This letter is for the record and to keep a PAIN JOURNAL of where the above stated title problem stands. http://www.BrianNelsonConsulting.com/trigeminal-neuralgia-tn/faq-info.html ud 09/06/2006 12:11 PM -0500 http://www.BrianNelsonConsulting.com/trigeminal-neuralgia-tn/faq-info2.html ud 09/06/2006 12:11 PM -0500 http://www.BrianNelsonConsulting.com/trigeminal-neuralgia-tn/faq-info3.html ud 09/06/2006 12:11 PM -0500 http://www.BrianNelsonConsulting.com/trigeminal-neuralgia-tn/faq-info4.

If the pain is severe and persists for months or years, it is called postherpetic neuralgia. It can be truly debilitating, and unfortunately, it is common in people over 60.

Postherpetic neuralgia is localized pain in the area of involvement of shingles that persists beyond one month. The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. This occurs when the pain associated with shingles persists beyond one month, even after the rash is gone. It is a result of irritation of the nerves of sensation by the virus. The pain can be severe and debilitating and occurs primarily in persons over the age of 50.

PHN can occur after an outbreak and can be extremely painful. PHN If shingles is treated early with our products, PHN can be prevented completely. If however you suffer PHN after the outbreak, Heal Shingles is one of the few products on the market which will successfully treat PHN too! For more information on PHN, please see our Post-Herpetic Neuralgia page.

Continuous trigeminal neuralgias differ from the paroxysmal form. Instead of coming in volleys, this type of neuropathic pain is constant and is often accompanied by symptoms of burning, pressure, squeezing and/or pulling. In addition, continuous neuralgias may not follow the path of a nerve and the pain may cross the midline to the other side. Continuous neuralgias may be very difficult to treat. top of page NEUROVASCULAR PAINS

The pain results from damage to the nerve fibers during the shingles infection. The pain of PHN is in the same area as the pain and rash of shingles. Some PHN patients feel pain in the exact same location as the rash, others have PHN pain in smaller areas within the rash region, and others feel the PHN pain in an area larger than the original rash site. Pain from nerve damage is among the worst types of pain.

On average, one of every five patients with shingles gets PHN. However, the risk of developing PHN increases with age -- that is, the older the person is when getting shingles, the more likely that PHN will develop. Among those over the age of 55, 1 in 4 will develop PHN. Among those over 60, about half will develop PHN. And among those over 70 and older, 3 of 4 persons have long-term pain after the herpes zoster infection disappears from the skin.

Because the virus is no longer present after the blisters dry up, the antiviral drugs used to treat shingles are not useful in patients with PHN. There is no cure for PHN. Rather, treatment focuses on relieving pain. The most commonly prescribed medications are strong pain relievers containing opioids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and a newly approved topical lidocaine patch. Most PHN patients have meaningful pain relief from one or a combination of these drugs.

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.

Scientists have not found a treatment that prevents all patients with shingles from developing PHN. However, there are several treatments that some think might reduce the chances of developing PHN. These treatments are: Antiviral Medication (such as acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir): These medications kill the herpes virus during the shingles phase. Studies have shown that they shorten the time and pain of shingles.