Pot-herpetic neuralgia

[colditz]

I'm being driven MAD by this.

I had shingles 18 months ago, and I think it must have scarred the nerve. The doctor has said it is post-herpetic neuralgia and prescribed naproxen - which does indeed take the pain away but not the itch, it does nothing for the itch!

there is no skin irritation apart from where I have scratched - does ANYONE have any advice on how to treat nerve itches, PLEASE?

Um ,not sure about the itch .
My mum has this .
IME ,you have to make a lot of fuss .
My mum was prescribed anti depressants I think ( quite common for this complaint ) but didn't get on with them .
She was eventually referred to a pain clinic ( long wait ,so you might want to start now ) and was prescribed Capiscan ( SP ? ) which is an extract from chillies/peppers or something .
You apply a pinhead somewhere near affected area ( doesn't have to be slap bang on it ) and it blocks the signals to your brain .
Takes time to build up .
I can't remember all my research ,but things like wrapping area in clingfilm recommended .
Also I'm sure that there is a patch you can be prescribed which releases numbing relief for a few hours .
I know it's a ghastly condition ( apparently if you see GP as soon as you get shingles there is something you can be prescribed which greatly reduces chances of it turning into this .So really important for people to know this )and you have all my sympathy .
Google ,go back to GP and carry on explaining how dreadful it is until you get help .

colditz - how's it going ?