AfterShingles.com – Shingles Symptoms, Treatment and Pain Management


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PHN Awareness Day

One million people in the U.S. will suffer from Shingles this year and one in five of those will develop After-Shingles pain… will you be one of them?

As a part of National Pain Awareness Month, The National Pain Foundation declares September 15th PHN Awareness Day to educate older Americans about shingles and after-shingles pain

Each year approximately 1 million Americans will develop shingles1, and one in five of those may go on to develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), also known as after-shingles pain2. For many PHN sufferers, the most disabling part of the pain is the severe skin sensitivity3. The skin may be unusually sensitive to even the lightest touch, smallest draft or slightest change in temperature. For example, a gentle breeze or the feel of clothing may cause extreme pain for some PHN patients4.

Get Connected

In honor of PHN Awareness Day, an educational seminar about shingles and PHN will be broadcast live via a webcast on September 16th. The seminar will include presentations by:
  • Christopher Gharibo, M.D., director of pain medicine and assistant professor of anesthesiology at NYU School of Medicine
  • PHN patient Kathy Sebby
  • A representative from the NPF

Join other older Americans across the country to view the webcast by logging onto phnawarenessday.com at 10 a.m. EST on September 16th. You will have the option to submit your questions for the speakers virtually, and they will answer your questions live after the event.

This free event will also be broadcast live from The Carter Burden Luncheon Club and Senior Program on September 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you are in the area, then please feel free to attend the event in person.

The Carter Burden Luncheon Club and Senior Program
351 East 74th Street
New York, NY 10021
212.535.5235

About PHN Awareness Day

PHN Awareness Day is one of multiple initiatives that the National Pain Foundation (NPF) is spearheading to help raise awareness about shingles and PHN. Together with the National Council on Aging, the NPF is also leading the Patchwork of Hope NetworkTM (P.H.N.), an educational campaign that features live events across the country where attendees learn about PHN, meet others affected by this condition and have an opportunity to create individual quilt squares to tell their story about how PHN has affected their lives. The squares are sewn together into quilt that signifies the growing community of sufferers who are supporting one another and sewing their life together after shingles.

Talk to Your Doctor

Calendar

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

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

1
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.
2
Cluff RS, Rowbotham MC. Pain caused by herpes zoster infection. Neurol Clin.1998; 16(4):813-832.
3
Galer BS. Advances in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia: The Topical Lidocaine Patch. Today’s Therapeutic Trends. 2000; 1-20.
4
Cure PHN: Your Questions Answered. VZV Research Foundation, Inc. 2004: 1-6. Available at: http://www.vzvfoundation.org/publicdownloads/PHN_Brochure_Feb2004.pdf. Accessed August 13, 2009.