What Helps Shingles Nerve Pain

Shingles is a common affliction that happens to middle age or older people who had chickenpox as children.

What helps shingles nerve pain.

Doctors call it postherpetic neuralgia or phn. Postherpetic neuralgia post hur pet ik noo ral juh is the most common complication of shingles. Quite frequently the earliest symptom of shingles is a burning or tingling sensation on the skin. Shingles a viral infection of the nerve roots affects 1 million people in the u s each year.

The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuropathy phn when this happens feelings of pain remain long after the blisters have cleared up. Roughly 30 to 60 of people over age 60 who get shingles go on to develop a chronic pain syndrome called post herpetic neuralgia. While antiviral medication is an effective treatment for shingles it s not the only option. Generally this pain follows a nerve s path on one side of the body.

5 options may help you. The condition affects nerve fibers and skin causing burning pain that lasts long after the rash and blisters of shingles disappear. While there are medications that can help they work best on shingles pain if used early in the episode. If you have shingles symptoms get treatment now and you may avoid permanent nerve pain.

While a painful itchy blistering rash is the main characteristic of shingles this nerve pain may precede its appearance. Burning lingering pain after shingles. It s caused by nerve injury at the. Up to 15 of people with shingles have this persistent pain and it is not understood why the pain persists in some people but it is likely that some type of nerve damage or inflammation occurs during the outbreak that leads to continued pain.

The chickenpox herpes zoster virus causes shingles. It s caused by nerve. This pain can last for weeks months or even years.