Acupuncture for Post-Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN) in Melbourne
When the Rash Has Healed, But the Pain Hasn’t
The blisters are gone. Your skin looks normal again. But underneath, there’s still burning, stabbing, or electric-shock pain – sometimes so sensitive that a bedsheet or a light breeze against the skin is unbearable. If this has been going on for months since your shingles outbreak, you may be dealing with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), one of the most common and frustrating complications of shingles. It can wear on your sleep, your mood, and your patience – and it’s a condition our clinical team sees and treats regularly.
Our Melbourne TCM practitioners take a whole-person approach that may help ease acute discomfort and support recovery from postherpetic neuralgia.
📍 Clinics in Coburg (Melbourne North) and Ringwood (Melbourne East) — Open 7 Days
👩⚕️ Female practitioners available | 🚗 Free parking | Open 7 Days
What Is PHN?
Post-herpetic neuralgia is nerve pain that persists after a shingles (herpes zoster) outbreak has healed. It happens when the virus responsible for shingles leaves lasting irritation or damage to the affected nerve fibres, causing them to continue sending pain signals even once the skin has recovered. PHN is generally defined as pain that persists for more than 90 days after the onset of the shingles rash.
What Does PHN Feel Like?
PHN doesn’t feel like ordinary pain. Patients commonly describe:
- A constant burning or “raw” sensation along the old rash line
- Sharp, stabbing or electric-shock-like jabs
- Extreme sensitivity to light touch — clothing, sheets, or even a breeze can trigger pain (a symptom known as allodynia)
- Numbness or itching alongside the pain
- Pain that disrupts sleep and daily activity
If this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone – PHN is a recognised and well-documented condition.
Can Acupuncture Help With PHN?
Acupuncture is used as a complementary approach to help manage neuropathic pain such as PHN. It isn’t a replacement for the pain management plan your GP or specialist has recommended, but many patients use it alongside conventional care.
Depending on your presentation, acupuncture may be used to help:
- Reduce the intensity and frequency of pain
- Ease burning, stabbing or electric sensations
- Reduce abnormal sensitivity to touch
- Relieve associated muscular tension
- Support better sleep when pain is disrupting rest
- Improve day-to-day comfort and quality of life
What Does the Research Say?
Research investigating acupuncture for post-herpetic neuralgia has reported potential reductions in pain intensity. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have generally found encouraging results, but the available studies vary in quality and some have methodological limitations, and further high-quality research is needed.
Acupuncture may be considered as a complementary option for managing PHN pain, rather than a guaranteed cure – and how well any individual responds varies from person to person.
Electroacupuncture
For some patients with persistent neuropathic pain, we may incorporate electroacupuncture into the treatment plan. A gentle electrical stimulation is applied through selected acupuncture needles to provide controlled stimulation along the affected area. The approach is individualised according to the location and character of the pain and your response to treatment. Electroacupuncture is not suitable for everyone, and your practitioner will assess whether it is appropriate for you.
A Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, PHN is understood as a continuation of the shingles process (蛇串疮 Shé Chuàn Chuāng) into a more chronic pattern. Practitioners generally assess your presentation against patterns such as:
- Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis (气滞血瘀): After the acute shingles outbreak has settled, some people may present with a TCM pattern characterised by persistent obstruction of Qi and Blood in the affected channels. This may correspond clinically with fixed, stabbing or persistent pain.
- Qi and Yin Deficiency (气阴两虚): In some people, particularly after a prolonged illness or in older adults, the presentation may be more consistent with deficiency, with lingering dull pain, numbness, fatigue or reduced vitality.
Treatment is tailored to your individual pattern rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol, aiming to improve the flow of Qi and Blood through the affected channels.
Every Presentation Is Different
Recently Developed PHN
When nerve pain has only recently persisted after shingles, treatment focuses on your current pattern of pain and sensitivity, while also considering sleep, stress and general wellbeing.
Long-Standing PHN
When pain has continued for many months or years, treatment takes a realistic and individualised approach. Longstanding neuropathic pain can be difficult to manage, but acupuncture may be considered as part of a broader pain-management strategy.
Facial and Ophthalmic PHN
When the original shingles outbreak involved the face or eye area (herpes zoster ophthalmicus), we work closely alongside your treating specialist, as this presentation requires particular care.
What Treatment Involves
At Almond Wellness Centre, our approach is led by Dr. Richard Zeng (30+ years experience) and our senior clinical team. Your first visit includes a thorough discussion of your pain history, the affected area, and any treatments you’ve already tried, so we can build a plan suited to your individual presentation – whether that’s manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, or a combination approach.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
There is no standard number of treatments for PHN. The frequency and duration depend on how long you’ve had the pain, its severity, the location, and your response to treatment. We usually review your progress regularly and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it too late to start acupuncture if I’ve had PHN for a long time?
A: It’s rarely “too late” to start. We’ve supported patients with pain lasting anywhere from a few months to several years. Response varies from person to person, and earlier treatment sometimes has more to work with, but longstanding PHN can still be considered for treatment.
Q: Will acupuncture stop my PHN pain completely?
A: We can’t promise complete resolution, particularly in longstanding cases. What we can offer is an individualised course of treatment aimed at reducing pain intensity and improving quality of life, reviewed and adjusted as we go.
Q: How many acupuncture sessions will I need?
A: There is no standard number of treatments for PHN. The frequency and duration depend on how long you’ve had the pain, its severity, the location and your response to treatment. We usually review your progress regularly and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.
Q: Is PHN the same as the neuropathy you treat for other conditions?
A: PHN is a specific type of nerve pain that follows a shingles outbreak, so treatment is tailored to the affected pathway and your individual pattern. That said, many of the underlying acupuncture principles overlap with how we approach neuropathy and nerve pain more broadly.
Visit Our Melbourne Clinics
Our team provides a compassionate, expert environment across two convenient locations:
Acupuncture Clinic - Coburg (Melbourne North)
21 Bell Street, Coburg VIC 3058
📞 03 9378 9479
‘Serving Brunswick, Preston, Northcote, Essendon, Reservoir, Bundoora, Pascoe Vale, Epping, Glenroy, Fawkner, and Thornbury.
Parking: Free onsite and street parking available
Public transport: Accessible via tram and bus routes
→ View Coburg Clinic Details
Acupuncture Clinic - Ringwood (Melbourne East)
31 Wantirna Road, Ringwood VIC 3134
📞 03 8802 1519
Serving Mitcham, Croydon, Vermont, Donvale, Doncaster, Wantirna, Heathmont, and Box Hill.
Parking: On-site parking available
Public transport: Near Ringwood train station
→ View Ringwood Clinic Details
Take the next step
Ready to Explore a Complementary Approach?
Book an initial consultation at our Coburg or Ringwood clinic to discuss how Traditional Chinese Medicine may support your recovery from shingles or postherpetic neuralgia.
or
AHPRA-registered. Evidence-informed care since 2003.
The information on this page is general in nature and is intended for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for professional health care. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are complementary therapies; they are not intended to replace treatment prescribed by your doctor. Always consult a qualified health professional about your specific circumstances. Almond Wellness Centre practitioners are registered with AHPRA.