Diseases and Conditions
Postherpetic Neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia is a painful condition that can follow an episode of shingles. The term comes from the words “post,” meaning after, “herpetic,” referring to herpes zoster (shingles), and “neuralgia,” meaning nerve pain.
Shingles is a recurrence of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a chickenpox infection, the varicella-zoster virus can remain dormant (asleep) in nerve cells. Years later, the virus may become active again. Researchers do not know exactly what triggers reactivation of the virus.
The reactivated virus travels along the nerves, causing pain and producing a rash or blisters on the skin. The shingles rash and pain usually occur in a band on one side of the back, chest or neck, or in a cluster on one side of the head or face.
Shingles typically goes away within a few weeks, with no lasting effects. Sometimes, however, the shingles virus damages nerves, causing pain and other sensations to linger after the shingles rash has healed. This is referred to as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
PHN symptoms vary from person to person, but may include significant pain, tingling, numbness or unusual skin sensitivity in the area where the shingles rash occurred. PHN symptoms often lessen over time time, but can last for months or even years.
PHN can affect every aspect of your life – your relationships, work and leisure activities. Fortunately, you can take steps to help you feel better and manage your symptoms. You may benefit from one or a combination of treatments, including physical therapy, medication, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Your health care provider can help you design a treatment plan that works for you.
Only people who have had chickenpox and, later, shingles can get PHN. Anyone can develop PHN following shingles, but certain factors may increase the risk:
Shingles is a recurrence of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a chickenpox infection, the varicella-zoster virus can remain dormant (asleep) in nerve cells. Years later, the virus may become active again. Researchers do not know exactly what triggers reactivation of the virus.
The reactivated virus travels along the nerves, causing pain and producing a rash or blisters on the skin. The shingles rash and pain usually occur in a band on one side of the back, chest or neck, or in a cluster on one side of the head or face.
Shingles typically goes away within a few weeks, with no lasting effects. Sometimes, however, the shingles virus damages nerves, causing pain and other sensations to linger after the shingles rash has healed. This is referred to as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
PHN symptoms vary from person to person, but may include significant pain, tingling, numbness or unusual skin sensitivity in the area where the shingles rash occurred. PHN symptoms often lessen over time time, but can last for months or even years.
PHN can affect every aspect of your life – your relationships, work and leisure activities. Fortunately, you can take steps to help you feel better and manage your symptoms. You may benefit from one or a combination of treatments, including physical therapy, medication, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Your health care provider can help you design a treatment plan that works for you.
Who is Affected?
Only people who have had chickenpox and, later, shingles can get PHN. Anyone can develop PHN following shingles, but certain factors may increase the risk:
- Age – The chance of getting PHN is related to the age at which a person has shingles. About 30% of people who experience shingles after age 60 also develop PHN, while only about 10-20% of all people with shingles do.
- Type of shingles symptoms – PHN is more likely to occur if the shingles rash and pain are severe, or if shingles affects the forehead and eyes.
- Other conditions – People with suppressed immune systems, such as those on chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive medications (eg, cortisone) or those with HIV/AIDS may be more prone to PHN.