What Helps Shingles Nerve Pain

The chickenpox herpes zoster virus causes shingles.

What helps shingles nerve pain.

The condition affects nerve fibers and skin causing burning pain that lasts long after the rash and blisters of shingles disappear. Doctors call it postherpetic neuralgia or phn. July 25 2005 a new study offers insights into what helps and what does not help relieve long lasting shingles pain. This pain can last for weeks months or even years.

It s caused by nerve. Shingles a viral infection of the nerve roots affects 1 million people in the u s each year. While a painful itchy blistering rash is the main characteristic of shingles this nerve pain may precede its appearance. Postherpetic neuralgia post hur pet ik noo ral juh is the most common complication of shingles.

Shingles is a common affliction that happens to middle age or older people who had chickenpox as children. Shingles causes a painful rash that can be accompanied by fever fatigue and sensitivity to light. Generally this pain follows a nerve s path on one side of the body. It s caused by nerve injury at the.

Roughly 30 to 60 of people over age 60 who get shingles go on to develop a chronic pain syndrome called post herpetic neuralgia. Quite frequently the earliest symptom of shingles is a burning or tingling sensation on the skin. 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. If you have shingles symptoms get treatment now and you may avoid permanent nerve pain.

While antiviral medication is an effective treatment for shingles it s not the only option. Burning lingering pain after shingles. The rash which can be excruciating is often one sided because it follows the route of the nerves under the skin.