Pain is the first and most noticeable symptom of shingles, as with many invading diseases! It’s our body’s way of letting us know something is going on. The pain begins before any sign of a rash, and may linger even after the rash has gone.
Shingles pain can be mild or intense, and is caused by the inflamed nerves under the skin. At first, the pain can feel like a burn or a tingling sensation. Even the slightest movement or brush of the skin can send a wave of pain. For some, it also may feel itchy. Then the rash develops and turns into blisters.
Types of Shingles Pain – Acute vs. Chronic
We can classify shingles pain into two types, that being acute and chronic.
Acute Pain
This is the immediate pain that comes with the shingles rash. It can be sharp, burning, or throbbing. Acute pain often affects just one side of the body in a band-like pattern and usually lasts from two to four weeks.
Chronic Pain
This is known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is pain that can last for months or even years after the rash has disappeared. This continual pain happens when the virus has damaged the nerves. PHN pain typically feels like a burning, stabbing, or aching throb.
The pain is felt wherever the shingles rash is located, and the pain in these areas can be either mild or intense, and can also be constant or intermittent. Your skin may feel very tender, and you may experience other systemic symptoms of a viral infection, such as fever, fatigue, and headache.
Painful Complication – Postherpetic Neuralgia
PHN is a common complication of shingles, particularly among senior adults. Because the nerves are damaged, they continue to send pain signals to the brain even when the shingles rash and blisters are no longer there.
The symptoms of PHN include the following:
- Burning or sharp pain in the area where rash and blisters appeared.
- Numbness or itchiness in the area.
- Pain that comes and goes or is constant.
- Sensitivity even to a light touch.
- Pain that gets worse in hot or cold temperatures.
PHN can be inconvenient and debilitating as you can imagine! If you’re constantly feeling pain, any chronic pain, it can affect your daily activities and your life in general feels like it’s suffering along with it. This is why so many people can end up becoming depressed too.
There’s no cure for PHN, and there’s no standard treatment either. For some people, it gets better as time goes by. There are of course medications that are often prescribed to manage the symptoms, or if the pain is mild, over-the-counter medicines can be helpful.
The Emotional and Psychological Impact of Shingles Pain
Aside from the physical pain, you might suffer from emotional and psychological impact of shingles. That’s related to the reduced quality of life, affecting your ability to socialize and do your daily activities normally. As I mentioned above, depression can develop.
PHN can lead to sleeplessness, weight loss, depression, and anxiety, which is a perfect recipe for poor emotional health.
The pain can make simple tasks like dressing or eating uncomfortable, and let’s face it, when you are not feeling okay physically, you don’t feel like doing anything at all, and it can become very stressful.
The discomfort can make you less likely to hang out with your friends or do the activities you used to enjoy, leading to isolation and feelings of loneliness.
Your health care professional can help you manage shingles pain if it is severe with a combination of treatments, including antiviral medications, pain relievers, and sometimes nerve block injections. It’s also important to get psychological support if necessary, which can also be very helpful in coping with the emotional aspects of the condition.
Final Thoughts
Shingles pain can be a challenging and debilitating experience, impacting both your physical and emotional well-being. That’s why it is essential to seek appropriate medical treatment to manage your symptoms effectively.
While there’s no cure to make sure that the varicella-zoster virus leaves your body, vaccines can help keep them dormant. So don’t let shingles get you down as with the right care and support, it’s possible to navigate through the difficulties associated with shingles pain.
