Other Treatment

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles, is difficult to treat. Your doctor may recommend other treatments, along with medicines, to control the pain of PHN.

Other Treatment Choices

There are other treatments that may be used for shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. These treatments may help, but there is no clear evidence from studies that show how well these treatments work. These other treatments include:

• Acupuncture, a Chinese therapy that has been used for centuries to reduce pain.
• Biofeedback, a method of consciously controlling a body function that is normally regulated automatically by the body.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a therapy that uses mild electrical current to treat pain.

Psychological therapies that help you tolerate long-term pain, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, may be helpful. These methods can include counseling as well as learning techniques that teach you to shift your focus of attention away from the pain, such as relaxation and breathing exercises.

For severe pain from PHN, you may need to see a pain management specialist. These doctors are trained to help with pain that doesn't respond to medicines or usual treatments.