Has anyone here dealt with post herpetic neuralgia?

[Vinca]

For the past month I've been suffering from a complication of a case of shingles. One small lesion near my spine on the upper buttock has resulted in the most horrendous leg pain (from the sciatic nerve) I've ever experienced. The neurologist I saw last week said it's about the worst pain any human can endure and the only condition which she'll prescribe narcotics for. The problem peaked about 2 weeks ago when I landed in the ER and was given morphine by IV. It barely touched the pain. For a couple of days after that I kept myself fairly drugged up and could only hobble around on crutches. Slowly, but slowly, I've been improving. The neurologist put me on Gabapentin, a drug used for seizures as well as this condition. It's just starting to kick in. I've reduced my pain killing meds. to 1 or 2 at night when it's the worst and I'm going almost entirely without crutches now. I'm told this can last months. Apparently anyone who had chicken pox is a candidate for it. The neurologist told me there is a vaccine for it which I intend to investigate after I get over this. There seems to be mixed messages about whether having a bout of shingles makes you immune to it. Just wondering if anyone here has been through this particular nightmare and how you coped.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Unfortunately yes it can reoccur.

Happened with a friend of mine years ago.

Note here : http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_shingles_outbreaks_recur_and_if_so_for_how_long_will_they_last

Get well soon.

[Vinca]

7. I'm going to check out the vaccine for this. From what I can gather,

it's only partially effective, but partial is better than nothing. I think I'll have to wait until this completely goes away before I get it. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten the vaccine long, long ago.

[Frosty1]

2. I know what you are talking about.

I have taken both Neurontin(Gabapentin)and Depakene(VALPROIC ACID). They are the only thing that works for me. Forget painkillers they won't touch nerve pain.

[Vinca]

8. How long did the Gabapentin take to kick in?

I've just barely begun to take it. This will be my second day taking all 3 doses. Does it completely block the pain?

[Frosty1]

11. I don't think it blocked all the pain as well as the Depakote did

It has been so long since I had to take it I really can't remember how long it took.

[Vinca]

12. If this doesn't work well I'll mention that to the neurologist. Thanks.

[Paxman]

3. Hypnosis

I've used hypnosis for years to help people with neuropathies. You can easily learn to reduce and even eliminate the pain for periods of time, plus speed your full recovery. Find a good hypnotherapist in your area, particularly one trained in pain management methods. I've also found essential oils applied topically to be helpful. You can find shingles blends (shingles no more) at your nearest health food center. You might also benefit from acupuncture to help with the sciatic pain. Sorry to hear about your condition. It can take a little time, but you can really improve.

[SheilaT]

14. I want to second Paxman's advice.

Hypnotherapy is absolutely remarkable in what it can achieve, but you need to find a good one. Ask for references if need be, and call them.

[Uben]

4. Mine lasted two weeks

...was pretty damned miserable, too. Back then (15 yrs ago?) there wasn't much you could get to ease the pain. I just "weathered" the illness and prayed it wasn't going to be an extended case. I do know of a lady who has had hers for years. That was scary as hell. No one should have to endure that. I'm even allergic to morphine, so that was not an alternative, or even offered. They said I could get some capsacin creme, but it didn't help a bit, for me.

Hope you get relief soon!

[Vinca]

9. It seems doctors are really weird about giving pain meds that really work.

I mentioned this to the neurologist and told her the junkies have spoiled it for the people who have bona fide pain. I'm treating my 11 remaining Percocets like a stash of gold. Have you ever had shingles again? I was wondering if it recurs if it is as potent or if you're more likely to get a watered down case because your body has acquired some immunity.

[Uben]

13. reoccurence is rare

I haven't had a problem since. I started taking niacin (nicotinic acid) last week, and it makes you "flush", which feels like a light case of the shingles, for about 30 minutes. But nothing like the real thing. My shingles were unilateral, as most are, but it was from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, on the left side.

I have over a hundred pain pills here at the house, left over from my broken leg and my wife's cancer surgery. Neither of us like to take them because they give us constipation, which is sometimes worse than the pain! If I do need to take one, I always take a vegetable laxative with it.

When I had the shingles, I just wanted to sleep as much as possible. Less suffering that way, so I would take sleeping pills and sleep four hours, then suffer four hours, rinse and repeat till it was over. There's very little chance you will ever have a reoccurence, so I wouldn't worry about it. Those poor people who have chronic cases have my sympathies. That would be terrible to live with, but some people do.

[Vinca]

15. Mine tends to get worse when I lay down, but eventually I get so tired

I'll sleep for hours then wake up and take something for pain if it's really bad. Mine is the left leg from top of the buttock to end of the toes. It's the weirdest thing how I'm getting better. The pain seems to be creeping upward. My foot, which was a nightmare a couple of weeks ago, is now only slightly tingly. The lightning bolts are the main problem right now and they tend to hit at certain times of the day or with certain moves. I'm glad to hear you haven't had it again. I read that B-Complex vitamins and lysine are good and I've been taking those along with a multi-vite, D and C. This isn't exactly icing on the cake when it comes to the aging process.

[Uben]

19. Niacin (nicotinic acid) is a B vitamin

...and it gives a similar sensation when you are "flushing". So, I wonder what effect it would have on the nerve endings.


Hope your's clears up pretty soon and you get back to normal.

[Vinca]

20. LOL - I remember when I took some of my husband's niacin by mistake

and didn't know about the flushing. I thought I was about to die of a heart attack or stroke. What a creepy feeling, but it makes sense that it might work for my problem.

[Frosty1]

16. The problem is

Painkillers as we know them actually do very little for nerve pain. Any other kind of pain they will work. Nerve pain is a horse of a different color.

[Vinca]

17. Good point. It barely takes the edge off.

I couldn't believe they pumped me full of morphine at the ER and I still was in too much pain to walk out to go home. I guess having the "stash" in the cupboard is more of an emotional crutch than anything else.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Something of interest.

Enzyme therapy seems to be highly effective for the initial attack, capsaizin (sp) cream is elaborated on after this clip... and it is approved for PHN.

http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21722

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments

For the initial attack of shingles, proteolytic enzymes may be helpful.Capsaicin cream is an FDA-approved treatment for PHN.
Proteolytic Enzymes

There is some evidence that proteolytic enzymes may be helpful for the initial attack of shingles. Proteolytic enzymes are produced by the pancreas to aid in digestion of protein, and certain foods also contain these enzymes. Besides their use in digestion, these enzymes may have some effects in the body as a whole when taken orally. The most-studied proteolytic enzymes include papain (from papaya), bromelain (from pineapple), and trypsin and chymotrypsin (extracted from the pancreas of various animals).

A double-blind study of 190 people with shingles compared proteolytic enzymes to the standard antiviral drug acyclovir. 1 Participants were treated for 14 days and their pain was assessed at intervals. Although both groups had similar pain relief, the enzyme-treated group experienced fewer side effects.

Similar results were seen in another double-blind study in which 90 people were given either an injection of acyclovir or enzymes, followed by a course of oral medication for 7 days. 2 Proteolytic enzymes are thought to benefit cases of shingles by decreasing the body's inflammatory response and regulating immune response to the virus.

[Vinca]

10. That's interesting. Help might be as close as Adolph's meat tenderizer!

I'll have to investigate this more.

[Vinca]

6. Thanks for all your replies and suggestions.

I especially appreciate ideas on how to approach this from a more "natural" perspective. I've always been one of those people who hates to take any kind of pill. I'm nearly 62 and when I go to a new doctor they are stunned to learn all I take is a bunch of vitamins and some glucosamine chondroitin for arthritis. Guess it never occurs to them that maybe it has something to do with why I rarely need to see them. I've always thought half the problem with older people is that they're overmedicated. In any case, during this episode I've changed my tune. That day in the ER I would have swallowed anything and they could have pumped anything into my veins. It's getting much better, though. I got through my first night without pain meds and even though the lightning bolt struck as I was getting up, I decided to treat it with an ice pack rather than a pill. So far so good. My husband thinks I'm getting better because I'm yelling at the talking heads on television again. LOL. Apparently this is going to take some time and patience. I'm trying to go about my business as normally as I can, but this experience has taken its toll on my stamina and I'm pretty much spent by late afternoon. I am very fortunate, though. My husband has been a life saver. He's taken over things I used to do in the morning and is always there for me. That mean a whole lot.

[Vinca]

18. A quick update. The Gabapentin appears to have kicked in and

I'm light years better today. I actually got up before my husband to get things going around the house. I started out on crutches, but quickly put them aside to shuffle around. What a relief not to feel totally incapacitated anymore!