AfterShingles.com – Shingles Symptoms, Treatment and Pain Management


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Shingles & after-shingles pain

What Is Postherpetic Neuralgia or After-Shingles Pain?

Once the shingles rash has healed, you may experience severe pain in the area of the rash as well as beyond that area1.This pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), or after-shingles pain. Out of the 1 million people who develop shingles2, about one in five people will go on to develop PHN3.

PHN pain results from nerve damage caused by the shingles virus1. The pain usually appears in the area of the shingles rash, but the size of the PHN pain region can vary considerably4. In some people, PHN pain can last for months or even years1.

After having shingles, your chances of developing PHN increase with age. For example, if you are age 50 or older, you have a more than 50 percent chance of developing PHN. If you are age 80 or older, you have an 80 percent chance of developing PHN3.

Others at higher risk include those who:

  • Have severe acute pain
  • Have felt a pain or something else out of the ordinary before the shingles rash appeared
  • Have had a severe rash within three days of shingles infection5

Take the Quiz

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Do you have the facts to identify if you or your loved one suffers from shingles or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)?

Talk to Your Doctor

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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

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Have a question about shingles or PHN? Our partner physician, Dr. Christopher Gharibo offers answers to common questions he hears from his patients.

Poll

Which treatments have you tried for after-shingles pain? (check all that apply)




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Which treatments have you tried for after-shingles pain?

1
Cure PHN: Your Questions Answered. VZV Research Foundation, Inc. 2004: 1-6. Available at: http://www.vzvfoundation.org/publicdownloads/PHN_Brochure_Feb2004.pdf. Accessed April 6, 2009.
2
Harpaz R, Ortega-Sanchez IR and Seward JF. Prevention of Herpes Zoster: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2008; 57(05): 1-30. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5705a1.htm. Accessed April 6, 2009.
3
Cluff RS, Rowbotham MC. Pain caused by herpes zoster infection. Neurol Clin.1998; 16(4):813-832.
4
Galer BS. Advances in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia: The Topical Lidocaine Patch. Today’s Therapeutic Trends. 2000; 1-20.
5
Jung BF, Johnson RW, Griffin DR, Dworkin RH. Risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia in patients with herpes zoster. Neurology. 2004;62(9);1545-1551.