Understanding pain and symptoms after shingles

Nearly 1 million Americans get shingles every year. And nearly 1 in 3 people over the age of 60 will get shingles in their lifetime. Shingles symptoms start with a blistering painful rash. This rash usually forms on the chest or back. The rash will go away in time.

But once it is gone, you may still experience pain. Common symptoms include:

+ Burning pain

+ Stabbing pain

+ Pain that feels like an electric shock

+ Shooting pain where the shingles rash used to be

+ Pain from the light touch of clothing or bed sheets

When that pain persists for more than 3 months after the rash is gone, it’s called pain after shingles, or postherpetic neuralgia. In certain severe cases, this pain can lead to insomnia, weight loss, depression, and disability. About 20% of people who get shingles will experience long-lasting pain afterwards.

At the Center for Brain and Neuro Care, we offer effective therapy for pain after shingle with medicines such as:

+ Horizant, a gabapentin encarbil extended-release tablet

+ Lyrica  (I think you mean Lyrica, not Larica)

+ Gralise

If you never had shingles, keep in mind that shingles can be treated or even prevented. There are vaccines that may prevent shingles. And if you get shingles, antiviral drug treatments may shorten the span of the rash.