What causes postherpetic pain?

When you see postherpetic neuralgia, the first thing you know is that this disease must be very painful. It not only brings physical pain to the patient, but also mental pain, so early symptomatic treatment is needed. So what exactly is postherpetic neuralgia? What is the cause? The doctor told us that as long as we understand the cause of the disease and take professional measures, the disease can be cured.

Postherpetic neuralgia is the pain left over from shingles and is a type of sequelae. Clinically, it is believed that after the rash of herpes zoster subsides, the local skin still has pain and discomfort, and that the pain persists for more than one month, which is called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. It manifests as local paroxysmal or persistent burning pain, tingling pain, throbbing pain, and cutting pain. In severe cases, it affects rest, sleep, mental state, etc.

It is reported that the incidence of herpes zoster is between 1.4‰-4.8‰ of the population, and about 20% of patients have residual neuralgia. Elderly people over 50 years old are the main group of people suffering from postherpetic neuralgia, accounting for about 75% of the affected people. This disease is a painful problem in the medical field and a potential killer of the health of middle-aged and elderly people.

What factors affect the efficacy of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia?

(1) Age and physical condition: The older you are and the weaker your physical condition, the longer the treatment course will be;

(2) Mood: Patients who are easily angered, impatient, and lack confidence will require a longer treatment course;

(3) Sleep: Sufficient sleep can improve immunity, but patients often have difficulty sleeping due to pain, which results in a longer treatment course. Therefore, they should take sleeping aids.

(4) Fatigue: Severely ill patients should stop working and rest, and mildly ill patients should also avoid overwork, otherwise it will affect the efficacy;

(5) Other diseases: Herpes patients, especially those with postherpetic neuralgia, often have chronic diseases such as diabetes, stomach problems, and heart disease. They must be treated seriously at the same time to achieve the best results.

(6) Condition: For patients with postherpetic neuralgia lasting more than three months, the course of treatment will be extended. For patients with postherpetic neuralgia lasting more than two years, it will take at least one and a half months to recover.

(7) Time of diagnosis and treatment: The earlier you seek medical treatment, the better the treatment effect;

(8) Climate and biological clock: When the climate changes drastically, the human body's immunity decreases and pain worsens. Patients should not be nervous, otherwise it will affect the efficacy of the treatment. The human body's biological clock is also related to the efficacy of the treatment, which is medically called "virus time recognition." Generally, the human body's immunity is lower around 4 pm and 3 am, and viruses will take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble. At this time, the effect of the medicine will be better.

The above content is an introduction to "What are the factors that cause pain from post-herpetic syndrome?" I hope it can resonate with everyone. Friends suffering from this disease need to pay more attention not only to diet and treatment, but also to their emotions, keep a cheerful mood, and actively cooperate with the doctor for treatment.