Shingles Pain Treatment in St. Clair Shores, MI
Shingles
Shingles is a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus waking up in a nerve. For some people the burning nerve pain lasts long after the rash heals, a condition called postherpetic neuralgia. At Advanced Physical Medicine in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, we treat shingles nerve pain with nerve blocks, medication and other therapies.
Symptoms of Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia
Shingles usually affects one strip of skin on one side of the body, often the chest, back or face. Symptoms include:
- Burning, tingling or itching for a few days before a rash appears
- A band of red, fluid-filled blisters that crust over in a week to ten days
- Sharp, stabbing or electric pain in the same area
Postherpetic neuralgia is pain that continues in that area after the rash has healed. The skin can be so sensitive that clothing or a light touch hurts. It is more common in older adults.
What Causes Shingles Pain?
After chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus stays dormant in nerve roots near the spine. Years later it can reactivate, travel along the nerve and inflame it. Shingles is more likely with:
- Age over 50
- A weakened immune system, from illness or medicines
- Stress or a recent serious illness
The lasting pain of postherpetic neuralgia comes from damage to the nerve itself, which keeps sending pain signals. A shingles vaccine lowers the risk; ask your primary care doctor whether it is right for you.
How We Treat Shingles Pain
Dr. Stephen Wilson, MD, is double board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine and has more than 25 years of experience treating pain. Treating nerve pain early may help, so we see patients both during an outbreak and after the rash has cleared. Options include:
Nerve Blocks and Epidural Injections
A nerve block or epidural steroid injection near the affected nerve can calm the pain. See our interventional procedures.
Nerve Pain Medication
As part of a pain management plan we may use medicines made for nerve pain and topical treatments such as lidocaine.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
For postherpetic neuralgia that has not improved with other care, spinal cord stimulation may be an option, starting with a short trial.
Acupuncture and Laser
Medical acupuncture, part of our holistic pain relief care, and MLS laser therapy can support relief once the skin has healed.
When to See a Doctor for Shingles Pain
See your primary care doctor within a few days of the rash appearing, because antiviral medicine works best when started early. Book a visit with us if the pain is severe during the outbreak, or if burning or stabbing pain continues after the rash has healed.
Shingles blisters can spread the virus to people who have never had chickenpox or the vaccine, so keep the rash covered and avoid contact with pregnant women and newborns until it crusts over.
Get urgent care if the rash is near your eye or on your face, if you have a high fever or confusion, or if the rash spreads widely.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shingles Pain
What calms nerve pain from shingles?
Cool compresses, loose clothing and over-the-counter pain relievers help some people. Nerve pain medicines, lidocaine patches and nerve blocks are used when that is not enough.
What helps shingles pain at night?
Wear soft, loose clothing, keep a light barrier such as a non-stick dressing over sensitive skin, take pain medicine as directed before bed and keep the room cool. Ask about medicines that ease nerve pain and help sleep.
Does massage help shingles nerve pain?
Massage should not be done on an active rash. After the skin has fully healed, gentle massage near the area may help some people, but sensitive skin can make it uncomfortable.
What is the best cream for nerve pain from shingles?
Lidocaine creams or patches and capsaicin products are commonly used on healed skin after shingles. Ask a doctor which is right for you, and never use them on open blisters.
How long does shingles pain last?
Pain usually fades as the rash heals over two to four weeks. When it lasts three months or more, it is called postherpetic neuralgia and can last months or longer without treatment.
Do you accept insurance?
Advanced Physical Medicine accepts most major insurance plans. Some treatments, such as regenerative injections, may be self-pay, and our staff will go over coverage and costs with you before you start.
Get Help for Shingles Pain in St. Clair Shores
Book a visit with Advanced Physical Medicine at 24345 Harper Ave, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, or call us at (586) 563-3300. We will find out what is behind your shingles pain and talk you through every option before anything is decided.
