From a healthy diver, Mr. D.W.T (51 years old, Canadian) suffered severe complications such as facial paralysis and facial distortion after being treated for shingles. Unable to find an effective treatment in his home country, he decided to fly to Vietnam and seek care at FV Hospital. After three months of multidisciplinary treatment, he made a remarkable recovery.
Life turned upside down by shingles complications
In September 2024, Mr. D.W.T contracted shingles caused by the Varicella zoster virus (VZV). Following initial treatment, he developed serious complications directly affecting his facial nerves and meninges, resulting in facial paralysis, tingling pain on the left side of his body, vestibular disorders, loss of balance, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia. Once a healthy diver, he became physically exhausted and mentally distressed.
Facing difficulty in accessing appropriate treatment and healthcare services in Canada, Mr. D.W.T recalled FV Hospital in Vietnam. He had previously visited the hospital in 2023 to have a coronary stent placed, also due to long wait times in Canada. Trusting FV’s medical quality, he contacted the hospital.
From the initial consultation, FV doctors recognized the complexity of his neurological sequelae and emphasized the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to achieve successful treatment.
Multidisciplinary approach leads to successful treatment of complex shingles complications
In December 2024, Mr. D.W.T traveled to Vietnam for medical tourism. At that time, he struggled to move, suffered facial paralysis with inability to close his eyes, distorted mouth, numbness, and pain on the left side of his body. “The patient’s complications were severe, affecting movement, mental health, and quality of life. We decided to apply multiple treatment methods to maximize effectiveness,” said Dr. Diec Kha Han, Head of Traditional Medicine at FV Hospital.
Doctors from the Traditional Medicine, Pain Clinic, and Neurology Internal Medicine jointly consulted and developed a treatment plan aiming to reduce pain, restore motor function, and improve the patient’s mental state.
At the Traditional Medicine, the patient received acupuncture to restore facial muscle movement combined with hydro-acupuncture, a technique injecting medicine into acupuncture points administered six times a month to help alleviate numbness and improve motor function.
Simultaneously, the Pain Clinic’s doctors discontinued the morphine prescribed in Canada, replacing it with milder pain relievers and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy. This therapy helped control chronic nerve pain, improved sleep quality, and supported neurological recovery.
“After one week of treatment, the patient reported significant pain relief,” said Dr. Pham Hoang Manh, Pain Clinic, FV Hospital.
The Neurology Internal Medicine monitored and adjusted treatment for vestibular disorders while providing medication to support neurological function.
After three months of treatment, Mr. D.W.T showed remarkable improvement: he could walk unaided, close his eyes fully, while facial features gradually recovered, sleep improved, and his mood became more optimistic. By mid-April 2025, he had completed his rehabilitation process.
Bridging support for medical tourists at FV
Traveling to Vietnam for treatment, as in Mr. D.W.T’s case, is part of a growing trend of medical tourism attracting international visitors. As a private hospital with foreign investment, FV has offered medical tourism services since 2008. The hospital’s liaison office handles all communication, consultation, and appointment scheduling remotely, ensuring smooth procedures and peace of mind for patients.
Moreover, FV provides telemedicine services that allow patients to consult doctors online. In many cases, domestic and international specialists collaborate to design the optimal treatment plan before patients travel to FV for care.
Notably, healthcare costs at FV are significantly lower than in hospitals in the US, Canada, or Europe. Wait times are also much shorter, while the quality of medical services matches leading global hospitals. Besides doctors proficient in English and French, FV offers translation services in various languages such as Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Russian to assist patients from many countries, ensuring the best possible examination and treatment outcomes.
For more information about medical tourism, readers can contact (028) 3511 3333.
