Postherpetic neuralgia from Shingles: Low Level Laser Therapy

@jerid, Thanks for sharing your experience with the Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). You will notice that I changed the title of your discussion to hopefully bring in more members to benefit from your positive experience using the LLLT device to help with the pain from your chronic postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) caused by shingles. I also found some information that supports how it has helped you.

- The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4743666/
- Is Cold Laser Therapy Right for You?: https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-laser-therapy

How often do you use the device to keep the pain in control?

Gosh, thank you for the extra info. Much appreciated. Hope this helps others.

I am only in my second week. I am using it only 2x a day and I have seen relief. Not painless yet, but a heck of a lot better.

@jerid
Thank-you for telling us about this device. My wife has PN in her feet and tried using an infrared device, also from, where else, Amazon (aka the company store) and after using it for about a month she believed it was helping her. But after further use she began to believe it was more placebo effect than anything, and by about 2 months of use she gave it up completely. Here is what we got originally: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IVPMZKE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

What you are using is called Low level laser therapy and may be significantly different than what we used (and obviously much more $$$).

Anyway, after the first one disappointed, I got a 2nd device from Amazon, basically a glorified infrared light bulb, and I had to rig it up for her so it could be used easily. She used this one and at first was more pleased with it than the the original unit, but then after a while, just like the first one, she began to lose confidence that it was doing much for her. I should say, she was using each of the devices from 2 to 4 times per day, usually for about 15-20 minutes each time and used each light device for about 2 months altogether. Here is the link for 2nd device (bulb): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JW9RZ7K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

What you are using is much more expensive and might actually help, I sure hope so. I will be very interested to hear from you later as to how you feel about it after much more use. Thanks for posting this. Best, Hank

@jerid Thanks for letting me know of this treatment I've sent to a friend who is battling the shingles .

Yes, I am so far happy with the results. The leathery like forehead is mostly back to normal with little to no inflammation. My electrical shock like pain has greatly reduced. My husband told me last night it is nice to not see me going around with such pain in my eyes and expression. That is huge to me. My left eye was also effected and it was always swollen and is back to normal size. I am not out of the woods yet, but a whole heck of a lot better. I will get the name and number to the chiropractor in LVegas who used a pen like cold laser and the cost is much less and he is having good results with his patients. Actually I have it. His name is Steve and his # is 702-768-1804. Go to Energy Healing or google his phone number and it will take you right to his website with a video and his information. His cold laser is around $2-300. Good Luck.

I looked at the lights and I do not think they are laser only red light. Hartford Medical Center in CT uses the laser therapy so this is why we went with a laser rather than just the red light.

Would this work for sciatica too?

Thank you so much for the information on low level laser therapy for PHN. I have PHN in the same area that you did, left forehead, scalp and eye. I am ordering a unit for treatment and have some questions about the operation. What frequency did you use, how long did you do each treatment, and how many times a week did you do a treatment? I appreciate any help you can give me. God bless!

Hello @anniebach, Welcome to Connect. I'm not sure if your post directed to @jerid who started this discussion or @jesfactsmon who also mentioned several low level laser devices. Hopefully, they can respond and answer some of your questions. You may also want to go to the manufacturer's website to see if they have a user's guide for more information?

Can you share the name of the low level device you are ordering?