Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
Neuralgia is nerve pain that occurs when a nerve is damaged, irritated or inflamed. Post-herpetic neuralgia strikes after the infection known as shingles. However, not everyone who has shingles will develop post-herpetic neuralgia. But for those who do, pain may be very severe and long lasting. Any pain that persists for more than a month after the shingles rash has cleared is considered post-herpetic neuralgia.
Doctors have identified a number of factors that can increase the chances of developing post-herpetic neuralgia once you have shingles, including age, gender, presence of symptoms (numbness, tingling, itching, or pain) before the rash appeared, severity of pain during initial stages of the illness, and severity of the rash. Psychological stress may also play a role. One study found people who developed post-herpetic neuralgia were more likely to have had symptoms of personality disorders, anxiety, and other bodily symptoms.
- Sharp shooting or stabbing pain
- Continuous burning, itching, or aching sensation
- Hypersensitivity to touch
- Long lasting (days or weeks)
Treatments for Post-Herpetic Neuralgia:
- Medication Management
- Pain Pump
- Spinal Cord Stimulation
- TENs Unit
- Medial Branch Nerve Block
- Surgery