Postherpetic neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia
Localized pain in the area of involvement of shingles that persists beyond one month. The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. This occurs when the pain associated with shingles persists beyond one month, even after the rash is gone. The pain can be severe and debilitating and occurs primarily in persons over the age of 50. There is some evidence that treating shingles with steroids and antiviral agents can reduce the duration and occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia. However, the decrease is minimal. The pain of postherpetic neuralgia can be reduced by a number of medications. Tricyclic antidepressant medications (amitriptyline /Elavil and others), as well as anti-seizure medications (gabapentin /Neurontin, carbamazepine /Tegretol), have been used to relieve the pain associated with herpetic neuralgia. Finally, capsaicin cream, a derivative of hot chili peppers, can be used topically on the area after all the blisters have healed, to reduce the pain. Acupuncture and electric nerve stimulation through the skin can be helpful for some patients. These options are best discussed with your healthcare practitioner.

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persistent burning pain and hyperesthesia along the distribution of a cutaneous nerve following an attack of herpes zoster, especially Ramsay Hunt syndrome or herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Neuralgia, postherpetic — Localized pain in the area of involvement of shingles that persists beyond one month. The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. This occurs when the pain associated with shingles persists beyond one month, even after the …   Medical dictionary

  • Neuralgia — Pain along the course of a nerve. * * * Pain of a severe, throbbing, or stabbing character in the course or distribution of a nerve. SYN: neurodynia. [neur + G. algos, pain] atypical facial n. SYN: atypical trigeminal n …   Medical dictionary

  • neuralgia — n. a severe burning or stabbing pain often following the course of a nerve. Postherpetic neuralgia is an intense debilitating pain felt at the site of a previous attack of shingles. In trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) there are brief… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Trigeminal neuralgia — Infobox Disease Name = Trigeminal neuralgia Caption = Detailed view of trigeminal nerve, shown in yellow. DiseasesDB = 13363 ICD10 = ICD10|G|50|0|g|50 ICD9 = ICD9|350.1 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = emerg eMedicineTopic = 617 MeshID …   Wikipedia

  • Occipital neuralgia — Classification and external resources ICD 10 G52.8,[1] R51[ …   Wikipedia

  • Herpes zoster — Zoster redirects here. For the ancient Greek article of dress, see Zoster (costume). Shingles redirects here. For other uses, see Shingle (disambiguation). Herpes zoster Classification and external resources Herpes zoster blisters on the neck and …   Wikipedia

  • Herpes zóster — No debe confundirse con Expresión errónea: operador tan inesperado. Este artículo trata sobre una neuropatía con manifestaciones cutáneas. Para otra enfermedad también llamada «Fuego de San Antonio», véase ergotismo …   Wikipedia Español

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