Shingles. Pain. Treatment.

[DulwichFox]

I have had a bout of Shingles...

The Sores.. Blisters ... Scabby stage lasted for most of July..

Now clear I still have terrible Pain.. Burning (worse at Night)

Pain Killers do not work because the pain is due to Nerve Damage.

The condition is called. Postherpetic Neuralgia (PNH)

which is common after the shingles Rash clears up.

It can last 2-3 weeks.. 3 - 6 months.. or longer

I have been prescribed 'Capsaicin' cream but advised to wait before I start

using it due to it's side effects. Burning because the cream contains chillies.

Has anyone else had shingles ?

How long did it last ?

Did you use Capsaicin cream

Thank You for any advice..

DulwichFox

[Jenijenjen]

Foxy - sorry to learn you’re going through this. I don’t have any advice, just wishing you well.

[IlonaM]

Hi Foxy,

When I had shingles many years ago I did not have it to the same degree as you, but the post-infection pain continued locally for some months afterwards.

I have experience of Capsaicin cream for pain management though. It helps block the unwanted pain messages by creating an alternative message in the nerves [more info here: https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-capsaicin]. It can have side effects, but when I used it I did not experience any. I would suggest trying it on healthy skin, away from the area affected by shingles, first so that you can have an idea of how it feels (often tingly, warming).

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Ilona

[DulwichFox]

Hi Ilona

Thank you for your reply.

I have tested the Capsaicin Cream on affected area.

Does seem to cause some minor relief and has not caused any

major side effects. The pain is now mainly in my shoulder,

My arm is getting better without the use of cream in that area,

Hopefully it will go away in the next couple of weeks.

Foxy

[Nigello]

Shingles is, as Foxy can unfortunately testify, painful and disfiguring. A vaccine is available for 70+ (I think) so if you’ve had chicken pox (whose virus lies dormant till triggered, resulting in shingles) it’d be worth having it if you qualify (or pay for it if not).

[Sue]

Hope your pain goes away soon, Foxy.

I had no idea there was a shingles vaccine! I had chicken pox twice when I was a kid, so I will investigate.