatory processes, and stimulating endorphins.  Inflammation that aggravates the nerves in shingles is quickly reduced with the laser pain treatment.²

The pain of shingles can persist  in some people, after the blisters and rash disappears.  This is called Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN). It’s a common complication of shingles that affects 50% of individuals over the age of 50.  PHN is described as a constant sharp, burning, stabbing pain.  It interferes with sleep, work, and other activities of daily life.  It can last from 30 days to long after the rash disappears.  In some cases, the pain lasts for many years. In addition to quickly reducing pain during the blister phase, Low Level Laser Treatment has been shown to reduce the likelihood of getting PHN afterwards.³

If you are suffering with pain from shingles, please call or text our office. (310) 318-9543.  Same day appointments are available.

References:

1.  Randolph V. Merrick, MD, FAAFP, ABFM, Fred Kahn, MD, FRCS, Fernanda Saraga, PhD. Journal of Practical Pain Managment, Vol. 13, Issue #6, 2014
2. Chung H, Dai T, Sharma SK, et.al. The nuts and bolts of low- level laser (light) therapy. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 2012:40(2)
3. Moore KC, Hira N, Kumar PS, Jayakumar CS, Ohshiro T. A double-blind crossover trial of low level laser therapy in the treatment of post herpetic neuralgia. Laser Therapy. 1988;1:7-9