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How Can Pain Due To Shingles Be Treated?
Hi. I have had shingles since Christmas day. It was diagnosed on Dec. 28th and the dr. gave me 7 days worth of Valtrex. He gave me hydrocodon-acetaminophen 7.5-325 for pain. He has refilled that several times. The last refill he reduced the strength to 5-325. I was taking one every 6 hours most of the time. Recently I have been able to wait longer than six hours-sometimes 10 hrs. I had a red rash but never got any blisters. The rash is barely visible now (like a pale shadow). The pain I do get is mostly the stinging sensation on my stomach on the side the rash was on. The dr. wants me to take Lyrica but I am afraid of the possible side effects. Will the pain gradually go away on its own? I am a 65 yr. old female.
Tue, 13 Nov 2018
Hello,
In most cases, the pain subsides within a few weeks. Some patients are rather unlucky and may continue to experience pain even years after the initial insult. Lyrica has indeed many potential side effects but it's also helpful to some patients. That's why we usually start it at the lowest possible dosage and gradually escalate it according to the symptoms.
I can't say whether you need it or not. Your doctor is the most appropriate person to decide that. Keep in mind that these drugs are not given with curative intent. They're given to provide pain-relief. If the pain is bearable then you could do without any of them. So it's up to you really.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis,
Internal Medicine Specialist
In most cases, the pain subsides within a few weeks. Some patients are rather unlucky and may continue to experience pain even years after the initial insult. Lyrica has indeed many potential side effects but it's also helpful to some patients. That's why we usually start it at the lowest possible dosage and gradually escalate it according to the symptoms.
I can't say whether you need it or not. Your doctor is the most appropriate person to decide that. Keep in mind that these drugs are not given with curative intent. They're given to provide pain-relief. If the pain is bearable then you could do without any of them. So it's up to you really.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis,
Internal Medicine Specialist
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