Postherpetic neuralgia is challenging, but help is available
Dealing with a case of shingles is painful enough. But once the skin rash resolves, a chronic pain syndrome called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) can sometimes develop.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Studies suggest that roughly 30% to 60% of people over age 60 who get shingles — caused by the chickenpox virus, herpes zoster — go on to develop PHN.
Many things remain a mystery about this chronic condition, in which the herpes zoster virus affects the nerves and causes pain, usually involving the chest wall. It causes a burning or stabbing sensation in the area where the shingles outbreak first occurred.
“We don’t know why some people get post-herpetic neuralgia and some don’t,” says pain management specialist Ellen Rosenquist, MD. “There’s plenty of speculation. The nerves may become more sensitive, or the virus may be reaching and damaging the central nervous system.”
Fortunately, early treatment for shingles can lower your chances of getting PHN.
“For some people, the pain becomes refractory, or resistant to treatment,” explains Dr. Rosenquist. “So we want to treat shingles as fast as we can — ideally as soon as somebody feels a tingling or burning sensation, even before a rash develops.”
She adds that whenever nerve pain is involved, some people respond to treatment and some don’t. (The virus cannot be removed from the nerves.)
However, medications taken orally or injected that can target the affected nerves may be able to “stun” the nervous system into behaving properly. That means transmitting the appropriate signal to the brain.
“It’s like restarting a computer,” Dr. Rosenquist says. “When it’s running slowly or acting weird, you restart it. We are trying to turn that nerve off. When it comes back on, hopefully, it will send an appropriate transmission as opposed to a pain transmission.”
Treatment options for PHN patients include:
Patients with refractory PHN rarely need opioid (narcotic) pain medication. “However, you should be evaluated by a physician. We can’t make a blanket statement about treatment. It is individualized,” she says.
If you are age 60 or over and have not had shingles, talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine. Not only will it reduce your risk of developing shingles, but if you do develop shingles, you’ll be more likely to have a mild case. And, just as important, you’ll be much less likely to develop PHN if you’ve had the vaccine.
Learn more about our editorial process.
It’s 97% effective in preventing shingles in people between the ages of 50 and 69
Shingrix vaccine for compromised immune systems
If you have naturally red hair, feeling the pain may be in your DNA
From physical and biofeedback therapy to nerve ablations and blocks, there are many nonsurgical options for managing back pain
Both can help reduce pain, but they’re very different in terms of origins, philosophies and practices
Use foot warmers and hand warmers, layer your clothing and avoid sharp shifts in temperature
As part of a larger treatment strategy, it can help decrease muscle tightness and reduce pain
Get moving, use cold packs, and try yoga and stretches to ease back pain
Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity
A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses
