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Suggest Treatment For Painful Shingles Infection
Question: Hi, I am a female, 81 years of age. 4 weeks ago I came down with shingles which has been very painful, particularly at night affecting my sleep. After the first 3 days I took a 7 day anti-viral med. I have had nurmerous pain meds which I'm now going to discontinue because of possible adverse affects on my liver and bleeding in the stomach. My question is: How long do you think this will last? I'm hoping it will be gone by 6 weeks.
Brief Answer:
It's unpredictable
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
unfortunately this is unpredictable. Typically the usual recovery time is 2-4 weeks but some patients may have post-herpetic neuralgia (which means pain after the shingles attack) that may last even for years! Since using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for years is not recommended because of its side-effects, you should consult your doctor for alternative choices depending on your symptoms and medical history.
I hope I've not scared you by mentioning the highest possible duration. Many patients recover in much shorter times (a few weeks more than the usual recovery time).
Kind Regards!
It's unpredictable
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
unfortunately this is unpredictable. Typically the usual recovery time is 2-4 weeks but some patients may have post-herpetic neuralgia (which means pain after the shingles attack) that may last even for years! Since using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for years is not recommended because of its side-effects, you should consult your doctor for alternative choices depending on your symptoms and medical history.
I hope I've not scared you by mentioning the highest possible duration. Many patients recover in much shorter times (a few weeks more than the usual recovery time).
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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