The pain caused due to shingles can be very severe and it can affect your normal day-to-day activities as well. Shingles are often caused when the chickenpox virus known as Varicella Zoster is reactivated. The virus then travels through the nerve fibers to cause a painful skin rash. Usually, the pain goes away along with the rash but can also persist sometimes. You can treat the pain after shingles using the following measures. Always consult a doctor if you are not sure which remedy to follow, or if you are suffering from any other disease.
Painkillers
Shingles cause nerve damage that is permanent and the pain is an after effect of it. To ease the pain of the effects of shingles, you can take painkillers that will effectively help with reducing the pain. Painkillers such as tricyclic antidepressants can help in dealing with the pain.
Thoracic epidural injections
Shingles are caused due to the nerve damage and if you reduce the nerve root inflammation, then the pain can also be reduced. For this, the anti-inflammatory medicine can be injected into the space that is near the spinal cord. This reduces the pain. Thus, thoracic epidural injections can be used for the treatment of shingles.
Membrane stabilizers
You can use membrane stabilizers to treat the pain after shingles. You can ask your doctor to prescribe medicines that will act as membrane stabilizers and will help you with the immense pain caused due to shingles. The pain can prolong even after shingles are gone and therefore fighting the pain is the only way.
Natural remedies for treating the pain after shingles
- Healing baths
When you clean the blisters every day, then the infection is less likely to spread. The itchiness and pain after shingles can be reduced with cool water baths. Since heat increases the blisters, you should avoid taking bath with hot water at all costs. To prepare a healing bath, you can mix 1 or 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal with cornstarch in lukewarm water. You can then soak it for 15 to 20 minutes. After taking a healing bath with this mix, you should wash your towel and maintain hygiene so that the disease does not spread. - Cold compress
Taking a bath with cold water can help in shingles pain treatment. You can also benefit from cold compress and using it multiple times in a day will help to reduce the pain. You can also dip a towel in cold water and use it over the affected area to reduce the pain caused due to blisters and itchiness. - Soothing lotions and creams
Scratching the shingles can worsen the problem and cause pain. To prevent itching, you can apply soothing lotions and creams on it to ease the irritation. It is advised to go for lotions that are unscented as the scented ones can cause itching. Moreover, if you use creams that have Capsaicin as an ingredient then it can immensely help in reducing the pain. Capsaicin has anti-inflammatory properties that help in shingles pain treatment. You can apply these creams right after you take a bath so that the itching can be avoided. - Dietary changes
If you want to reduce the pain caused by shingles then making dietary changes can be a good way of going about it. A strong immune system helps in preventing the disease from spreading in the body. You can include green leafy vegetables, eggs, dairy, chicken, legumes, beans, spinach, and tomatoes that will help you in healing faster. Another thing to keep in mind is to avoid certain foods such as foods and juices that have a lot of sugar, chocolates, and nuts. You should also avoid food that is high in saturated fat. - Homeopathic remedies
Along with various other treatment options, you can also consider homeopathic remedies for treating shingles nerve pain. Homeopathy is an alternative medicine that helps the body in healing naturally. Lemon balm, green tea, and essential fatty acids can help a lot in the healing process. However, before using any homeopathic or herbal remedies, you should definitely consult your doctor and follow his/her advice. It is advised to not start using any of the herbal remedies without taking professional guidance as the condition can get worse. - Baking soda and cornstarch paste
You can make a paste of baking soda and cornstarch and apply it on the affected area. All that you need to do is to pour two parts of baking soda in a cup and add one part water to it to get the right consistency for the paste. You can apply this to your rash and then wash it away after 15 to 20 minutes. This will help in dealing with the pain and will reduce the itchiness.
Thus, with the above-mentioned ways, you can effectively treat the pain caused due to shingles. You can also follow the home remedies to ease the symptoms and treat the irritation as well as itching.
