Journal of Acupuncture Research

Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Improvement of Weakness and Pain of the Right Upper Limb Associated with Herpes Zoster Following Complex Korean Medicine Treatment: A Case Report

  • Hyesoo Jeon (Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Shin-Hyeok Park (Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Sohae Cho (Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Jeonju Korean Medicine Hospital of Wonkwang University) ;
  • Sol Jeong (Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Nam Geun Cho (Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University)
  • Received : 2023.03.21
  • Accepted : 2023.04.24
  • Published : 2023.05.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Herein, we report the effectiveness of Korean medicine for the treatment of postherpetic upper limb weakness and pain. The patient received a combination of Korean medicine treatment modalities, including electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine. Muscle strength and pain were evaluated using a manual muscle test (MMT) and a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), respectively. The overall MMT score improved after hospitalization, and elbow extension improved from 3+ at admission to 5 at discharge. The NRS score improved to 2 at discharge. This study suggests the effectiveness of a combination of Korean medicine modalities in treating postherpetic motor nerve paralysis.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We thank the patient for allowing us to use their medical records to report this case.

References

  1. Korean Dermatological Association. Textbook of dermatology. 7th ed. McGraw-Hill Education Korea. 2020:367-369.
  2. Gupta SK, Helal BH, Kiely P. The prognosis in zoster paralysis. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1969;51:593-603. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.51B4.593
  3. Yeo EJ, Park KM, Cho SH, Chun HS. Case of vocal cord paralysis and upper limb motor paralysis caused by herpes zoster. Korean J Orient Physiol Pathol 2011;25:322-325.
  4. Yang JY, Park MJ, Kim SH, Cho KH, Mun SK, Kwon SW, et al. A case of a postzoster femoral nerve palsy patient with weakness of the right lower limb treated with Korean medicine. J Intern Korean Med 2018;39:192-200. doi: 10.22246/jikm.2018.39.2.192
  5. Vallat JM, Weis J. Peripheral nerve disorders: pathology and genetics. Wiley-Blackwell. 2014:3.
  6. Sohn EH, Kim BJ. Clinical scale for neuropathic pain. J Korean Neurol Assoc 2021;39(2 Suppl):24-36. doi: 10.17340/jkna.2021.2.18
  7. Greenberg MK, McVey AL, Hayes T. Segmental motor involvement in herpes zoster: an EMG study. Neurology 1992;42:1122-1123. doi: 10.1212/wnl.42.5.1122
  8. Price RW. Herpes zoster: an approach to systemic therapy. Med Clin North Am 1982;66:1105-1118. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)31385-2
  9. Cockerell OC, Ormerod IE. Focal weakness following herpes zoster. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1993;56:1001-1003. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.56.9.1001
  10. Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Society Textbook Compilation Committee. Acupuncture medicine. Rev. ed. Hanmi Medicine Publish Company. 2016:124, 155, 160, 668-671.
  11. Kim DF, Park YH, Keum DH. Studies of the effects of acupuncture stimulation at Huatuo Jiaji(EX B2) points on axonal regeneration of injured sciatic nerve in the rats. J Orient Rehabil Med 2008;18:39-61.
  12. Inoue M, Katsumi Y, Itoi M, Hojo T, Nakajima M, Ohashi S, et al. Direct current electrical stimulation of acupuncture needles for peripheral nerve regeneration: an exploratory case series. Acupunct Med 2011;29:88-93. doi: 10.1136/aim.2010.003046
  13. Cheon YS, Kim JK. Study on the analgesic effect of JakYak GamCho Tang-herbal acupunture [thesis]. Seoul: Kyung Hee University; 1993.