Q I have been suffering from intercostal neuralgia for nearly a year. Is it possible to cure such long-standing chronic neuralgia at a Korean medicine clinic?
A There is a sufficient possibility of treating chronic intercostal neuralgia lasting more than a year. However, the treatment period is longer than for acute cases, and a complex approach is required. Even if central sensitization has formed, nerve hypersensitivity can be gradually reduced through combined treatment using moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine. While individual differences exist, restoring daily living functions through treatment is a realistic goal.
Detailed Answer
Treating chronic intercostal neuralgia (12 months or more) is challenging, but not impossible. The core mechanism of chronicity is central sensitization, a state in which pain processing circuits at the spinal cord and brain levels are overactivated. To reverse this, a combination of the following must be implemented: ① reduction of peripheral pain input (local treatment), ② neuromodulation (promotion of neuroplasticity through acupuncture), ③ management of psychosocial factors, and ④ continuous cumulative treatment. It is important to set realistic goals of managing pain reduction and restoring function, rather than aiming for complete pain relief.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, if blood has been stagnant for more than a year, it is viewed as a stubborn condition that is difficult to resolve. At this stage, in addition to dispersing the clotted blood, reinforcement treatments to restore the body's regenerative power are required. We strengthen the liver and kidneys to enhance the self-healing capacity of blood flow pathways, periodically break physical adhesions using needle acupuncture, and maintain continuous regenerative stimulation with thread lifting. At Dongjedang, we set goals for chronic patients on a 3-month basis and track functional recovery (sleep quality, range of daily activities) as a treatment indicator alongside pain levels.
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