At The Spine Care Center, we know that postherpetic neuralgia pain is one of the most painful conditions a person can undergo. Our experienced and compassionate spine doctors can help you manage the pain caused by this condition, so don’t hesitate to reach out to our office for an appointment if you are suffering from postherpetic neuralgia.
Did you have chicken pox when you were younger? After you get chickenpox as a child, the virus never leaves your body. As an adult, the virus may return in the form of shingles. Shingles is a painful condition that damages your nerves and skin. It typically appears as a rash on the abdomen or back.
Unfortunately, the damage from shingles can cause long-lasting pain, called postherpetic neuralgia. You are more likely to experience both shingles and postherpetic neuralgia after age 60. To reduce your risk of developing the condition, you should receive a shingles vaccination at age 60. If you do develop shingles, receiving treatment within three days after your symptoms appear can reduce your chances of developing postherpetic neuralgia.
Nerves can sometimes send confusing signals to the brain after they have sustained damage, and these signals can cause the symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia. The symptoms, which affect the area where the rash was located, include:
A skilled pain management physician can help you manage this pain until your nerves heal. It may take months or even years for the pain to go away completely, but the experts at the Spine Care Center will work to help you get back to pain-free living as soon as possible.
Your doctor will be able to diagnose your postherpetic neuralgia based on your medical history. If you have recently had shingles, it is likely that neuralgia is the cause of pain.
The pain management experts at The Spine Care Center treat all types of nerve pain. They provide personalized care tailored to your needs and lifestyle, and helping you to live a pain-free life will always be their primary goal. Their skill, compassion, and experience have earned them repeated recognition as Top Doctors in both the Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine. To relieve your pain, you and your trusted pain management physician may consider using:
With help from a dedicated pain management expert, you can find relief from postherpetic neuralgia. Call The Spine Care Center in Manassas or request an appointment using our convenient online contact form.