Shingles & after-shingles pain
Overview
Do you or someone you know suffer from shingles or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)? Learn more about the triggers for these conditions, as well as the signs and symptoms you can look for to share with your healthcare professional if you think you might be suffering from shingles or after-shingles pain.In This Section
What Is Shingles?Each year, an estimated 1 million Americans will develop herpes zoster1, a painful viral infection more commonly known as shingles. Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus.
What Is After-Shingles Pain?
Once the shingles rash has healed, you may experience significant pain in the area2. This pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), or after-shingles pain. Out of the 1 million people who develop shingles1, about one in five people will go on to develop PHN3.
Signs & Symptoms
The early signs of shingles can easily be mistaken for another illness4. Some people begin by feeling a burning or shooting pain, numbness, tingling or itching in one area of the body or face. Others may feel mild, flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, chills and nausea.
Impact
PHN can greatly affect your life5 and may make you feel isolated and alone. But you aren’t alone - about 120,000 to 200,000 people in the U.S. suffer from PHN pain each year3.
Treatment
If you think you may have shingles, you should talk to your healthcare professional. Receiving medical treatment for shingles as soon as possible can lessen the time you have shingles and lower your risk for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) or after-shingles pain.
Take the Quiz
Talk to Your Doctor
The PHN Pain Checklist and PHN Pain Management Calendar are tools you can use to help you talk about your pain with your healthcare professional.
Expert's Corner
Poll
Do you suffer from after-shingles pain?
