Shingle is an infection which is caused by the same virus that gives you chickenpox and it appears as a painful rash which generally persists for 4 weeks at most. The condition causes an itching sensation, burning, all-around discomfort, and immense pain in its duration. While the symptoms of the disease are quite hard to handle, they can be managed and put to rest with effective treatment and by practicing home remedies.

Following the shingles virus, you may suffer from an extremely painful condition called post-herpetic neuralgia. The condition is characterized by pain occurring in the areas of the body where the rash was once present. It may or may not occur before the onset of the rash that characterizes shingles. The pain generally follows a nerve’s path on one side of the body. Here are a few ways you can manage nerve pain from shingles and lead a pain-free life.

Pain from shingles
To treat nerve pain that has preceded the appearance of the shingles rash, or which is ongoing during its appearance and treatment, it is necessary to manage shingles by following the below-mentioned methods first.

Avoid scratching your blisters:  When you are suffering from painful and itchy blisters, abstaining from scratching them is a task in itself. To effectively manage nerve pain from shingles, you need to try to keep from scratching your blisters. They will eventually crust over and fall off on their own terms. Scratching them only makes things worse as they will open up and become much more susceptible to infection. You may also end up spreading bacteria if you keep scratching your blisters. If you have accidentally scratched them, wash your hands immediately to avoid the spread of harmful infection-leading bacteria.

Use baking soda paste to reduce irritation:  While there are several medications available in the market which can reduce irritation, why go for them when you can just as easily use a baking soda paste? Baking soda is alkaline and has the ability to neutralize the chemical that causes the itching sensation when it comes to shingles. The chemical causing the irritation is acidic and using the baking soda can effectively neutralize its effects. Apply a paste on the affected areas. Make sure the paste is made of a combination of 3 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water for better results. It will help dry out your blisters faster and provide for relief from itching as well. The best thing is that you can apply this paste to provide for relief whenever you want to.

Nerve pain from shingles
Once the shingles rash has cleared out, you can solely focus on treating the nerve pain from shingles by following the below-mentioned methods:

Use a cold compress:  Using a cold compress could go a long way in treating nerve pain from shingles as well. All you have to do is use a moist, cool compress to provide for comfort and to ease the pain. Apply the cold compress on the affected areas as many times as you want in a day for up to 20 minutes at a time. You can use an ice block wrapped in a clean towel and press it against your skin. You can also use a bag of frozen vegetables to act as a cold compress. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that you should not apply ice in any form directly on your skin as it may lead to tissue damage.

Medications:  There are several medications available to help relieve your nerve pain. You can use corticosteroids to treat nerve pain in healthy elderly people. Antiviral medications are often prescribed with corticosteroids, so do consult a doctor.

Surgery:  If none of the above-mentioned methods are working to treat and manage nerve pain from shingles, your doctor may recommend surgery. An alcohol or phenol injection is one of the simplest surgical procedures. You can also opt for a TENS procedure. This procedure consists of electrodes being placed over the nerves that are causing the pain. Painless impulses are passed to these nerves to help aid in their treatment.

You can easily manage nerve pain from shingles by following the above-mentioned methods. While the major symptom of this condition is the appearance of an itchy blistering rash, the nerve pain may precede the appearance of this rash. You may feel a tingling or burning sensation on the skin after which the rash may appear. The symptoms of the condition fade away rapidly if treated soon after its detection. Do not hesitate in visiting a doctor and seeking immediate treatment for the nerve pain. The condition is extremely uncomfortable and painful and no one should have to live with it when effective treatment methods are available in the market.