Postherpetic Neuralgia Vs Shingles

Read more about treating post herpetic neuralgia.

Postherpetic neuralgia vs shingles.

People over 60 have an increased risk and people over 70 have an even higher risk. Age is a high risk factor for getting both shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. What everyone should know about shingles vaccine shingrix shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia phn the most common complication from shingles. Herpes zoster commonly referred to as shingles and postherpetic neuralgia result from reactivation of the varicella zoster virus acquired during the primary varicella infection or chickenpox.

For some people shingles pain continues long after the blisters have cleared. Postherpetic neuralgia phn is neuropathic pain which occurs due to damage to a peripheral nerve caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus herpes zoster also known as shingles typically the nerve pain neuralgia is confined to an area of skin innervated by a single sensory nerve which is known as a dermatome phn is defined as dermatomal nerve pain that persists for more. Surgical options for treating postherpetic neuralgia treating shingles with tricyclic antidepressants to lessen the risk of phn johnson r. Causes of post herpetic neuralgia.

This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia and it occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain. Most people catch the varicella zoster virus as children itch. Postherpetic neuralgia occurs if your nerve fibers are damaged during an outbreak of shingles. In post herpetic neuralgia the virus causes inflammation of the nerves under the skin of the affected area.

Instead the messages become confused and exaggerated causing chronic often excruciating pain that can last months or even years. The varicella zoster virus causes both chickenpox and shingles. Neuralgia is a medical term for pain resulting from nerve inflammation or damage. Damaged fibers can t send messages from your skin to your brain as they normally do.

Center for shingles and postherpetic neuralgia.