ML830 Laser Therapy: Natural Alternative Treatment for Shingles - Herpes Zoster Virus
JM is a 50 year old female that presented with severe pain in her
left arm due to the activation of the Herpes Zoster virus (aka
Shingles). Her symptoms included pain over the lateral surface of her
arm and shoulder, which is consistent with the dermatomal pattern of the
C5 and C6 spinal nerves, as well as lesions over 50 percent of her
forearm.
The patient stated that she was unable to sleep comfortably, was
unable to tolerate any contact to the affected areas and had difficultly
using her arm. Using a standard visual analog scale (VAS), she rated
the pain at 7-8 out of 10 at its worst and 5 out of 10 at its best.
The Herpes Zoster virus, commonly known as Shingles, is the same
virus that causes chickenpox. Once an individual’s chickenpox outbreak
has cleared, the virus becomes dormant anywhere within the nervous
system. The exact cause of reactivation is unknown but can be triggered
by emotional stress or illness.
The treatment plan for this patient was to use the ML830 Cold laser
started at the C5/C6 spinal nerves, as well as those areas that caused
the patient the most discomfort, specifically her shoulder and elbow
joints. Additionally, the lesions would also be treated to provide pain
relief and speed healing.
The patient was treated four times over a 10 day period using
standard treatment protocols for neurological conditions. Using the same
VAS scale at the beginning of each visit, the patient stated that her
symptoms were reduced by 50 percent by the third visit and she was able
to sleep through the night. The lesions were also significantly reduced
with only one area visible on the skin. On the fourth visit, the patient
stated that her symptoms were about 80 percent resolved.
The Microlight 830 Low Level Laser has been part of my treatment
plans since my clinical rotations at Palmer College and will continue to
be an important tool for caring for my patients.
Thanks, Dr. K.
Find out more about Laser Therapy for Shingles at http://www.myml830.com.
