Once an active scuba diver, Mr D.W.T., a 51-year-old Canadian, developed severe complications following treatment for shingles, including facial paralysis and mouth distortion. Unable to access suitable care in his home country, he travelled halfway across the world to Vietnam to seek treatment at FV Hospital. After three months of coordinated, multidisciplinary care at FV, Mr D.W.T. made a remarkable recovery.

Life Disrupted by Neurological Shingles Complications

In September 2024, Mr D.W.T. was diagnosed with shingles caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). Following treatment, he experienced a series of severe complications affecting the facial nerve and meninges. These included facial paralysis, tingling pain on the left side of the body, vestibular disorders, loss of balance, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia. From a healthy and active diver, Mr D.W.T. became physically exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed, struggling with a deep sense of pessimism and hopelessness.

At a time when effective treatment was unavailable and access to medical services in his home country was limited, Mr D.W.T recalled FV Hospital in Vietnam. In 2023, he had previously sought care at FV for coronary stenting due to long wait times in Canada. Confident in the hospital’s medical quality, he once again turned to FV Hospital.

Based on initial assessment, FV’s doctors identified a complex nurological sequelae that required a multidisciplinary approach to ensure effective treatment.

Multidisciplinary Approach Leads to Successful Treatment of Severe Shingles Complications

In December 2024, Mr D.W.T flew to Vietnam for medical tourism. At that time, he was experiencing significant mobility challenges, facial paralysis, an inability to close one eye,  mouth distortion, and numbness and pain on the left side of his body. “The patient was suffering from severe complications that affected his mobility, mental well-being, and quality of life. We decided to apply a combination of treatment methods to achieve optimal results,” said Dr Diec Kha Han, Head of Traditional Medicine at FV Hospital.

Doctors from the Traditional Medicine, Pain Clinic, and Internal Neurology departments collaborated to create a treatment plan focused on pain relief, restoring motor function, and improving the patient’s mental well-being.

At the Traditional Medicine Department, the patient received acupuncture therapy to help restore facial muscle function, combined with hydro-acupuncture – a technique involving the injection of medication into acupuncture points, performed six times per month, to relieve limb numbness and support motor recovery.

At the same time, doctors at the Pain Clinic advised the patient to discontinue the use of morphine, previously prescribed in Canada, and transitioned him to milder pain medications. Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy was also introduced to manage chronic neuropathic pain, improve sleep, and support neurological recovery. “After just one week of treatment, the patient experienced significant pain relief,” said Dr Pham Hoang Manh of the Pain Clinic.

The Neurologists Unit – Internal medicine Department oversaw the management of vestibular disorders, regularly monitoring and adjusting the treatment regimen while prescribing medication to support overall neurological function.

After three months of treatment, Mr D.W.T showed significant improvement: he no longer required mobility aids, was able to close his eye, experienced gradual restoration of facial symmetry, improved sleep, and a more positive outlook. By mid-April 2025, he had completed his recovery.

FV’s Dedicated Support System for Medical Tourism Patients

Flying to Vietnam for medical treatment, as in Mr D.W.T’s case, reflects a growing trend in medical tourism that continues to attract many international patients. As a privately operated hospital with foreign investment, FV has been offering medical tourism services since 2008. The hospital’s dedicated liaison team manages the entire process – from initial consultation and scheduling to appointment booking, providing seamless and reassuring support for patients from abroad.

In addition, FV offers telemedicine services, enabling patients to consult with doctors online. In many cases, FV specialists also collaborate with international physicians to jointly develop optimal treatment plans before the patients even arrive at the hospital.

One of the main reasons international patients choose FV Hospital is the significantly lower medical costs compared to hospitals in the US, Canada, and Europe, along with much shorter wait times. Despite this, the quality of medical services remains on par with major hospitals around the world. In addition to a team of English and French-speaking doctors and medical staff, FV also provides interpreters in various other languages such as Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Russian – ensuring effective communication and optimal outcomes for patients from different countries.

For more information about FV Hospital’s medical tourism services, please contact (028) 3511 3333.