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How Can Shingles On The Spine And Under The Breast Be Treated?
I ve had shingles for three weeks. its from my spine around my left side and under my left breast. The ones near my spine are clearing up some what, but on my side and especially under my breast are still very red and really hurt! I ve been using aspercream roll on and taking medicine from my doctor. Is there anything else I can do to clear this up where it s still hurts.
Mon, 21 Aug 2017
Hello Dear. There is no cure for shingles, but treatment may shorten the length of illness and prevent complications. Treatment options include:
Antiviral medicines to reduce the pain and duration of shingles.
Pain medicines, antidepressants, and topical creams to relieve long-term pain.
Initial treatment:
As soon as you are diagnosed with shingles, your doctor probably will start treatment with antiviral medicines. If you begin medicines within the first 3 days of seeing the shingles rash camera.gif, you have a lower chance of having later problems, such as postherpetic neuralgia.
The most common treatments for shingles include:
Antiviral medicines, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir, to reduce the pain and the duration of shingles.
Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain during an attack of shingles. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Topical antibiotics, applied directly to the skin, to stop infection of the blisters.
For severe cases of shingles, some doctors may have their patients use corticosteroids along with antiviral medicines. But corticosteroids are not used very often for shingles. This is because studies show that taking a corticosteroid along with an antiviral medicine doesn't help any more than just taking an antiviral medicine by itself.
Ongoing treatment
If you have pain that persists longer than a month after your shingles rash heals, your doctor may diagnose postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles. PHN can cause pain for months or years. It affects 10 to 15 out of 100 people who have had shingles.3 Treatment to reduce the pain of postherpetic neuralgia includes:
1. Antidepressant medicines, such as a tricyclic antidepressant (for example, amitriptyline).
2. Topical anesthetics that include benzocaine, which are available in over-the-counter forms that you can apply directly to the skin for pain relief.
3. Lidocaine patches, such as Lidoderm, are available only by prescription.
Anticonvulsant medicines, such as gabapentin or pregabalin.
Opioids, such as codeine.
4. Other medicines that treat pain, such as gabapentin enacarbil (Horizant).
Topical creams containing capsaicin may provide some relief from pain. There is also a high-dose skin patch available by prescription (Qutenza) for postherpetic neuralgia. Capsaicin may irritate or burn the skin of some people, and it should be used with caution.
with regards- Dr Sanjay Kini
Antiviral medicines to reduce the pain and duration of shingles.
Pain medicines, antidepressants, and topical creams to relieve long-term pain.
Initial treatment:
As soon as you are diagnosed with shingles, your doctor probably will start treatment with antiviral medicines. If you begin medicines within the first 3 days of seeing the shingles rash camera.gif, you have a lower chance of having later problems, such as postherpetic neuralgia.
The most common treatments for shingles include:
Antiviral medicines, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir, to reduce the pain and the duration of shingles.
Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain during an attack of shingles. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Topical antibiotics, applied directly to the skin, to stop infection of the blisters.
For severe cases of shingles, some doctors may have their patients use corticosteroids along with antiviral medicines. But corticosteroids are not used very often for shingles. This is because studies show that taking a corticosteroid along with an antiviral medicine doesn't help any more than just taking an antiviral medicine by itself.
Ongoing treatment
If you have pain that persists longer than a month after your shingles rash heals, your doctor may diagnose postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles. PHN can cause pain for months or years. It affects 10 to 15 out of 100 people who have had shingles.3 Treatment to reduce the pain of postherpetic neuralgia includes:
1. Antidepressant medicines, such as a tricyclic antidepressant (for example, amitriptyline).
2. Topical anesthetics that include benzocaine, which are available in over-the-counter forms that you can apply directly to the skin for pain relief.
3. Lidocaine patches, such as Lidoderm, are available only by prescription.
Anticonvulsant medicines, such as gabapentin or pregabalin.
Opioids, such as codeine.
4. Other medicines that treat pain, such as gabapentin enacarbil (Horizant).
Topical creams containing capsaicin may provide some relief from pain. There is also a high-dose skin patch available by prescription (Qutenza) for postherpetic neuralgia. Capsaicin may irritate or burn the skin of some people, and it should be used with caution.
with regards- Dr Sanjay Kini
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