2024 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 19-22
We report a case of a 53-year-old super-obese woman who was treated with acupuncture for sequelae of peripheral facial nerve palsy associated with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The paralysis score on the Yanagihara 40-point system at the first visit was 4 points. 17 days after onset, the patient was referred to the Anesthesiology Department, where she underwent polarized near-infrared light therapy and SSP therapy. 7 months after onset, the score improved to 14 points. However, since facial tightness did not improve, acupuncture was started 9 months after onset. A total of 10 treatments were conducted, once every 1 to 2 weeks. The accompanying symptoms such as facial tightness, stiff neck and shoulders, and cold feet improved, thereby relieving anxiety and increasing the score to 20 points. Thus, in pain clinics, acupuncture may be considered a safe and effective treatment for improving sequelae and quality of life in patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy and high-risk background factors.
