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Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia and Pain
Has anyone suffered from LONG lasting neuropathic pain as a result of Shingles, and what treatment do you use for the pain? My daughter had shingles at 21, a spinal cord stimulator inserted and removed, many trigger point injections, all of which may have contributed to the thoracic pain she has. She is now 34, and teaches yoga, but is still on a compound prescribed by a pain management Dr. in NYC what is basically Oxy. I am paying for this, since neither she nor her husband can afford it at around $500 a month. She could not find a physician in Fl. I know who would prescribe this medication after 10 years, thus the use of an out of state physician. I do not want to see her suffer, nor can I discuss much with her since we barely speak, but this expense, coupled with paying for asthma inhalers that are expensive is becoming more and more of a strain. Any thoughts for alternatives are appreciated.
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Hello @patsy0315 and welcome to Mayo Connect,
I can certainly appreciate the concern you have for your mom. I'm sorry to hear that she is experiencing so much pain and unable to use the meds that might help.
If you would like an appointment at one of the Mayo Clinic facilities, here is a link that will give you information on where to call for an appointment http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63. When you call the Mayo number the person who answers the phone will help connect you with the doctor most appropriate for your mom's care.
You do not mention your mom's age or how long ago her pain symptoms began. Also, have your mom's doctors offered any diagnosis yet? Has she been seen by a neurologist yet?
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1 ReactionI will take any and all advise at this point. my mom is suffering and I believe this is what she is suffering she had shingles for quite a while back and arm and she had no idea she had them , attributed it to her arthritis , was not until pain was unbearable that she called her life alert and admitted into hospital. she came home and has been in pain since then. We tried to get her to doctor but with the pain meds and other medications she was sent home with she throws up all the time. Its sad .. I decided to google to find out what could be going wrong and found she possbily has PHN. would like to take her to mayo clinic to get her some help but have no idea what doctor to ask for .. any suggestions please...
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1 ReactionHi, @patsy0315 - postherpetic neuralgia is certainly painful. I had it after a case of shingles a number of years back. My shingles was diagnosed by my primary care provider, and then the treatment for postherpetic neuralgia was also administered by her. I was prescribed gabapentin, which I took for about 7 weeks or so and then my doctor suggested I trial off the med. At that point, my pain had stopped, thankfully.
I moved your post here so that you can connect with others in this thread talking about postherpetic neuralgia. If you click VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, it will take you to the Connect site where you can look at other posts in this discussion.
@tikigod18 @hopeful33250 @hosta @cdcc @gmaw4 also may have some input for you as you try and help your mom with her pain you suspect is postherpetic neuralgia.
Was your mom also given gabapentin, or another medication? Are you saying that at this point, a car ride to the doctor is not doable due to continual propensity to vomit?
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1 ReactionThank u everyone !! I am reading all the post and what everyone else has gone thru as well ... I just arrived at my moms so sorry for late response ... yes she was given a script for gabupentin 100mg 1-2 tablets at bedtime ... which she has not been consistent with as they where making here sick to her stomach... but she was also taking the tremadol (pain med) and that also makes her sick ... she does take a nausea tablet to help with this ... after reading the articles I can see how important this gabapentin is ... so can I ask how many miligrams did u take each night... I only ask because I am encouraged that u where able to get relief after 7 weeks and we will be seeing her primary care physician tomorrow and I would like to be prepared with all this information to help my mom get some relief from this ... she is 88 years old and it’s heart breaking to see her suffer and I can’t help:(
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1 ReactionOh and yes she was given the viral med at hospital and for home as well which she finished this all took place around February 10th and she is still in pain
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1 ReactionAnd thank u Lisa for moving my post :)))
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2 ReactionsThank u @tikigod18 she is ok with car ride we just could get past the meds making her sick to get dressed for doctor ... tonight just taking 1 gabApentin so morning will be a little easier for the ride to doc tomorrow
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1 Reaction@patsy0315 - I'll be interested to here what the doctor has to say. Hope all goes well getting her dressed and ready.
Thank u Lisa 🙂 question was it you that Also took gabupentin? Just curious how many miligrams where u perscribed ?
Hi, @patsy0315 - I did take gabapentin for my postherpetic neuralgia. Unfortunately, as that was a few years back, I don't happen to remember what my dosage was.