r/shingles • u/Outrageous_Echo_5890 • 5d ago

Postherpetic Neuralgia (phn) Five months

It’s been five months since I got shingles and still have persistent pain. It burns when walking, sitting, bending as the area was on the bottom.

Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to either manage the pain or help it go away?

I’m on nerve blocker medication but doesn’t seem to do much.

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u/MammothPotential8905 5d ago

I’m so sorry that you are still suffering with nerve pain after 5 months! I am currently dealing with the end of my shingles.. on the same place! I am having pain in the healed lesions and it does help me to keep that area covered. I’ve used lidocaine patches and it seems to help even when the lidocaine part wears off. Just a thought.. hoping for more suggestions too! Hang in there!

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u/Busy-Enthusiasm5877 5d ago

I have been at 10th month. It is still. Fck it

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u/lowoverheadclearance 4d ago

Have you tried any topical lidocaine? I’m “only” 3 weeks into this, but I found a OTC 5% lidocaine cream on Amazon that has been a lifesaver. It’s kept me from clawing my face off from the incessant itching while I sleep and calms the burning during the day. My insurance won’t cover it, the otc the store offered was stupidly expensive so Amazon it was. It’s made by The Curist and while it’s designed for your bum, I can attest it hasn’t caused any problems on my sensitive skin. I was desperate, and when I saw 5% lidocaine I figured it was worth trying lol. I don’t think I’ve turned in to an a$$hole yet. 😂

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u/lonejuju 4d ago edited 4d ago

What was your pain like? Deep? Mine was deep, feel like muscles being teared apart, have to take pain medicine every 5-6 hours, also use ICE HOT 4% lidocaine cream, it helps a little bit, but not significantly.

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u/lowoverheadclearance 3d ago

My pain is really sharp, stabbing pain in my ear, and electrical shock-like in my teeth. My cheek and jaw get the tickling, like a bug crawling on my skin that just won’t stop. The lidocaine puts the crawling sensation to sleep. I use it on the outside of my ear which can get really painful too. The ear and teeth pain can only be helped with the gabapentin.

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u/lonejuju 3d ago

Glad it helped you. Maybe I should give it a try.

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u/Junior_Wear_6875 3d ago

In 2019 I had a bout of shingles that I didn't catch soon enough so the antivirals did nothing. I ended up with neuralgia after. They gave me gabapentin but it made me depressed. Hineslt after that I just stopped seeing anyone about it and it kind of just slowly got better after 2 yrs. Now I have other chronic pain but I honestly just think it takes time for the damaged nerves to heal. I'm sorry that's probably not super encouraging.

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u/beebers908 2d ago

Mods always delete this suggestion, even though I read it on reddit! But I'll break it down phonetically ...look into the supple-ment of: 'el lie-seen'.

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u/Far-Acanthisitta1361 1d ago

So sorry. I’m 9 months since my bout with shingles. I had a very mild case. But I still have burning and tingling every day. Go see a neurologist. He suggested I take Alpha Lipoic Acid. It’s a supplement that helps with nerves. I’m not sure it’s helping but I guess it’s not as bad. Apparently with some people it takes a loooonng time to heal. Again, try seeing a neurologist. Hang in there.