Post-herpectic neuralgia

[LovelyBath77]

Anyone else have this nasty pain after shingles? Mine goes all down my right side and arm, and into the right eye. I have recently found some help with amitryptilline and also take co-codomol sparingly for pain. I'm not sure why it is lasting with me as heard it usually does in the elderly- I'm 40. The thought of living with it for years is not good. I'm thinking also the shingles come back at intervals as seem to get the rash again but the GP says it doesn't

That sounds really nasty. I don't have experience of shingles, but I use Lidocaine patches for nerve pain which are primarily licenced for post-herpetic neuralgia, and I find them very helpful. They are like a big plaster with local anaesthetic in and you can wear them for 12 hours to numb the affected area

It is quite nasty, but the anitryptilline is helpful. Thanks for the tip.

I've had it for over ten years now down my left side. It's definitely shrinking in size as it used to be my whole side - head to toe and now it's just on my torso. Gets worse if I am run down or tired.

I took amytriptiline for a couple of weeks and ended up passing out at work or on the tube so have just been enduring it since. It's no fun, I feel (literally) your pain.

With me, its the right side. It definitely is just the one side, and yes as you say is worse when tired, or stressed.

With the amitryptilline, it can have awful side effects at first, it gets better after a couple of weeks though, sometimes the docs don't explain that. It is worth persevering with. There is apparently a one with less side effects called nortriptilline too.

Ten years! Yes it does go on doesn't it, mine is around three years now.

I also get a crunchy shoulder and wrist joint when mine flares up. But strange! I try and take vitamins and epsom salts, magnesium, not sure if it helps though.

Interesting to hear about the shrinkage! maybe the nerves are slowly healing...

Yes, I feel as though the nerves are slooooowly healing. Having a baby 7 years ago made it flare up with the exhaustion but as time passes and sleep gets better, things improve. Getting enough sleep and listening to my body also help.

I have this - it is horrible and very sore. I've had shingles several times in the last eight years, and it left me with this post herpetic pain. I am older(57) though - so maybe was more likely to get it.

I find it is definitely worse if I am run down, and when the weather is hot. It can be quite unbearable at times - pretty much the same as the original shingles pain. Mine is on my face and head (where I originally had my rash) I have quite a deep scar on my forehead from my first dose of shingles and I sometimes get some painful spots around the scar - but it is not like a full outbreak.

I find amytriptiline knocks me out and makes me pretty exhausted the next day - but I use it if it gets too painful. I've got 10mg and 25mg, I've also got solpadol (which is basically co codamol with a higher dose of codeine in it) and combination of an amytrip. and a solpadol with usually settle it down and keep it under control until the bout passes (usually about 5-6 days and then it will settle.)

I use ice packs to ease the pain as well sometimes.

On the head sounds nasty

Yes sounds similar meds, I maybe need to think of cutting down the amitrip as gaining weight in it taking it everyday, it does help though and thinking it might help me through the school holidays (find these a bit stressful as little time to relax and have a break)

Well I hope for all of use it does go away with time. Think it does come back as well and one GP agreed but said hopefully not to the same severity as our immune systems will have learnt from the previous time to deal with it better. It's easy and wouldn't wish it on anyone.