Is Severe Pain In My Right Leg Three Weeks After Treating Shingles A Worrisome Issue?

Posted on Mon, 25 Jun 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 Answered on

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 Last reviewed on

Question : I have had shingles for a little over 3 weeks my blisters have gone away. I only had very few blisters and they have completed dried up. I am still having so much pain, it's in my right leg I am only taking pain meds. Should I be taking some other meds

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
postherpetic neuralgia- nerve pain after shingles, can occur

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Unfortunately shingles can be associated with severe pain. After the infection has resolved, persons can get post-herpetic neuralgia.

This refers to nerve pain that can persist due to this condition (shingles).

It can present with the pain, numbness and burning that you mentioned.

Pain medication can be helpful but many persons require medication specifically for nerve related pain.
Meds such as gabapentin, tegretol, lyrica, amitriptyline etc are used to treat nerve related pain (neuralgia)

They can used along with other pain killers. A prescription from your doctor would be needed to start one of these, you can consider discussing using one of these with your doctor.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar