Treatments For Nerve Pain From Shingles

Roughly 30 to 60 of people over age 60 who get shingles go on to develop a chronic pain syndrome called post herpetic neuralgia.

Treatments for nerve pain from shingles.

Generally this pain follows a nerve s path on one side of the body. The virus travels down nerve fibers to cause a painful skin rash. For some people shingles pain continues long after the blisters have cleared. Quite frequently the earliest symptom of shingles is a burning or tingling sensation on the skin.

While antiviral medication is an effective treatment for shingles it s not the only option. There s no cure for shingles but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia and it occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain. If you have shingles symptoms get treatment now and you may avoid permanent nerve pain.

When the rash goes away the pain usually goes. It s called postherpetic neuralgia. While a painful itchy blistering rash is the main characteristic of shingles this nerve pain may precede its appearance. The condition affects nerve fibers and skin causing burning pain that lasts long after the rash and blisters of shingles disappear.

Sometimes the pain of shingles continues long after the blisters and other symptoms have faded away. Learn about treatment options from a pain management specialist. Shingles itself comes from reactivation of a chickenpox virus varicella zoster. The chickenpox herpes zoster virus causes shingles.

There s no cure but treatments can ease symptoms. Capsaicin topical patch qutenza. Shingles a viral infection of the nerve roots affects 1 million people in the u s each year. Doctors can help you manage the pain.

Shingles causes a painful rash that can be accompanied by fever fatigue and sensitivity to light.