What relieves a 29-month long case of post herpetic neuralgia? Allergic to narcotics, so what else works to get rid of this awful, ongoing daily, debilitating pain which wraps around the side of my husband's body from spine almost to belly button? Things to date that have NOT worked: acupuncture, laser light therapy, chiropractic, epidural shots, lidocaine patches, neurogen cream, OTC neuralgia meds, capsaicin, geranium oils, other mixtures of various essential oils. HELP. What DOES work?????
What relieves a 29-month long case of post herpetic neuralgia? Allergic to narcotics, so what else works to get rid of this awful, ongoing daily, debilitating pain which wraps around the side of my husband's body from spine almost to belly button? Things to date that have NOT worked: acupuncture, laser light therapy, chiropractic, epidural shots, lidocaine patches, neurogen cream, OTC neuralgia meds, capsaicin, geranium oils, other mixtures of various essential oils. HELP. What DOES work?????
Has your husband's doctor prescribed anything like Neurontin or Lyrica? They are classified as anticonvulsants but shown to have analgesic effects for nerve pain. Neurontin has a generic available, so it would cost little less. I've also heard of antidepressants being used in these instances as they affect chemicals in the brain that determine how we interrupt pain.
One last option might be an electrial pain stimulator like a TENS unit. I'm not sure how they relieve pain, but they are often prescribed for people with back pain.
Don't know if these suggestions might help, but I hope he finds something that works. It's awful to suffer like that.
As the former reply stated Lyrica works really well with post-herpetic neuralgia. I have had Shingles 8 times in the last 9 years ( first time was when I was 19). Even if he wasn't allergic to narcotics, nothing and I do mean nothing, will completely take away the nerve pain, but there are certain meds that help. Also, he can try Cymbalta, and there is a new anti-depressant that just came out not long ago which I take now and it's called Prestique (pardon my spelling if that is wrong). The capsaicin cream stuff only makes it hurt worse, my pain is a sharp burning pain that is basically like someone holding a lighter to my back and chest at all times. Now there is a difference between the TENS unit and the Spinal Cord Stimulator, but if he has a pain specialists, Neurolgist, or Neurosurgeon(which is really what is needed) then they can determine based on his past responses to meds and alternative therapy would be right for him. But at this time being 08-28-09, I am currently working on getting a spinal cord stimulator from my Pain Management Doctor. But the 2 machines work besically the same way, but don't expect relief forever, it redirects the nerves where as the pain won't reach the pain receptors but they have only been shown to work for 1-2 years from what I have been told. I have also had Botox injections which is another option, it didn't help me, but Botox injections are supposed to kill the nerve endings which is where the pain comes from. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I look forward to hearing how he comes out with further treatment.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Motte
