Pain Management Specialists & Private Medical Practice in San Diego, La Mesa and Chula Vista, California
You may be told that shingles will resolve in a few weeks. And for some people, it does.
Shingles can cause burning, tingling, itching, and a blistering rash along a nerve path. Pain that continues after the rash heals is called postherpetic neuralgia.
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus doesn’t fully leave your body. Instead, it stays dormant in your nerve tissue. Years later—sometimes decades—it can reactivate as shingles.
Shingles often appears when the immune system is weakened, such as:
Before the rash appears, many people feel:
The shingles rash typically appears:
It may look like:
Postherpetic neuralgia is a form of nerve pain that persists after shingles. It occurs because the virus damages the nerves, leading to ongoing pain signals.
Patients often describe:
Understanding why the pain continues can help make sense of the experience.
The virus affects nerve fibers, disrupting normal signal transmission.
Damaged nerves may send pain signals even without a trigger.
The nervous system becomes more sensitive, amplifying pain.
Shingles pain can affect more than just your body.
You may notice:
Diagnosis is often based on:
Your provider may assess:
Shingles pain treatment focuses on:
For mild discomfort.
These help calm overactive nerves
Creams or patches applied to the skin
Target specific nerves to interrupt pain signals.
Reduce inflammation around affected nerves.
Provides longer-lasting relief by disrupting nerve signals.
For patients with chronic shingles pain, neuromodulation therapies may offer significant relief.
SCS works by:
Patients often report:
Stress can worsen nerve pain.
Consistency helps the body adapt.
Support from others can make a difference.
Shingles pain can feel isolating.
You may experience:
Seek prompt medical evaluation for the following symptoms:
Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. This list is not exhaustive; when symptoms feel severe or rapidly worsen, seek urgent care.
Vaccination can help reduce the risk of shingles and its complications.
Talk to your provider about whether this is right for you.
Prompt antiviral treatment is time-sensitive, while persistent nerve pain may require a separate plan focused on sleep, skin sensitivity, and daily function.
Medical reference: CDC: Clinical Features of Shingles. Related California Pain resources: Neuropathy · Conditions and treatments · Schedule an appointment. This article is for general education and does not replace an individualized medical evaluation. Treatment recommendations depend on diagnosis, health history, current medications, and personal goals.
Your comprehensive treatment plan will help you eliminate chronic pain and get you back into a healthy life.
Imagine if chronic pain wasn’t holding you back every day. We believe you should be treated the way we would treat our own mom or dad which is how we have treated our patients for the past 15 years.
Just follow this simple plan:
Request your
appointment at a
clinic near you!
Consult with your personal expert mental health team and develop a plan.
Find the relief and dignity you have been searching for.
You can defeat chronic pain.
We can help.
It’s wrong to miss out on the best parts of life because of chronic pain. You don’t have to put up with feeling older than you are. We can help you regain your vibrant life again.
At California Pain Consultants, we know that you want to get back to living a pain-free life. To do that you need a pain management team you can trust. The problem is there are so many pain clinics that do not listen to you and treat you like a statistic which makes you feel frustrated.
We understand your pain and suffering. We believe you should be treated the way we would treat our own mom or dad which is how we have treated our patients for the past 15 years.
So, request an appointment today. And in the meantime, watch this patient success story. So, you can stop struggling with pain and instead get back to living your life again.
If you suffer from chronic pain, contact us today. We can help you get back on your feet with your personal comprehensive treatment plan.
