Talk To Your Doctor
Overview
No one knows how your postherpectic neuralgia (PHN) or after-shingles pain feels better than you, so it is important you are able to describe its intensity and duration accurately to your healthcare professional. The PHN Pain Checklist and PHN Pain Management Calendar provided in this section are tools you can use to help you talk about your pain with your healthcare professional.Checklist for Talking to Your Healthcare Professional
Everyone's pain and symptoms are different. The following are some quick tips for talking with your healthcare professional about your PHN pain.- If you are currently taking medications for other conditions, be sure to ask your healthcare professional about possible drug interactions
- Ask your healthcare professional about various treatment options for PHN pain
- If you are concerned about drowsiness or side effects associated with pain relievers, share this with your healthcare professional
- Be sure to describe the intensity of your pain and how it feels. The Pain Checklist can help you provide your healthcare professional with adjectives to describe your PHN pain
- Take notes or record the frequency of your pain and variations on a daily basis. The Pain Management Calendar can help you track the intensity and duration of your PHN pain before, during and after your treatment
- If you feel you are withdrawing from family or friends or no longer enjoy your normal activities, be sure to tell your healthcare professional. PHN pain may lead to depression
Pain Management Resources
Poll
Do you suffer from after-shingles pain?
