In the December 2019 Article of Neurosurgery “Concurrent Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Hemi-Laryngopharyngeal Spasm (HeLPS): A Case Report and a Review of the Literature”, there is a study case of patient with Hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm (HeLPS). The case report and literature review highlight that HeLPS can co-occur with glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN) and has been previously described (but not recognized) in the neurosurgical literature. Patients describe intermittent coughing and choking and can be cured following microvascular decompression of their Xth cranial nerve.
That is a surgical option from conventional medicine view. Here may be the option from Chinese Medicine view of how acupuncture can help patients with these kinds of neurological disorder. The origin of the disorder can be different though.
One female patient with Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Hemi-Laryngopharyngeal Spasm (HeLPS) came to our clinic seeking acupuncture help. She was formally a shingle patient with Ramsay Hunt syndrome or herpes zoster oticus. After over three months of acupuncture treatment, her pain inside right ear was alleviated to the point that did not get her attention. However, after a while, she developed new condition of stomach acid reflex as she described and also right side throat feels tenderness. She saw a gastroenterologist and did an endoscopy. Nothing wrong. Her doctor did Nerve conduction study and found wrong in her right side throat muscles. Her other symptoms also matches what is PeLPS test shows IX,X nerve is pressed, sour taste, coughing, intermittent, swallow-induced, neck muscle contraction, severe electrical pain radiating from her ear to her throat, acid reflex.
After two visits of acupuncture, her conditions have been improved greatly. She does not have muscle contraction or pain from right ear to throat. She only feels some itchiness in the bottom, left side of throat. She do sometimes needs to cough to clear out the itchy sensation. We will update her progress if time is allowed.
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