Treatment For Shingles Pain

The virus travels down nerve fibers to cause a painful skin rash.

Treatment for shingles pain.

When the rash goes away the pain usually goes. 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. Acyclovir zovirax valacyclovir valtrex shingles can cause severe pain so your doctor also may prescribe. Shingles causes a painful rash that can be accompanied by fever fatigue and sensitivity to light.

Capsaicin topical patch qutenza. There s no cure for shingles but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications. Learn about treatment options from a pain management specialist. The pain of shingles is for many people quite striking in its severity.

The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body. Shingles itself comes from reactivation of a chickenpox virus varicella zoster. 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. Shingles a viral infection of the nerve roots affects 1 million people in the u s each year.

This pain called postherpetic neuralgia can last for months or years and become quite severe. Roughly 30 to 60 of people over age 60 who get shingles go on to develop a chronic pain syndrome called post herpetic neuralgia. While antiviral medication is an effective treatment for shingles it s not the only option. Early treatment can limit pain help the rash heal quicker and may reduce scarring.

To help relieve the pain your doctor may prescribe antiviral anti inflammation and other. If you have shingles symptoms get treatment now and you may avoid permanent nerve pain. Shingles can appear many years after the initial chickenpox infection. Once a doctor confirms shingles they may suggest the following treatments.