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SHINGLES AND POST HERPETIC NEURALGIA
What is shingles?
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a virus
that causes nerve roots near the spinal cord to become inflamed. This
inflammation causes painful blisters on the skin, typically in a band on the
chest or the abdomen. They may also occur around the eyes, or on the face, arms,
thighs or neck. The term herpes zoster, creeping belt, in Greek, describes the
belt-like formation of skin blisters.
What causes shingles?
A virus causes shingles - the same one
that causes chicken pox in children. After a childhood outbreak of chicken pox,
the virus may remain sleeping in a nerve root near the spine. Later, if
resistance to infection is weakened by stress, lack of sleep, illness, or
injury, the virus may be reactivated to cause shingles. Sometimes, shingles
appears for no apparent reason.
What are the warning signs of shingles?
At first, the virus multiplies in nerve
roots near the spine, injuring or killing cells. It then travels down sensory
nerves to the skin's surface, erupting in a rash of blisters that looks like
chicken pox. The resulting pain, itching, or tingling may occur before or after
the rash appears.
Who is at risk?
Since resistance to disease is often
weakened with age, people over 65 are more likely to suffer from shingles. It is
estimated that more than half of all people over the age of 80 will experience
shingles.
Is shingles contagious?
Yes and no. You cannot catch shingles
since the only way to become infected is after having chicken pox. You can,
however, pass the virus along to others during the blister phase. Adult friends
are at risk if they have not previously had chicken pox. Children are
particularly at risk. Nearly 15% of children have caught their chicken pox from
this type of exposure.
How is shingles treated?
Medical opinion varies widely, treating
with ointments, prescription medications to treat both the virus and the pain,
and nerve blocks. Dr. Columbus will discuss the various options. Please feel
free to ask her any questions.
What is Post-Herpetic Neuralgia?
The initial outbreak of blisters from the
shingles virus often takes from 6 months to a year to heal. Afterwards, most
patients have no further pain. For some, however, the pain continues. This
condition is called post-viral or post-herpetic neuralgia which means
"nerve pain after the virus."
If the blisters are gone, why do I
still have the pain?
The exact cause of post herpetic neuralgia
is not known. Many physicians and researchers believe the shingles virus,
although injured during initial medical treatment, may still be living in
certain nerve roots near the spine.
How can I get relief from Post-Herpetic
Neuralgia?
Since
the pain's source is in the nerve roots deep beneath the skin, the same
prescription drugs used to fight the singles virus may help. Avoiding certain
foods, such as peanut butter, chocolate, gelatin, and table salt, may offer
relief as well. All contain certain chemicals that the shingles virus needs to
thrive. For most, nerve blocks are required such as nerve blocks around the
spinal cord where the outbreak initiated or under the rib, where much of the
pain concentrates.
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