Okay so the real reason I’ve started this blog is in order to keep my sanity through my journey when I have PHN. So I really should talk about this. It started for me at age seven when I was diagnosed with shingles for the first time. At age seven-teen I was diagnosed again and up until now (age 20) I’ve had shingles a total of five times.

What is Shingles?

The medical term for shingles is acute herpes zoster. Shingles is a skin rash that develops on half of the body, in a belt-like pattern. The rash is usually on either the right or left side of the chest, starting in the middle of the back and wrapping around to the breast — but it can occur on any part of the body, such as the forehead and abdomen. (I personally had it only on my right side, when younger on my stomach and back and older on the back of my right thigh).

Most of the time, shingles is very painful. Sometimes the pain from shingles starts several days before the rash appears. When the pain starts before the skin rash, it can be very hard for doctors to make the correct diagnosis. Many patients have been told they have heart attacks, appendicitis, and migraine headaches before getting the correct diagnosis of shingles. (We have always found out quickly THANK GOODNESS!)

Fortunately, in most cases the pain of shingles gradually disappears over several weeks or months. Most people with shingles will have no pain or just a little pain one year after the rash. (This is where my case is different)

What is Postherpetic Neuralgia?

If the pain from shingles does not go away, it is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Only a small number of people with shingles develop PHN. (That’s me!)

Who Gets Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia?

Age is an important factor in determining who gets shingles and PHN. The older you are, the greater chance you have of developing shingles. And, the older you are when you get shingles, the greater chance you have of developing PHN.
Recently, a good scientific study showed that older people with a neuropathy (nerves of the body that are not working correctly, usually due to old age or diabetes) are more likely to develop PHN after shingles. It is interesting that most people in this study who had a neuropathy before they got shingles did not know they had a neuropathy — they did not have any symptoms. Therefore, having a neuropathy, even if it is not causing symptoms, may increase the chances of getting PHN.

Other studies have suggested that the more severe and painful the shingles rash is, the greater the chance of long-lasting PHN pain. Also, some studies have concluded that people who do not cope well with stress and pain may have worse PHN than others who cope better. (they believe mine is do to stress)

Pain from Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia

Patients often describe the pain from shingles as a horrible, unbearable pain in the area of the rash. Each patient may experience different types and degrees of pain. The words used to describe the pain include sharp, electric-like jabs, burning, throbbing, aching, and skin sensitivity. (I often feel it’s like having wasps living under sking constantly stinging you while having your skin burned by one of those sunburns that blisters).

Most patients who develop the chronic pain of PHN say that the pain is less severe than the shingles pain, but it may still be intense. Like shingles pain, the pain of PHN can be described as sharp, electric-like jabs, burning, throbbing, aching, and skin sensitivity, and the pain is different from patient to patient. Patients might also have intense itching in the painful area. The pain of PHN may spread beyond the original shingles rash, and often includes several inches above the rash area. Some patients have severe skin sensitivity (called allodynia) that can be very disabling, especially if the sensitive area is on the chest, trunk, or limbs, making the touch of clothing unbearable.

Other Symptoms and Problems Associated with Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia

This is where the blogging comes in.

People suffering from shingles or PHN may develop depression, anxiety, and sleeping difficulties because of the severe pain. The patient should tell his or her doctor about these problems so they may be treated. (After trying now five treatments nothing has worked and the suggestions are now to stay out of windy places and to cut holes in my clothes so they don’t touch the spot. Well I live in Oswego where we are known for extreme wind and it’s on my upper thigh where unless I’m in underwear something is touching it)

Also, some patients describe a “sagging of the muscles” in the area of the shingles. When doctors examine the region, a loss of muscle tone is seen. This might be caused by damage of some nerves that control the muscle tone in the area of the shingles. (I’m praying this doesn’t happen)

<http://www.stoppain.org/pain_medicine/content/chronicpain/shingles.asp&gt;

If you’re around my age (20) and have PHN please contact me it’s said that 2% of the 20% of people (over the age of 50) who have shingles get PHN and there is no percentage for those my age; I’m looking for anyone to understand!