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These are some of the treatments bbut it is normally different for everyone !General measures
Loose fitting cotton clothes are best to reduce irritating the affected area of skin. Pain may be eased by cooling the affected area with ice cubes (wrapped in a plastic bag), or by having a cool bath. Some people find that putting several layers of 'cling film' over the affected area of skin helps. This allows clothes to slide over the skin without irritating.
Painkillers
Paracetamol, or paracetamol combined with codeine, may give some relief. Painkillers are best taken regularly to keep 'on top of the pain' rather than now and then. However, if painkillers do not help then see your doctor about trying an antidepressant or anticonvulsant medicine.
Antidepressant medicines
An antidepressant medicine in the 'tricyclic' group is a common treatment for PHN. It is not used here to treat depression. Tricyclic antidepressants ease neuralgia (nerve pain) separately to their action on depression. There are several tricyclic antidepressants, but amitriptyline is the one commonly used for nerve pain. Pain is stopped, or greatly eased, in up to 8 in 10 cases of PHN treated with amitriptyline. Imipramine and nortriptyline are other tricyclic antidepressants which are sometimes used to treat PHN.
A tricyclic antidepressant will usually ease the pain within a few days, but it may take 2-3 weeks. It can take several weeks before you get maximum benefit. Some people give up on their treatment too early. It is best to persevere for at least 4-6 weeks to see how well the antidepressant is working. If an antidepressant works, it is usual to take it for a further month after the pain has gone or eased. After this, the dose is gradually reduced and then stopped. You should re-start the antidepressant quickly if the pain returns.
Tricyclic antidepressants sometimes cause drowsiness. This often eases in time. To try and avoid drowsiness, a low dose is usually started at first, and then built up gradually if needed. A dry mouth is another common side-effect. Frequent sips of water may help with a dry mouth.
Anticonvulsant medicines
An anticonvulsant is an alternative to an antidepressant. For example, gabapentin or carbamazepine. (These medicines are commonly used to treat people with epilepsy but they have also been found to ease nerve pain.) An anticonvulsant can stop nerve impulses causing pains separate to its action on stopping convulsions.
Sometimes both an antidepressant and an anticonvulsant are taken if either alone does not work very well.
Capsaicin cream
This is sometimes used to ease pain if the above medicines do not help, or cannot be used because of problems or side-effects. Capsaicin is thought to work by blocking nerves from sending pain messages. Capsaicin cream is applied 3-4 times a day. Wash your hands immediately after applying it. It can cause an intense burning feeling when it is applied. In particular, if it is used less than 3-4 times a day, or if it is applied just after taking a hot bath or shower. (However, this side-effect tends to ease off with regular use.) Capsaicin cream should not be applied to broken or inflamed skin. It is therefore not suitable for use during an episode of shingles (only on healthy skin which is painful due to postherpetic neuralgia).
Treatment for itch
Some people have a severe itch with PHN. This is difficult to treat. An antihistamine taken at bedtime may help you to sleep better and reduce the scratching that you may do in the night (which may then make the itch less severe the following day).
Other treatments
Other treatments may be tried if the above treatments have not worked. These include various soothing or anaesthetic creams, injections, bio-feedback, transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound, and other techniques. These treatments are usually only advised under the supervision of a specialist in a pain clinic.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoNo single treatment relieves postherpetic neuralgia in all people. In many cases, it takes a combination of treatments to reduce the pain. They can include opiod painkillers, steroid injections, Lidocaine skin patches and more.
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Does TENS help with post herpetic neuralgia?
Yes
Does TENS help with post-herpetic neuralgia?
Yes
Is Lidocaine Drip effective for treating post herpetic neuralgia?
maybe
Which antiepileptic drugs that can also be used to treat post-herpetic neuralgia?
Gabapentine (new generation of AEDs)
What causes Post-herpetic neuralgia?
Post herpetic neuralgia is "nerve pain" that can persist after an episode of Shingle (herpes varicella-zoster). It can be mild to severe and is usually described as burning or tingling. About 10-20% of people will have continuing pain at 3 months after the shingles episode with about 3% having pain for a year or more.
What are the symptoms of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia?
The symptoms of Neuralgia include spontaneous pain that can be burning or throbbing to stabbing or piercing. This pain can be caused by a simple touch of the skin or a change in temperature and it can spread through the body.
How long does post herpetic neuralgia last?
While only around ten percent of people who have had shingles develop postherpetic neuralgia, it is a very uncomfortable condition. While the duration of postherpetic neuralgia varies, it lasts from one to two months in most patients
How long does shingles pain last if no antivirals where taken?
Often 2 weeks or more but can last years in some people (called post herpetic neuralgia). In lomng standing pain following shingles specific medications can assist.
What is the best place to find post nasal drip treatment for children?
The best place to find post nasal drip treatment for children is the 'American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. One can also talk to their GP to get referred to the correct specialist.
Do you get lumps with shingles?
Occasionally, not always. Shingles generally produces a very painful inflamatory rash, and occasionally produces swelling.
Your brother has been diagnosed to have post encephalitic syndrome what is the treatment?
My sister has post encephalitis syndrome so please what is a treatment?
Can lidoderm 5 be used for rheumtoid arthritis pain?
LIDODERM® (lidocaine patch 5%) is used to relieve the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia, also referred to as after-shingles pain.Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that requires drugs that reduce inflammation which may in turn lead to pain relief. If the damage to cartilage has become so great that the bones are in direct contact strong analgesics or joint replacement may be the only options. However I doubt very strongely that Lidoderm would do anything for any form of arthritis or its pain.
