Shingle Pain & Treatment Options in Asheville, NC

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There are approximately 1 million cases of shingles diagnosed every year in the United States. While some people only have one flair up of shingles, some develop reoccurring cases that are extremely painful. Our pain care physicians understand that pain from shingles can be intense from the start and last long after the rash itself has disappeared. 

Contact the pain specialists at the Comprehensive Pain Consultants of the Carolinas to discuss your pain and get a customized treatment plan. Read on to learn more about shingles and the variety of pain treatment options in Asheville, NC.

  

About Shingles

Shingles, also known as herpes zosters, typically begin with a tingling, itching or burning region of the body—followed by a visible rash. The skin will develop small, fluid-filled blisters that eventually break open, dry out and scab over.

Shingles can appear anywhere on the body, but it most commonly occurs as a single strip on the torso and/or face affecting only one side of the body.

Common shingles symptoms:

  • Skin burning, itching, tingling or numbness

  • Skin sensitivity

  • Skin and body pain followed by a red rash

  • Fluid-filled blisters

Other signs and symptoms:

  • Headaches

  • Chills or fever

  • Body aches

  • Nausea

  • Swollen glands

  

Shingles Risk Factors

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus). If you’ve had chickenpox in the past, the shingles virus is dormant in your body, and may reactivate as shingles in the future. A few common factors that can increase your risk for developing shingles include:

  • Adults over 50

  • Those with weakened immune systems

  • Individuals taking certain medications

 

How Asheville Pain Management Doctors Diagnose Shingles

Shingles is most often diagnosed by your pain management doctor based solely on the appearance and the characteristics of the rash. Get in touch with the Asheville pain management doctors today to discuss your symptoms.

 

Treatments

For healthy individuals, shingle bumps usually scab over in 10 days and will disappear completely in two to four weeks without treatment. The blisters should not leave any long-lasting scars, and the pain will subside within a few weeks. For those dealing with on-going shingles pain or if the rash develops near your eyes, it’s important to seek medical care from your Asheville pain management clinic for one of the following treatments: 

  • Antiviral medications

  • Painkiller medications

  • Topical creams and ointments

In addition to seeking professional medical care, here are a few simple steps to alleviate shingles pain and increase overall comfort at home: 

  • Get enough rest

  • Use a wet compress on the inflamed areas

  • Wear loose-fitting clothing

  • Apply calamine lotion to skin

  • Avoid touching and scratching the scabs as this can cause infections

 

Shingles Treatment in Asheville, NC

Don’t put off seeking treatment for your shingles pain. This can lead to more serious problems and longer recovery times. Get in touch with the Asheville, NC pain management doctors today and get started with treatment today!

Get in touch with us by calling 828-483-4438

  

Disclaimer: You should always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider before beginning any exercise program. The information contained in this article does not constitute medical advice, nor does reading or accessing this information create a patient-provider relationship.  Comments that you post will be shared with all visitors to this page. All comments are not governed by HIPAA and you should not post any private health information. 

Lauren FischerPain Clinic Asheville 2