Shingles & PHN (Post Herpetic Neuralgia) - Pain Concern

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Shingles & PHN (Post Herpetic Neuralgia)

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Hi Everyone

*Pain Concerns latest podcast is now live!*

One of the main worries people have about having Shingles is the potential to develop Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN). This is defined as persistent pain 3 months after the initial rash developed. Unfortunately PHN is a chronic condition which causes burning neuropathic pain. This condition is caused by the damage the virus inflicted during its reactivation.

Paul Evans speaks to health professionals and somebody with lived experience of Shingles & PHN in order to illuminate the intricacies of the varicella-zoster virus, how it works and how it affects us throughout our lives.

Listen to it here

painconcern.org.uk/airing-p...

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6 Replies
Angels111 profile image
Angels111

I listened to this pain concern podcast regarding nerve pain after shingles. My experience was that I broke out in shingles on my lower abdomen. My doctor gave me a week off of work. I believe the next day I broke out also on my back lower side (both right side of the body, however different dermatones). I was given a second week off of work.

My son, as a child, never had chicken pox. He had two of the three chicken pox immunizations. As I was nearing the end of my two week illness, one morning he tells me he had itchy bumps in a lot of places. I looked at them and they looked like little pimples. (He was too young for that.) I made him a same day doctor’s appointment. I told his doctor about my shingles. We agreed my son had chicken pox. The doctor gave him his third chicken pox immunization saying it would hopefully reduce the severity of the chicken pox and help with healing. Most interesting part, my shingles was always covered by clothing.

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Angels111 in reply to Angels111

I forgot to mention. I do have neuropathy, just not directly connected to where shingles was. It is lower down in my feet. I have wondered if there is a correlation. My medical illnesses do not always follow the textbook symptom solving tree and treatment plans.

bookish profile image
bookish in reply to Angels111

Hi, I just saw your post although I haven't listened to the podcast. There are so many possible causes of neuropathy, be it small fibre or large, but given the shingles I wondered about myelin. Are you already prescribed B12 or have you been properly investigated? Not easy, I know. If not please don't supplement until you have been! Best wishes

Angels111 profile image
Angels111 in reply to bookish

I have wondered about myelin myself. I haven’t asked my physical medicine doctor about it.

Thank you for your reply.

timbowPSP profile image
timbowPSP in reply to Angels111

Seems that one side effect of the 'jab' is a much greater chance of getting shingles. Homeopathic treatment should alleviate many shingles symptoms ...... it certainly helped me 8 yrs ago. TimbowPSP

Angels111 profile image
Angels111

I take a nerve medication to calm down the nerve discomfort. Sometimes It works well and other times it doesn’t.

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