Can Shingles Cause Chronic Pain?
Can Shingles Cause Chronic Pain?Answer: Yes it can. Some cases of shingles develop into a painful chronic condition called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. What is Shingles? Shingles is an infectious disease caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox: the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Anyone who has had chicken pox is susceptible to shingles; however, it most commonly occurs in women over 40. Shingles is caused by residual particles in the nerves that can be “re-activated” by another exposure to the virus. When this happens, the person often breaks out into an uncomfortable rash. Shingles causes nerve pain, which may feel like burning or itching. It may also cause lesions to develop on the body. Symptoms may last for a few weeks or months. Shingles and Chronic Pain For some people, the pain of shingles persists long after the shingles lesions have healed. This condition is called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. Po
