Tips for Shingles Pain Management and Treatment
Shingles is a painful and uncomfortable condition that affects many people at some point in their lives. If you or someone you know is currently suffering from shingles, you’re not alone! In this article, we’ll discuss various pain management techniques that can help alleviate discomfort and make the healing process a little bit easier. Shingles can be a painful annoyance but I promise it won’t last forever! Here are some tips for shingles pain management and treatment!
Disclaimer: As always please check with your doctor for guidance if you think you have shingles.
What are Shingles AKA Herpes Zoster?
Shingles are caused by the reactivation of the Herpes Zoster virus that remains dormant in the body after the recovery of chickenpox. The combination of stress and a compromised immune system suddenly reactivates the virus.
What does shingles pain feel like?
For me, shingles felt like a tingling sensation at first but then the burning and stabbing pain came as my shingles spread. I’ve read that many people experience intermittent pain described as stabbing, shooting, or electric shocks in the area their rash is.
How to manage shingles pain?
Your doctor may give you anti-inflammatory painkillers like Ibuprofen to manage the pain. The key is doing your best to rest, relax and wear loose clothing if your rash is in an area usually covered.
Daily cleansing of the rash reduces the risk of spreading the infection. Take a cool bath or shower to soothe the skin. The coolness of the water can ease pain from shingles blisters and calm itchiness.
How long do shingles pain last?
The majority of people stop feeling the pain once their shingles rash heals. Make sure to get medical advice the second you think you might have shingles.
Lysine supplements helped immensely along with some anti-viral medication
Does shingles pain eventually go away?
For many people shingles pain goes away but what I experienced personally was intermittent nerve pain 1.5 years after my shingles healed!
This is called postherpetic neuralgia and it’s the pain of shingles that persists even after the rash has healed. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 15% of people suffer from postherpetic neuralgia after their shingles rash heals.
What’s crazy is that doctors don’t know exactly why this happens but think it may have to do with nerve damage or inflammation.
