Treatment For Shingles Pain

Shingles a viral infection of the nerve roots affects 1 million people in the u s each year.

Treatment for shingles pain.

Shingles is characterized by pain or a tingling sensation in a limited area on one side of the face or torso followed by a red rash with small fluid filled blisters. Shingles causes a painful rash that can be accompanied by fever fatigue and sensitivity to light. After the shingles rash has disappeared you might continue to have nerve pain in that same area. Shingles also known as herpes zoster results from a reactivation of infection with the varicella zoster virus that causes chickenpox anyone who has had chickenpox may develop shingles later in life although it is most common in older people.

Once a doctor confirms shingles they may suggest the following treatments. Early treatment can limit pain help the rash heal quicker and may reduce scarring. If you have shingles symptoms get treatment now and you may avoid permanent nerve pain. Acyclovir zovirax valacyclovir valtrex shingles can cause severe pain so your doctor also may prescribe.

When the rash goes away the pain usually goes. The virus travels down nerve fibers to cause a painful skin rash. There s no cure for shingles but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications. While antiviral medication is an effective treatment for shingles it s not the only option.

The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body. Capsaicin topical patch qutenza. The pain from shingles usually occurs in the nerves of the chest or the neck face or lower back. The pain of shingles is for many people quite striking in its severity.

Shingles can appear many years after the initial chickenpox infection. This pain called postherpetic neuralgia can last for months or years and become quite severe. Shingles itself comes from reactivation of a chickenpox virus varicella zoster. Learn about treatment options from a pain management specialist.