Post Herpetic Neuralgia

Post herpetic neuralgia is a painful condition that may accompany a shingles outbreak. Shingles occurs due to the same virus guilty of causing chickenpox.

Adults 60 years of age and older are encouraged to get the shingles vaccine as it may prevent the outbreak of shingles and the Post Herpetic Neuralgia that may follow.

This occurs when nerves are damaged due to the shingles outbreak.

Symptoms

After the shingles rash, pain is usually felt on the location of the shingles outbreak and is described as a sharp, burning, or jabbing pain. Other symptoms include:

Itching
Numbness
Muscle weakness
Sensitivity to touch

Diagnosis of Post Herpetic Neuralgia usually relies on a patient’s history specifically about the shingles outbreak. There is no specific test or treatment to remedy Post Herpetic Neuralgia.

Treatments

Treatments commonly used include:

Antidepressants
Anti-convulsants
Pain-relieving skin patches
Opioids
Topical pain creams

Patients with shingles that visit a doctor and start a course of antivirals within the first 72 hours of the shingles rash appearing are less likely to develop Post Herpetic neuralgia.