Patient Success Stories

If you've had shingles — or you're worried about getting it — you probably have questions. Dr. Demetrio Aguila, a peripheral nerve surgeon in Omaha, Nebraska, answers the six questions he hears most often from patients living with shingles pain and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Watch the full video below, then keep reading for a summary of each answer.

Postherpetic Neuralgia Relief at Age 80: A Patient’s Story After Shingles Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most debilitating complications of shingles. For many patients, the burning, electric nerve pain can last months—or even years—after the rash disappears. For John Lang of Jackson, Mississippi, that pain lasted more than two years. He was told by multiple doctors that nothing could be done—that he would simply have to live with it. Living With Constant Nerve Pai

Request a consultation: https://forms.gle/GgUnvcrx68fKRgjv8 She thought she had no options left. After developing postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the pain became unbearable—affecting her ability to exercise, function, and enjoy life. Doctors told her this might be permanent. But then she found another path. Through peripheral nerve surgery with Dr. Demetrio Aguila, she finally found relief—and something even more powerful: Hope. If you’re living with: • Chronic nerve pain after

Laura Henderson, a high school teacher from Sacramento, California, was living with severe postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) of the scalp —a chronic nerve pain condition that can occur after shingles. Despite seeing seven different doctors , including neurologists and pain specialists, she was told there were no more options. When Postherpetic Neuralgia of the Scalp Pain Takes Over Your Life Her symptoms included: Constant head pain Severe sensitivity to movement Inability to work

Living With Facial Pain After Shingles For many patients, shingles is a temporary illness. But for others, the virus leaves behind lasting nerve damage known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This condition can cause severe burning, stabbing, or hypersensitive pain that persists long after the rash disappears. Patricia experienced this firsthand. After developing shingles, she lived with relentless facial nerve pain for nearly five years. Daily activities became difficult, and

For many patients, shingles doesn’t end when the rash fades. Instead, it leaves behind postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)  — a chronic nerve pain condition that can be debilitating, especially when it affects the face. For Janelle that pain became a daily reality. “I Was Hurting When I Went In — and Hurting When I Left” Like countless patients with facial postherpetic neuralgia, Janelle was prescribed medications and told there was little else that could be done. Appointment after

For six long years, Alan lived with constant, debilitating facial pain following a severe case of shingles. What began as a rash across the top, side, and back of his head — including his forehead and eye — developed into postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) of the face , a chronic nerve pain condition that persists after shingles heals. When Shingles Turns Into Chronic Nerve Pain Alan’s pain was relentless. Burning. Stabbing. Sleep-destroying. Every time he rolled over on his pillow

Many patients suffering from chronic sacroiliac (SI) joint pain  are told the joint itself is the problem. However, for a significant number of patients, the true source of pain is irritation of the middle cluneal nerves —small sensory nerves that transmit pain signals from the SI joint region to the brain. In this video, Dr. Demetrio Aguila , pain-focused peripheral nerve surgeon, explains how these nerves exit the sacrum and why treatments such as steroid injections or radi

Many Americans are increasingly concerned about what happens when Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and tax credits expire. The message most people hear is simple—and alarming: insurance premiums will rise, and healthcare will become even more expensive. According to Dr. Demetrio Aguila , this fear is understandable—but not inevitable. Why ACA Subsidy Expiration Matters ACA subsidies have helped offset insurance premiums for millions of families. When these tax credits expi

Mark Jordan came to Total Pain Solutions after years of debilitating lower back and buttock pain — pain that couldn’t be explained by imaging. His MRIs looked normal, but his quality of life was anything but. Unlike many patients who struggle for answers, Mark had already identified superior cluneal nerve entrapment as the source of his pain. He was seeking a permanent solution — not temporary relief. Following superior cluneal nerve surgery with Dr. Demetrio Aguila, Mark exp

For nearly ten years, John Murray lived with severe nerve pain caused by shingles. The condition is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN)  — and it is one of the most painful long-term complications of shingles. John described the pain as constant, burning, and unbearable. Even wearing a shirt caused agony. Medications failed. Nothing worked. Then John discovered Dr. Demetrio Aguila , a pain-focused peripheral nerve surgeon at Healing Hands of Nebraska. After reviewing John’s

A Year of Excruciating Pain — and No Answers For nearly a year, Nancy lived with relentless postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) . The burning, stabbing, itching pain spread from the left side of her head into her scalp and eye. It never stopped — not during the day, not at night, not even for a moment. She tried everything her doctors recommended: multiple PHN medications, Botox injections, red-light therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, diet changes. Nothing made a difference. “

For years, Steve from Atlanta lived with debilitating nerve pain after a severe auto accident in July 2021. The pain wrapped from his lower back to his buttock, side, and abdomen — stabbing, throbbing, relentless. He saw nine different doctors , underwent two surgeries , and still had no answers. Everyone agreed he was hurting — but no one could identify why . A Life Interrupted by Pain Golfing, running, exercising — all gone. The pain was so constant and so severe that Steve

At Total Pain Solutions by Healing Hands of Nebraska, we believe in caring for people both inside and outside the operating room. As SNAP benefits are discontinued for many low-income families in Nebraska, thousands of children, seniors, and vulnerable adults are losing access to food. That’s not something we’re willing to ignore. Dr. Demetrio J. Aguila III, MD, MA, FACS—peripheral nerve surgeon, plastic surgeon, ENT specialist, and CEO of Total Pain Solutions—is launching a

The Four Main Causes of Pain: What Every Patient and Physician Should Know By Dr. Demetrio Aguila, Pain-Focused Peripheral Nerve Surgeon Pain affects millions of people every day — yet too often, patients are told there’s nothing that can be done. The truth is that pain always has a cause, and understanding it can unlock the path to relief. In medicine, we recognize four main causes of pain . Learning how to identify each one can make all the difference for both patients and