Have You Been Singing the Shingles Jingle?

If you have had shingles in the past, then you know how this song goes.

♪Ooh, ouch, ooh, ouch. Ooh, ooh, ouch, ouch. ♪

There are several variations, and different verses, but all are quite similar.

Shingles, also known as postherpetic neuralgia, is a viral infection that stems from the varicella-zoster virus. This is the virus that also causes chickenpox. This virus can be dormant in the nerve and become activated decades later, usually triggered by stress or some type of immune deficiency.

The red rash and blisters associated with shingles usually involves a specific area of skin where the sensory nerve is fed by a single spinal nerve root. This pattern is known as a dermatome. The pain associated with this rash is usually a burning sensation and sometimes can persist even after the rash and blisters have dried and resolved.

There are several medications that can be utilized in the treatment of shingles including antivirals, nerve pain medication, topical numbing medications, cool compresses, and prescription pain medication.

Sympathetic nerve blocks may also be utilized in refractory cases to calm nerve pain down for shingles patients.

Whether your shingles jingle has hit its crescendo or not, please consult with us at Advanced Spine and Pain and let us help you turn the volume of those pain decibels down and fade that song of pain to inaudible and nonexistent.