How To Cure Shingles Nerve Pain

Other Treatment Recommendations For Shingles

If you think you have shingles, see your doctor as soon as possible. This increases the effectiveness of any treatment your doctor will prescribe for you. The treatment doesnt cure shingles. Its meant to help you manage the pain.

Besides acupuncture, you can use other methods to manage your pain. These include:

• antiviral drugs such as Famvir, Zovirax, and Valtrex
• over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers
• calamine lotion, colloidal oatmeal, andwet compresses

Two vaccines are available for adults ages 50 years and older. The Food and Drug Administration approved Shingrix and Zostavax for use. These vaccines reduce the risk of getting shingles. If an older adult still gets shingles after being vaccinated, the symptoms may be less intense.

Shingrix, made from a dead germ, is the preferred vaccine. People with weakened immune systems can get it. Its risky for this group to get the Zostavax vaccine, which contains a live but weakened germ.

Zostavax has not been sold in the United States since November 18, 2020. If you received this vaccine, the

Read Also: How Does Shingles Start On Your Body

Who Is At Risk Of Getting Shingles

Shingles typically affects older people, but it can also occur in healthy younger persons and even in children. Those whose immune systems have been weakened by cancer, HIV infection, AIDS, or treatment with certain medicines are also at increased risk of getting shingles.

• Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of getting shingles later in life. About 1 in 3 people who have not been immunised against chickenpox or shingles will get shingles in their lifetime.
• Shingles usually affects older people. The older you are if you get shingles, the higher your risk of getting serious disease. People who have a weakened immune system are also at risk of getting more severe disease, even if they are young.
• Women have a higher risk of getting shingles than men.
• Most people who develop shingles have only 1 episode during their lifetime. However, you can have shingles more than once.

An attack of shingles during pregnancy will not harm the unborn baby. The mother is already carrying the varicella zoster virus before developing shingles and there is no increase in the risk of passing it on to the fetus if shingles develops. However, an attack of chickenpox during pregnancy can be serious and requires urgent medical attention.

Recommended Reading: What Are Shingles Made Of

What Are The Symptoms Of Shingles

Usually, shingles develops on just one side of the body or face, and in a small area. The most common place for shingles to occur is in a band around one side of the waistline.

Most people with shingles have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Fluid-filled blisters
• Tingling, itching, or numbness of the skin
• Chills, fever, headache, or upset stomach

For some people, the symptoms of shingles are mild. They might just have some itching. For others, shingles can cause intense pain that can be felt from the gentlest touch or breeze. Its important to talk with your doctor if you notice any shingles symptoms.

If you notice blisters on your face, see your doctor right away because this is an urgent problem. Blisters near or in the eye can cause lasting eye damage and blindness. Hearing loss, a brief paralysis of the face, or, very rarely, inflammation of the brain can also occur.

Recommended Reading: What Does Beginning Stages Of Shingles Look Like

The Best Pain Doctor For Shingles Pain Treatment Is Roziermd

If you have shingles pain, you should immediately seek the care and treatment of a reputable pain doctor.

Dr. Antonio Rozier is a highly experienced and reputable pain management doctor. He is the best pain doctor for shingles pain treatment in Dallas, Mansfield & TX. He is equipped with different interventional techniques and treatments for various types of pain including shingles pain.

If you have shingles pain or you are searching for a doctor that is very experienced in the treatment of shingles pain, Dr. Rozier is highly recommended.

Recommended Reading: Where Do You Get Shingles Vaccine

What Are The Stages Of Shingles Symptoms

There are no formal, clinical stages of shingles, but symptoms generally fall into three stages. Beginning to end, shingles can last 24 weeks.

Contact your doctor right away if you have symptoms of shingles. Early treatment with antiviral medication may help lessen the severity, speed recovery time, and lower the potential for complications.

Read Also: Does Medicare Pay For Shingrix Shingles Vaccine

Does Nerve Pain From Shingles Ever Go Away

Postherpetic neuralgia is a condition that affects one in every five people who have shingles. Those over the age of 50 are more likely to develop the disease. It is common for people with post-herpetic neuralgia to make a complete recovery within a year. For some people, the symptoms may only last a few years, or they may be permanent.

In many ways shingles and pain are synonymous. Because of the long-term nerve pain associated with shingles, shingles are the most common cause of nerve pain. The risk of PHN increases as one ages, as do the severity and length of pain. Simple self-care steps can help relieve pain caused by stress. The cause of this disease is known as pain in the nerves due to nerve damage or death from the shingles infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shingrix is more than 90% effective in preventing singles and long-term nerve pain. Shingax causes strong immune responses in the body, resulting in short-term side effects such as sore arms, redness, and swelling at injection sites, fatigue, and muscle pain in the short term.

Best Treatments For Lasting Shingles Pain

Postherpetic Neuralgia Pain: What Works, What Doesnt

Doctors call it postherpetic neuralgia or PHN. Its caused by nerve damage left behind by a case of shingles. Shingles itself comes from reactivation of a chickenpox virus, varicella zoster. The virus travels down nerve fibers to cause a painful skin rash.

When the rash goes away, the pain usually goes with it. But for 12% to 15% of people the pain remains. If your shingles pain lasts eight to 12 weeks after the rash goes away, youre part of an unfortunate minority, says pain researcher Andrew S.C. Rice, MD, of Imperial College, London.

Among people with PHN, some have their pain resolve in the first year to 18 months after the shingles rash goes away, Rice tells WebMD. But if they have pain longer than that, it is not going to go away on its own. In either case, a person must deal with the pain.

Also Check: Can You Show Me A Picture Of Shingles

Natural Remedies For Shingles

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. The varicella zoster virus causes this viral infection. Its the same virus that causes chickenpox.

If you had chickenpox as a child, the shingles virus lies dormant in your body. The virus can reactivate later in life and cause a shingles rash. The rash can occur on any part of your body but typically only affects small sections.

Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. The rash and fluid-filled blisters form within a couple of days after the onset of pain. Some people with shingles also have a fever, sensitivity to light, and fatigue.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , about 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles at some point in their lifetime.

The shingles virus can last between two and six weeks. Shingles isnt life-threatening, but some people experience postherpetic neuralgia. This is when nerve fibers become damaged, causing shingles pain that lasts for weeks or months after the rash clears.

Theres no cure for shingles, but your doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to help shorten the duration of the virus and reduce symptoms.

Although an antiviral is an effective treatment for shingles, its not the only option. Several natural remedies may also reduce pain and discomfort.

Dry your body completely and then wash your towel to avoid spreading the virus to others.

• orange and yellow fruits

Risk Factors For Shingles

Aging and female sex, which are non-modifiable, put you at a higher risk for developing shingles.

A modifiable risk factor that increases the risk for shingles is psychological stress due to suppression of the immune system .

A case-control study found those with diabetes, hypertension, and cancer were more likely to develop shingles. Conditions like HIV or medications that suppress the immune system are also risk factors for shingles.

A large cohort study found that typical modifiable factors like alcohol consumption, smoking, BMI, and physical activity levels were not associated with developing shingles.

You May Like: Name Of Newest Shingles Vaccine

Coping With Shingles Pain

If you have shingles, you may be wondering how to cope with the pain:

• Be sure to get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy diet to help boost your immune system.
• Wear comfortable, loose clothing with natural fiber .
• Establish or maintain a regular exercise routine.
• Utilize home remedies to help soothe pain from blisters.
• Engage in activities that help take your mind off of the pain.
• Establish a routine to help manage stress.
• Seek out support when needed from family and friends as well as professional supportive services.

Treatment Of Herpes Zoster

The treatment of herpes zoster has three major objectives: treatment of the acute viral infection, treatment of the acute pain associated with herpes zoster and prevention of postherpetic neuralgia. Antiviral agents, oral corticosteroids and adjunctive individualized pain-management modalities are used to achieve these objectives.

Also Check: Any Side Effects From Shingles Shot

Shingles Symptoms: What Should You Look For

Unlike the whole-body rash of chickenpox, the shingles rash is limited to the area of skin assigned to the infected nerve. The rash usually consists of small bumps that may turn into blisters before bursting and crusting over. If shingles appears on the face, the eye can be affected, posing a threat to sight.

Also unlike chickenpox, this rash hurts, sometimes intensely. People typically describe shingles pain as burning, stabbing, or electrical.

âShingles can be almost unbearably painful,â says Jeffrey Ralph, MD, assistant professor of neurology at the University of California in San Francisco and a fellow of the Neuropathy Association. âThe nerve itself is inflamed. The pain can sometimes come even weeks before a rash appears.â

Does Stress Increase My Risk Of Shingles

Stress may increase your risk of shingles, however age is the most important risk factor for developing shingles, as most cases of shingles occur in adults 50 years and older.

Hidden Text

Im up for almost anything somebody wants to try, whether its something old or new, Im in. But not when I had shingles. I was out. Do anything you can not to get it.

Pat Knaust,former shingles sufferer and GSK spokesperson

• Treating Nerve Pain

The virus that causes chickenpox is also what causes shingles. Itâs called varicella zoster. It can lie quietly in your nerves for decades after causing chickenpox but suddenly wake up and become active.

The main symptom of shingles is a painful rash that comes up on one side of your body or face. See your doctor as soon as you can if you think you might have this condition.

Your doctor may want to put you on medications to control your infection and speed up healing, cut inflammation, and ease your pain. They include:

Also Check: What To Do For Shingles In The Eye

Why Does Shingles Hurt

Anyone whos had chickenpox and recovered from it, still harbors the virus deep in their nerves, close to the spinal cord. In this regard, chickenpox resembles the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. Although chickenpox is not the same as sexually transmitted herpes, it is in the same family and it is therefore named herpes zoster.

Your immune system keeps the herpes zoster virus in check until you experience some stress. This allows the virus to multiply and travel along the entire length of the nerve, all the way to the skin. On the skin, it creates painful blisters that can readily ooze, allowing the virus to infect its next victim. You are highly infectious at this point and should avoid contact with people who arent vaccinated.

Foods To Avoid When Suffering From Shingles

Health Check Certified By:

Shingles is no fun at all for adults its caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, which can become dormant for years and reappear as this painful nerve condition. Those with shingles develop a very painful and itchy rash that can last for weeks or months.

There are some treatments available for shingles, and even vaccines to help prevent it, but one thing you can do to alleviate some of the symptoms is to change your diet. The best way to help relieve shingles and help speed up the recovery process is to avoid these 6 foods

Also Check: Does Aetna Cover Shingles Vaccine

Our Shingles Product Recommendations

Our product recommendation stands tall against its competition, we think you will agree. The companys excellent reputation, quality product, external independent monitoring, and testing, coupled with an incredible money back guarantee policy, makes this a good product to consider if you are looking for a quality Shingles supplement.

Can I Prevent It

The FDA has approved two shingles vaccines, Zostavax and Shingrix. A vaccine is now recommended for everyone 60 and older. People from 50 to 59 may want to talk to their doctor about it if they have ongoing pain or skin issues or have a weakened immune system.

The vaccines cut the chance of shingles by at least 50%. Even if you still get shingles, the painful period is shortened and you reduce your risk of postherpetic neuralgia.

Early treatment for shingles can also lower your chances of getting this complication. So if you think you have it, call your doctor right away. The main treatment is with antiviral drugs during the early stages of shingles, within 2 to 3 days of symptoms coming on. Medications used include:

Recommended Reading: Can You Get Shingles Vaccine While You Have Shingles

How Do You Get Rid Of Postherpetic Neuralgia

Amitriptyline and duloxetine are two of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for post-herpetic neuralgia. Depending on the benefits and side effects, you will typically begin with a low dose. It may take a few weeks for the full impact of the treatment to be felt.

Peripheral Nerve Surgery: A Potential Treatment For Postherpetic Neuralgia?

Postherpetic neuralgia is an extremely painful condition that can be treated with antibiotics or with the herpes simplex virus . A virus attack on the nervous system causes pain and numbness in the legs and feet. There are ways to manage PHN, despite the fact that there is no cure for the condition. For PHN, peripheral nerve surgery is an option. It is a procedure in which injured nerves are removed from the limbs. As a result, the pain can be reduced while the function of the joints can be improved. The operation is safe and reduces the risk of complications. While there is still some research to be done on the efficacy of peripheral nerve surgery in PHN, it may be worthwhile to investigate further. If you have debilitating pain as a result of PHN, you should consult with your doctor about this surgery.

Key Points About Shingles

• Shingles is a common viral infection of the nerves. It causes a painful rash or small blisters on an area of skin.
• Shingles is caused when the chickenpox virus is reactivated.
• It is more common in people with weakened immune systems, and in people over the age of 50.
• Shingles starts with skin sensitivity, tingling, itching, and/or pain followed by rash that looks like small, red spots that turn into blisters.
• The rash is typically affects just one area on one side of the body or face.
• Treatment that is started as soon as possible helps reduce the severity of the disease.

Recommended Reading: Does Rite Aid Give Shingles Shots

Read Also: Can You Get Shingles In Your Mouth

Can Shingles And Postherpetic Neuralgia Be Prevented

Shingles can only be prevented if you never have chickenpox, or if you have very good immunity against the chickenpox virus . Most people in the UK have chickenpox as a child. However, immunity to the chickenpox virus reduces as you become older.

There is a vaccine against the varicella-zoster virus which is now offered routinely to people in the UK aged 70-79 years. The efficacy of the vaccine declines with age and so it is not recommended for people aged 80 years or older. This vaccine is the most effective way of preventing the development of PHN. It is a very effective and safe vaccine.

How Can You Prevent Spreading The Virus

You cant give shingles to someone else, but the varicella-zoster virus is very contagious. If you have shingles and you expose someone else who has not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, you can give them the virus. Theyll get chickenpox, not shingles, but this puts them at risk for shingles later on.

Youre contagious when your blisters are oozing, or after they break and before they crust over. Do the following to avoid spreading the virus to others:

• Keep your rash covered, especially when the blisters are active.
• Try not to touch, rub, or scratch your rash.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and often.

Avoid contact with people whove never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, especially:

Recommended Reading: Can Shingles Vaccine And Pneumonia Vaccine Be Given Together