1. Community
  2. Brain and nerves
  3. Postherpetic Neuralgia

PHN Survival Skills-Is stem cell therapy, Ozone therapy, Nerve Blockage, Skin removal any help?

Posted , 4 users are following.

ashok1082
ashok1082

Is stem cell therapy, Ozone therapy, Nerve Blockage, Skin removal any help?

I was diagnosed with Herpes in March 2017 . The shingles were on a band of about 3 “ on chest and back on right side.

I was given Valaciclovir 1 gm 3 times day x 5 days ……… antiviral medicine course.

However it got converted to Neuralgia and I have constant pain of the stretching pain, intense burning, high sensitivity and pinpricks like pain since 1 year.

I consulted 3 Neurologists, one Pain specialist and two physicians and took the medicines which had little or no effect. My regular physician said that I have taken all medicines and there is nothing more he can advise me to do and that pain will end when the nerve healing takes place on its own.

I have also taken treatment Homeopathic for 2 months and Kerala Ayurvedic  15 days

None of the allopathic or other treatments have reduced the pain more than 10 to 20%

My physician says I have taken all the medicines available and there is nothing more left.

I want to know what further treatments are available as there is constant non-stop pain. Even air from fan gives burning sensation and I have not worn a shirt since last 1 year.

 

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • charlie58834
    charlie58834 ashok1082

    Posted

    While trying other treatments is an option, I’ve not heard of any of these working well, I am sorry to say. However, it is very useful to begin switching from trying to rid yourself from pain, to managing the pain at this point. This means accepting that you most likely will have pain for some time, and that the best thing you can do is to decrease it whatever percentage you can and move back toward living a more normal life. 

    Meditation and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) have been shown to be helpful with this longer-term goal/process. They’ve helped me a lot. 

  • docmartin66
    docmartin66 ashok1082

    Posted

    As for alternative treatments, I cannot say, but usually there are a fairly long list of things that patients are generally offered:

    - Anti depressants (at least two types I think, cannot remember the names)

    - Anti epileptic drugs (Lyrica and others)

    - Qutenza patches

    - Lidocaine-patches

    - Opiates

    - Maybe others that I cannot name or know.

    Some may find relief from topical agents (creams), while others get effect from cold-treatments and others get effects from Botox-treatments.

    Usually, none of these will get you pain-free and, apart from maybe a high does of Opiates, the effect (and side-effects) from these things seems to be individual.

    A new drug, EMA401 is under development by Novartis and has shown promising results, currently there are ongoing trials in Europe on this, ask your doctor about the reference CEMA401A2201, to see if you can be a participant there if you are currently living there.

    But yes, from my understanding, it seems like you need to keep trying to find a combination of things that makes life durable (albeit not pain-free), I hope and wish your current situation will be a short one.

  • babs99203
    babs99203 ashok1082

    Posted

    The pain from the fan you mention is called allodynia, a very frustrating side effect, and  as you mention, sometimes the only way to avoid it is to not touch it OR some people actually have luck with compression clothing, which makes not sense, but it confuses the nerves. Just as some feel relief from hot or cold showers. Please avoid anything such as "skin removal" which will do nothing but cause more damage to your body.  Charlie and Doc have good options, but the medicines such as Lyrica and gabapentin (anti-epilepsy drugs) or their kin and anti-depressants like Cymbalta can other cascading problems for many patients.Believe me, I'm one of them and know many others who agree.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.