Why Does Shingles Hurt So Bad

The earlier shingles is treated the less severe symptoms may become.

Why does shingles hurt so bad. Written by dan gray updated on april 3 2019. Shingles strikes 1 million americans each year causing mild to severe and even debilitating pain according to the national institute of neurological disorders and stroke 1. It feels like a mix of electrical shock and small needles against your skin. Now my left arm hurts so much a woman tweeted this week.

Taking an over the counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen after getting shingrix can help ease discomfort from side effects. In some people the pain will subside. We don t have any idea why. Learn about treatment options from a pain management specialist.

Shingrix offers 90 protection against shingles. Here s a few reasons why it s difficult to make adults get vaccinated. Roughly 30 to 60 of people over age 60 who get shingles go on to develop a chronic pain syndrome called post herpetic neuralgia. Common side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities but they should go away on their own in a few days.

In others it won t. If the pain lasts for at least 3 months after the shingles rash has healed a person is diagnosed with phn. The side effects are killing me which sucks major arm neck pain and flu like. Six percent to 70 percent of affected patients ninds notes develop a chronic pain syndrome known as post herpetic neuralgia in which shingles pain persists for months or years after other symptoms subside.

Early treatment can also reduce your risk for phn. The shingles vaccine is 97 effective which is awesome. If pain persists after the rash has cleared see your doctor as soon as. Shingles can be a very devastating infection that can not only cause extreme pain and discomfort several weeks while the rash is present but in about 10 to 20 percent of people it will go on to.

The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body. Shingles is characterized by pain or a tingling sensation in a limited area on one side of the face or torso followed by a red rash with small fluid filled blisters.