PHN

My sympathy to you, as you started too early with shingles.

Please read my earlier posts for relief of PHN.

There is no apparent cure for this complaint, so it is important to avoid taking drugs over a long period, as they have an adverse affect on other organs in the body.

I have found the following topical mixture to be adequate to relieve most of the pain, so I recommend it to you.

250grams. of Vitamin E Cream ( Contains 50mg of glycerol per gram, and it does not form a skin with continued use like other creams do ).

Two 5 gram tubes of Aciclovir Cold Sore Cream ( Also treats Shingles virus ).

65 grams of Dencorub Heat Gel ( 26 percent Methyl Salicylate, 7 percent Menthol ).

Mix thoroughly, apply sparingly  as requires for pain relief.

I find this mixture is quite effective for pain relief, if applied twice daily.

Try this topical treatment for drug free relief from pain.

Kind regards, Ray.

Hi Rorogrady,

The onset 6 months after shingles, and worsening of pain recently are unusual for PHN. It usually starts directly after the shingles episode, and doesn't worsen. So, it might be important to be sure you have PHN and not some other cause of pain. You might talk to your doc about this, maybe get a second apinion from another doc. 

Try Aspercreme. It has salicylate, the same ingredient as the dencorub in Raymond's mix. Also, try drinking more water. I've found that even very mild dehydration causes worsening of my symptoms. 

I like Raymond's idea of using topical creams/gels rather than oral meds. Also, I want you to know that PHN gets less intense with time. Very slowly, but it does. I've had it for 27 years now, and it's far less of a problem. More of an annoyance now. 

Keep trying new new things until you find things that work for you. You can still have a good life and learn to manage the pain. 

Charlie

Hello rorogrady,

I am not a doc, but the  way you describe your symptoms and how the PHN started six months later doesn't sound as though it is PHN.   I would either go back to your doc about it and/or get a second opinion, and I would do it soon.  Also, it seems odd that the pain is in two different locations on your body as usually the shingles virus infects one particular nerve on one side of the body.  I'll be thinking of you and hope that you get a thorough examination to rule out other possibilities.

I know it’s very hard to deal with. I am sorry that you got this at such a young age. I have had it for four years now. It hurts every day. I have on left lower back.  5mg lidocaine patch, gabapentin 600 mg 3x daily for about 4 years. Contact a good pain specialist to get those. This is not just a headache or a flu. This seriously is the worst pain and for the longest time I have ever had to endured! I wish you beat this. With this you may only be able to manage the PHN (pain)for a duration🙂 maybe in my case till I RIP💒