The varicella-zoster virus that causes chicken pox also is responsible for shingles. Once you have the chicken pox, you will not suffer an outbreak again, but you can have shingles. The dormant varicella-zoster virus can flare up due to stress or immune system issues, causing blisters, a rash and nerve pain on one side of the body. During the viral infection, nerves can be damaged, resulting in ongoing post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN. Our medical team at Hanowell Spine Clinic in Covington, GA, offers shingles post-herpetic neuralgia treatment to give patients relief from this chronic pain condition.
When a shingles outbreak occurs, it is usually on one side of the torso or ribcage, but it can occur on the face or other parts of the body. In most cases, the rash and nerve irritation dissipate in 2-3 weeks, without lingering symptoms. In post-herpetic neuralgia, the nerves are damaged and continue to send pain and sensitivity symptoms to the brain for months after the initial shingles outbreak. To relieve the pain and discomfort, shingle post-herpetic neuralgia treatment is needed.
Relief for PHN Symptoms
If you had shingles and still are plagued with sharp pain or sensitivity in the area of your outbreak for over a month, you may have PHN. Ongoing shingles pain can last for months, even more than a year, without treatment. While it is common for post-herpetic neuralgia pain to go away with time as the nerve fibers are no longer irritated, this pain can make it difficult to sleep or enjoy your life. Our doctors at Hanowell Spine Clinic offer treatments, like nerve blocks or steroid injections, to relieve inflammation or stop nerve pain signals to give you relief from PHN.
If you have chronic shingles pain, there are options to give you relief. Come see us at Hanowell Spine Clinic. Contact us today to schedule a consultation for shingle post-herpetic neuralgia treatment.