14 Things to Keep in Mind About Postherpetic Neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia is a common complication associated with shingles. The skin and nerve fibers are affected. Even after the rash and blisters disappear, there will still be a burning sensation.

Anyone who has had the chickenpox is already capable of getting shingles. The older you get your immune system weakens, which makes you capable of getting postherpetic neuralgia. The risk increases at the age of 60, but a person can still get it at age 50.

Once you get postherpetic, there is no cure, but there are treatments that can ease the symptoms. When you have postherpetic neuralgia there are eight things to keep in mind. The more you know about the condition, you can treat it and get relief from pain and inflammation quickly.

It is an embarrassing condition since it can be on your face and torso. You will be able to take measures to keep the symptoms at bay.

1. The pain will last for three months or longer once the rash and blisters go away.

You may think that you still have shingles since you have the pain. The pain will be dull, aching, burning, or sharp. The best you can do is to take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol.

The pain will eventually go away, but if the pain becomes unbearable you should speak with your primary care physician who will give you prescription pain medication. Any pain medication you take should only be taken as needed. If you take more than what is required it could cause a reaction, which could make the rash come back.

It is always important to talk with your primary care physician before taking any over-the-counter medicine, especially if you’re already taking prescription medicine for another condition.

Your body may not interact well with a combination of over-the-counter medicine and prescription medicine.