Mercy Pain Specialists Treat Shingles or Postherpetic Neuralgia
Patients looking for pain management options after having shingles often choose The Center for Interventional Pain Medicine at Mercy. Our pain medicine experts use new advances in interventional pain medicine aimed at improving quality of life for patients with postherpetic neuralgia.
About Shingles or Postherpetic Neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia is the pain that continues after having shingles when the rash and blisters have healed. This painful condition affects nerve fibers and skin. The pain is often felt as a burning, aching or stabbing pain.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Postherpetic neuralgia symptoms are generally limited to the area where the shingles outbreak first occurred. Symptoms may include:
- Burning or sharp pain
- Itching and numbness
- Muscle weakness
Pain management specialists diagnose postherpetic neuralgia by conducting:
- Physical exam
Treatment Options for Shingles or Postherpetic Neuralgia
One option to control pain is spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulation. After a trial determines that pain can be controlled using this method, a device is implanted under the skin. Patients then have the flexibility to turn the device on and off as needed to manage their pain.
The Center for Interventional Pain Medicine at Mercy provides leading edge interventional pain treatment options to reduce the need for pain medications and alleviate chronic pain.