What is postherpetic neuralgia?

Postherpetic neuralgia, abbreviated as PHN, is the damage caused to the nerves by the shingles virus leading to severe pain. Shingles typically causes a painful, blistering rash and the symptoms of pain usually disappear with the rash. However, for some people, this pain continues for months, and post-herpetic neuralgia is defined as pain that lasts longer than three months.

Symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia

Shingles is a viral infection with uncomfortable symptoms. The virus that causes shingles is the same virus, VZN, that causes chickenpox. If you had chickenpox as a child, the virus lies dormant and at times it can reactivate.

With shingles, pain is usually the first symptom followed closely by the shingles rash and fluid-filled blisters which occur often within a couple of days. Other symptoms include a fever and fatigue. 

Shingles can last for between two and six weeks, but some people will experience postherpetic neuralgia. This is when the shingles pain lasts for months due to the damage caused to the nerve fibres by the virus long after the rash has gone. 

Pain relief of postherpetic neuralgia

The shingles pain that lasts longer than six weeks, PHN, can display as a burning, throbbing and jabbing pain usually limited to the area when the shingles breakout occurred. 

Shingles pain is so uncomfortable that most people seek treatment to manage the symptoms. 

Natural remedies for postherpetic neuralgia

It is important to understand that there is no cure for shingles, and that your GP may prescribe antivirals to shorten the duration of shingles, but not necessarily the symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia since the damage may already have occurred. 

There are some natural remedies which may prove to be effective in reducing pain and discomfort of PHN. 

Take a healing cool bath with some Magnesium Flakes. The cool water coupled with the nerve relaxing properties of magnesium can ease the pain and symptoms of post herpetic neuralgia. If you prefer to shower, then use Hope’s Relief Goats Milk Body Wash which may help soothe the itching. 

Take a specific magnesium supplement such as Neuro-Mag. This magnesium supplement contains a very specific magnesium compound, magnesium l-threonate, which has been shown to enter the nervous system via the spinal cord and so relax the nerves that send signals of pain to the brain.

Use a wet, cool compress several times a day to relieve the symptoms of PHN including itching and pain.

These natural remedies may help to decrease the pain, itching and discomfort of postherpetic neuralgia and hopefully speed up the healing processes. 

Since postherpetic neuralgia is a symptom of shingles, and shingles is often associated with a weakened immune system, it might be prudent to support the immune system by taking Daily Immunity capsules. 

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