Shingles Pain

If you are suffering from shingles, or know someone who is, you know just how painful the effects of the virus can be. Older adults are the most common age group to suffer from shingles, which is a painful rash that develops on one side of the body. While there is no cure for shingles, there are measures to ease symptoms until the condition improves. The California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, Chula Vista areas is equipped to help those who are suffering with shingles find immediate relief and lower their risk of complications. 

What is Shingles?

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a rash that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is a viral infection that affects nerves in the body, creating a very painful, inflamed rash. Most people who have shingles report feelings of pain or a tingling sensation in a limited area on one side of the face or torso, as well as a red rash with small blisters.

The varicella-zoster virus is the same virus that causes chickenpox. For those who received the chickenpox vaccine as children, developing shingles later in life isn’t cause for too much concern. However, for adults who were not vaccinated or who contracted chickenpox as children, the virus remains in their system for life. 

The virus is most often dormant, and remains in a portion of the spinal nerve root called the dorsal root ganglion. There is roughly a 1 in 4 chance that the virus will become active in adulthood, causing the painful rash. There is no definitive reason why the virus becomes active in some people and not in others. One possible cause is if a person has a compromised immune system, or if the adult had chickenpox as a child and wasn’t vaccinated. It could also become active during times of stress.  

It is also important to note that shingles aren’t necessarily contagious. If an unvaccinated child comes into contact with an adult who actively has shingles, the child might develop chickenpox. If an adult with shingles comes into contact with another adult, that adult will not develop shingles due to the exposure. Adults can also experience shingles more than once in a lifetime. 

Most often, symptoms of shingles usually don’t last longer than three to five weeks. However, complications can happen, including postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

What is Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)?

Postherpetic neuralgia is a lasting pain in the areas of your skin where a person had shingles and occurs because the shingles outbreak damaged the nerves. Around one in five people with shingles will get post-herpetic neuralgia, which could last for months or even years. People aged 60 and older are particularly at risk. 

While complications from shingles are unlikely for healthy adults, the chances of complications are increased in those who have an existing medical condition (such as a compromised immune system) or those who didn’t see medical care quickly enough. Complications could include: 

• Additional shingles attacks
• Blindness (if shingles occurs in the eye)
• Bacterial skin infections
• Infections or blood infection in those with weakened immune systems
• Ramsay Hunt syndrome (facial paralysis and hearing loss in the affected ear)

What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?

The symptoms of shingles can present themselves in stages. The first symptoms are most often a tingling or burning sensation, then the painful rash, then blisters (that could burst and create small ulcers on the skin). Most patients can expect to last for a few weeks, only once during their life, while others can experience multiple episodes that could last up to a few months. 

The rash tends to be focused on just one side of the body or in one particular location of the body. Most common locations include stomach, chest and spine, with the possibility of the face and mouth. 

The beginning stages of shingles could present itself as a fever, chills, headache, fatigue, light sensitivity, and stomach upset. Additional signs and symptoms that could and usually appear a few days after the initial symptoms include: 

• itching/tingling/burning feeling in one particular area of the skin
• Redness on the skin
• Rash on the skin
• Fluid-filled blisters that burst and then scab
• Mild to severe pain in the affected area
• Joint pain and swollen glands

What are Shingles Treatment Options?

While there is no cure for shingles, early treatment with prescription medications may speed healing and lower your risk of complications. It’s important to see your healthcare provider if you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, and/or are experiencing a rash on one side of your body. 

Treatment options include: 

• Antiviral medications: help to reduce pain and complications, shortening the duration of the shingles outbreak
• Over-the-counter pain medications: taken to help alleviate pain symptoms while the outbreak runs its course
• Anti-inflammatory medications: prescribed if the patient has shingles that affects the eyes or other parts of the face, and if the patient is a candidate for receiving corticosteroid medication
• Antihistamines: used to reduce itching
• Self care: keep the skin moist, cool and clean, enjoy soothing baths, and try to focus your attention on yoga and relaxation therapies

It’s important to seek professional medical help as soon as you believe you might have shingles. Delaying care and treatment could lead to serious complications, including permanent blindness (if shingles affects the eye), postherpetic neuralgia that leads to ongoing nerve pain, and temporary or permanent weakness or paralysis if the nerves that control body movement were damaged by the virus. 

While there is no 100% way of preventing shingles, getting the herpes zoster vaccine as part of your regular healthcare plan is a great way to reduce complications from the virus. Also, if you do experience the beginning symptoms of shingles, schedule an appointment with your pain management specialist as quickly as possible. The California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, Chula Vista areas knows just how painful shingles can be, and is here to help resolve your outbreak as quickly and as comfortably as possible.