Post shingles problems

[wiver]

A lady I care for had shingles several years ago. Since then a few times a year she has flare ups on one side of her face and head. It’s really itchy and sore at times. I apply calmamine cream which helps sooth it but it’s very irritating for her and she forgets what the problem is due to dementia. I have mentioned it to the GP before but they don’t seem interested. We have another appointment tomorrow about this. Has anyone experienced this and is there actually a treatment for this. It’s quite distressing for this lovely lady.

Could it possibly be Trigrminal neuralgia? I’ve had shingles multiple times die to being on a immune suppressing medication and on the years where I DON’T get shingles I do tend to have a mini flare up in the old spots where I have had it previously . It feels like a serious sun burn/static/ spidery itch that just won’t quit and yes it can drive me crazy even though the rash doesn’t appear. The dr gave me gabapentin and it helped but it doesn’t resolve the underlying problems unfortunately. Although I can’t help but wonder if a numbing cream could help?

I’m thinking numbing cream to. I see some medications can cause dizziness and this is something I really eyeto avoid with this lady.

I have post hepatic neuralgia in my face and head and arm due to shingles in the eye so don'tget a rash but do get continuous neurological pain. A lot of the treatments over the last 15 years have caused horrible side effects.
Somethings that didn't but may not be suitable for someone with dementia were numbing patches on the face, acupuncture (under the pain clinic), some injection into the back of my neck but could only have 3 of these due to cost.
Maybe ask the gp if a pain clinic or neurology referal is appropriate.