Many face pain patients report being affected by Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), a pain syndrome associated with flareups of the Herpes Zoster virus in Shingles. The following link provides an access gateway to ten authoritative papers which review the medical evidence for diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.
http://pain-topics.org/pain-disorders/shingles.php#ZosterPHN
The first of these papers is summarized as follows:
Herpes zoster — the chickenpox virus commonly known as shingles — can lead to the painful complication of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a disruption in the cutaneous nerve fibers affected by the shingles rash. The duration of this painful vesicular rash can oftentimes be decreased using antiviral agents, while adjunct medications can help relieve pain and related symptoms. For those who are affected by PHN, the characteristic burning pain can last for weeks or months and can dramatically impact quality of life. This article provides a thorough summary of the characteristics of both conditions, information on diagnostic testing for herpes zoster, and the treatment options for both. Tables list antiviral medications to treat shingles as well as those effective for PHN, including two FDA-approved topical medications. A relatively new vaccine can significantly reduce the incidence of shingles and PHN. [Note: the documents were written before the 2011 approval of the vaccine for persons aged 50 through 59 years of age.]
This is but one of many pain treatment topics monitored and updated frequently on PainTopics.org. I follow the weekly newsletter of that organization. The following links of interest are mentioned in this week's letter: