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Suggest Treatment For Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused By Shingles
Question: I am looking for the best drugs to treat post therpetic neuralgia pain from shingles. My 87yo husband is in his 4th week of pain. Blisters are gone but redness is still there and PAINFUL!!!! He prays he could die! I just found this site. He takes Xanix nightly for sleep but can't sleep long for the pain hits him hard and constantly. He also takes peroxatine, finasteride, atenalol, trazadone, melatonin. XXXXXXX my husband, aside from shingle nerve pain, has lost his appetite. He used to be 140 lbs before c-diff and now with shingles he is losing about 4lbs/2+wks and he is now 120lbs. He is a stick man. Can see his spine thru his t-shirt. He is always cold. Maybe because of no fat layer left! He is about 5'6" tall. Very weak and unsteady. Uses a walker mostly. Was taking therapy for balance and stamina 3x's wk before the shingles and after the c-diff.I gave preliminary info re/ appetite. Forgot to ask you, is there any med or herb or anything that would recharge his appetite? About 6 mos ago he had a scan of his abdomen because the ER doc (during the c-diff time) saw a spec on his pancreas. Our primary care doctor wanted another scan to see if anything changed re/ his pancrease where maybe it wasn't digesting his food properly and that may effect his appetite. Insurance is reviewing the case on whether to give the authorization or not. What are your thoughts? Could there be a corrilation?
Brief Answer:
Neuralgia
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your time for this post on HCM
I do understand your pain and discomfort
As per your clinical history let us go point wise as asked by you which will clarify all your doubts,
1)you had asked about the drugs for neuralgia which he is suffering after infection and in my opinion his pain is called in medical science as postherpetic neuralgia and it is a complication of shingles. Postherpetic neuralgia affects nerve fibers and skin, and the burning pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia can be severe enough to interfere with sleep and appetite. It affects people over age 60 only.
For it we advise our patients lidocaine skin patches which you have already tried
Secondly [capsaicin skin patches] can be help full for nerve pain and it is available as over the counter cream.
Finally, opioid painkillers can be tried like[tramadol, oxycodone, or morphine etc] and which is suitable for him your treating doctor will decide and it is not over the counter medication.
Your second question was related to his appetite which is very poor, i may say there are lots of pathological causes responsible for his appetite loss so let me know just few things because you have given some clues about his pancreas.It is-:
1)Dose he has upper abdominal pain that radiate to his back?
2)Any yellowing of his skin and whites of his eyes?
He can be given pancreatic enzymes which will help his digestion and it is a non prescription drug.
I hope I was able to answer all your questions and will assist you further if you have any doubt in mind.
Hope that helps
Neuralgia
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your time for this post on HCM
I do understand your pain and discomfort
As per your clinical history let us go point wise as asked by you which will clarify all your doubts,
1)you had asked about the drugs for neuralgia which he is suffering after infection and in my opinion his pain is called in medical science as postherpetic neuralgia and it is a complication of shingles. Postherpetic neuralgia affects nerve fibers and skin, and the burning pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia can be severe enough to interfere with sleep and appetite. It affects people over age 60 only.
For it we advise our patients lidocaine skin patches which you have already tried
Secondly [capsaicin skin patches] can be help full for nerve pain and it is available as over the counter cream.
Finally, opioid painkillers can be tried like[tramadol, oxycodone, or morphine etc] and which is suitable for him your treating doctor will decide and it is not over the counter medication.
Your second question was related to his appetite which is very poor, i may say there are lots of pathological causes responsible for his appetite loss so let me know just few things because you have given some clues about his pancreas.It is-:
1)Dose he has upper abdominal pain that radiate to his back?
2)Any yellowing of his skin and whites of his eyes?
He can be given pancreatic enzymes which will help his digestion and it is a non prescription drug.
I hope I was able to answer all your questions and will assist you further if you have any doubt in mind.
Hope that helps
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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