What are Shingles treatment options?
Shingles (Herpes Zoster Virus)can be very difficult to treat. Antiviral medications can be used to reduce the pain and duration of this condition. Pain management doctors often use:

• Sympathetic blocks - which cause pain relief and resolution of skin lesions within 24-48 hours. Occasionally, a second and even third injection is necessary, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
• Antiseizure medications - medications such as Lyrica® are often used as a form of shingles treatment.
• Antidepressant medications and topical medications - sometimes used to treat long-term pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia pain.

If anti-viral medications are begun within the first 2-3 days of the shingles rash, your chances of developing complications, like postherpetic neuralgia pain, decrease.

For additional information on Shingles (Herpes Zoster Virus), please call Southeast Pain Care to schedule an appointment with one of our pain management doctors.