What is Postherpetic Neuralgia?

Postherpetic Neuralgia is a complication of shingles, which is characterized by severe pain in areas where the shingles rash occurred.

Primary Cause

• Damage occurs to nerve fibers during the course of a shingles outbreak.
• This damage results in persistent nerve pain that lasts long after the rash has healed.
  
  

Symptoms Requiring Management

• Patients experience severe and ongoing pain localized to the previously affected shingles areas.
• Increased sensitivity to even light touch can be a significant issue.
• Some individuals may also experience sensations of itching or numbness.
  
  

Diagnosis

• Typically involves a thorough physical examination by a healthcare professional.
• The patient’s medical history, specifically any prior episodes of shingles, is carefully reviewed.
• The evaluation of the specific symptoms the patient is experiencing is crucial for diagnosis.
  
  

Conservative Treatments

• Topical creams applied directly to the skin can help manage localized pain.
• Certain antidepressant medications have been found effective in treating nerve pain.
• Anticonvulsant drugs, often used for epilepsy, can also help alleviate nerve pain.
• Opioid medications may be prescribed for more severe pain.
  
  

Interventional Treatments

• Nerve blocks, which involve injecting anesthetic or other medications near affected nerves, can provide pain relief.
• Electrical nerve stimulation techniques can help to modulate pain signals.
• Intrathecal pain pumps can deliver pain medication directly to the spinal fluid.
  
  

Treatment Goals

• The main objective of treatment is to effectively manage the patient’s pain.
• Reducing the sensitivity of the affected nerves is another important aim.
• Ultimately, the goal is to improve the patient’s overall quality of life.