{"id":7163,"date":"2019-06-06T06:01:12","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T06:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7163"},"modified":"2020-05-19T05:37:07","modified_gmt":"2020-05-19T05:37:07","slug":"14-things-to-keep-in-mind-about-postherpetic-neuralgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-things-to-keep-in-mind-about-postherpetic-neuralgia\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Things to Keep in Mind About Postherpetic Neuralgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The pain will last for three months or longer once the rash and blisters go away. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is always important to talk with your primary care physician before taking any over-the-counter medicine, especially if you\u2019re already taking prescription medicine for another condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your body may not interact well with a combination of over-the-counter medicine and prescription medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Taking cool showers instead of hot ones are your best option. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you take a hot shower, it will cause more inflammation to the skin. By taking cool showers, it will reduce inflammation and itchiness. The shower doesn\u2019t need to be freezing because that will just make your skin more sensitive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a good idea to take a cool shower after exercising to get rid of any sweat. Your skin will start to itch more by all the dirt and sweat accumulated from exercising. If your skin will start to itch, it\u2019ll make you have the urge to scratch, which will make the rash spread and become infected. It will take longer for the rash to heal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though you may still have pain long after, you still want to get rid of the rash. The rash will also have blisters, so by scratching, they will burst and spread to other parts of the body, especially if you don\u2019t wash your hands afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Chickenpox virus puts your body at risk of getting postherpetic neuralgia. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The day you get chickenpox is the day your immune system will become capable of producing shingles. As you get older your immune system becomes weaker and you have a higher chance of getting postherpetic neuralgia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everybody will get the chickenpox virus at some point in their lives. Some people don\u2019t get chickenpox until their in their late teens. If you happen to get postherpetic neuralgia, you can expect to get it at least at the age of 50 and older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are steps you can take to reduce your chances of not getting the disease, such as eating healthier and not smoking or drinking. The body thrives on chemicals that we put into our bodies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though, you eat healthily and don\u2019t smoke or drink there is still a chance you may get postherpetic neuralgia. It just reduces it by taking care of yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Other illnesses can cause postherpetic neuralgia, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you have these chronic illnesses, it increases your chances of getting the disease. These chronic illnesses weaken the immune system and cause different diseases to develop in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your primary care physician should monitor your health by taking blood and imaging tests on a regular basis. The primary care doctor needs to do a complete physical on a regular basis as well to catch postherpetic neuralgia and other diseases before it becomes worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of the times the medications that the doctor prescribes may cause diseases, such as postherpetic neuralgia to develop. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important that your doctor stays on top of your overall health, including all medications. You may have to change or stop a medication when you develop postherpetic neuralgia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be afraid to tell your doctor how medicine is interacting with your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Depression can develop with postherpetic neuralgia. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When this happens, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant. Some people don\u2019t like taking antidepressants because it makes them feel weak, but it\u2019s better than being depressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason you may experience depression is that when you have constant pain, it may make you feel like giving up on yourself. There may not be anything you can do about it, so you just start feeling depressed. Besides taking antidepressants, it is a good idea to take therapy in addition. In therapy, you will have a one-on-one session with a mental health counselor who will be able to help you in getting your life back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The therapist will help you to find ways to cope when the pain develops instead of feeling depressed. It takes time and it doesn\u2019t happen overnight, but when you feel depressed, it is a good idea to find someone who will listen instead of keeping things bottled up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Get a shingle vaccine even if you\u2019ve had shingles. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Adults 50 and older are recommended to get a shingle vaccine. By getting two doses of the vaccine at least two months apart reduces your chances of getting shingles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on what health insurance you have, the vaccine could be free. By getting a shingle vaccine, it lowers your chances of getting postherpetic neuralgia. When you get the vaccine, make sure the nurse knows what prescription medications you are taking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shingle vaccine may not interact with your body too well, especially if you are taking an immune-suppressing medicine. An allergic reaction may occur, which won\u2019t do you any good. You will still get postherpetic neuralgia because the vaccine didn\u2019t work for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to be as honest with the nurse as you can about different medicines you are taking and allergic to. There are two kinds of shingle vaccines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. The location of shingles rash is an indicator you will get postherpetic neuralgia. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shingles are usually located on the torso, but they can get on the face. When you get postherpetic neuralgia it will more than likely develop in the same spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have treated your shingles rash, you\u2019re already ahead of the game because you know how to treat postherpetic neuralgia. The disease itself won\u2019t go away, but it can be treated. For instance, if the rash is on the face, you can place a cold compress onto the skin and allow it to sit there for a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more times you do this a day, the rash will start to disappear. The pain itself will still be present, but as long as the rash is gone that\u2019s the most important thing. The pain can be managed with pain medication prescribed by your doctor. The pain will eventually go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Loss of appetite can develop with postherpetic neuralgia. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When this happens, try to eat small meals throughout the day. When you don\u2019t have an appetite, it can be difficult to eat. The reason for the loss of appetite is because the pain is making it difficult to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every second the person is in pain and if he or she can\u2019t get any relief, no food will be consumed. Once the right pain medication is given, the person should be able to start eating again. If the pain medication is working, they will be tired since the medication will make them drowsy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once postherpetic neuralgia goes away, the person should start eating again. It can be difficult for a caregiver to see their loved one not eating, but you have to realize that the person is experiencing the worse pain ever and it just takes everything out of them to make it throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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