What is shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a body rash. The rash can develop anywhere on your body, but it typically causes painful blisters to form around your torso or the side of your neck or face.
The infection is the result of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve previously had chickenpox, the virus can remain in your nerve tissue around your brain and spinal cord in an inactive state. Even many years later, the virus can activate again, resulting in shingles.
Your risk for developing shingles increases after age 50 or if you have underlying health conditions that weaken your immune system.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
Shingles typically affect only a small section of your body, generally on one side. In addition to a noticeable red rash, you can develop symptoms like:
- Fever
- Blisters
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to touch
- Numbness or tingling
Blisters can fill with fluid and become itchy. The blisters can also break open, leak fluid, and then crust over.
If you have shingles and come into contact with someone not protected against chickenpox, you can spread the virus and cause them to develop chickenpox.
If shingles is left untreated, the pain can become intense and eventually lead to permanent nerve damage. When blisters form around your eyes, they can interfere with your vision. Open blisters may also increase your risk for skin infections.
In the most serious cases of shingles, you can develop neurological problems that cause paralysis or potentially life-threatening inflammation in your brain.
What treatments are available for shingles?
While there’s no cure for shingles and the virus needs to run its course, Dr. Raso can address the severe pain you can get from shingles.
Depending on your overall health and the intensity of your pain, Dr. Raso may suggest prescription pain medications to keep you comfortable. You may also benefit from injectable therapies that deliver anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids directly to the painful area for faster, longer-lasting relief of pain.
Shingles symptoms can last up to six weeks and can interfere with your usual routine. If you need help managing shingles pain, schedule a consultation today with Dr. Raso online or by calling the office today.
