I'm suffering from neuralgia in my head after having shingles for seven or eight weeks – help!
Q) I AM suffering from neuralgia in my head after having shingles for seven or eight weeks.
Do you have a cure for the pain, which is now in the left hand side of my face, affecting my eye and my tongue? My head is sore from the nape of my neck to the top of my head.
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1
Dr Zoe Williams helps Sun readers with their health concerns
Credit: Olivia West
A)
Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of shingles.
It's a long-lasting pain that affects areas where shingles rashes were present, including the eye and potentially the tongue.
It usually gets better eventually, but can vary from a few months to over a year.
Different types of
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Medicines to treat nerve pain would usually be tried
next
, such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin.
These may not work straight away – the dose is usually increased gradually over weeks until it becomes effective.
It's important to be aware of the potential side-effects before starting them.
Plasters containing lidocaine (a local anaesthetic) can help some people manage pain of the skin, but not the eye or tongue.
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Andi Peters says he's in 'worst pain ever' as he calls into Lorraine from shingles sick bed
Live fat jab Q&A
DO you have a question about weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic?
Are you curious about side- effects, whether they could be right for you, or how to best eat while on them?
Send me your questions for a Live Q&A on the hot topic. No question is too big, small or silly. Send your questions to the address below.
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Send your questions for Dr Zoe to: health@thesun.co.uk
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Q) I AM suffering from neuralgia in my head after having shingles for seven or eight weeks. Do you have a cure for the pain, which is now in the left hand side of my face, affecting my eye and my tongue? My head is sore from the nape of my neck to the top of my head. Advertisement 1 Dr Zoe Williams helps Sun readers with their health concerns Credit: Olivia West A) Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of shingles. It's a long-lasting pain that affects areas where shingles rashes were present, including the eye and potentially the tongue. It usually gets better eventually, but can vary from a few months to over a year. Different types of Advertisement Medicines to treat nerve pain would usually be tried next , such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin or pregabalin. These may not work straight away – the dose is usually increased gradually over weeks until it becomes effective. It's important to be aware of the potential side-effects before starting them. Plasters containing lidocaine (a local anaesthetic) can help some people manage pain of the skin, but not the eye or tongue. Advertisement Most read in Health Others benefit more from Andi Peters says he's in 'worst pain ever' as he calls into Lorraine from shingles sick bed Live fat jab Q&A DO you have a question about weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic? Are you curious about side- effects, whether they could be right for you, or how to best eat while on them? Send me your questions for a Live Q&A on the hot topic. No question is too big, small or silly. Send your questions to the address below. Advertisement Send your questions for Dr Zoe to: health@
