Herpes Cure: Why Herpes Zoster is so Painful?

Acute herpes zoster is often accompanied by discomfort that lasts long after the rash has healed. Patients with herpes zoster experience a range of uncomfortable symptoms. According to current studies, different types of pain vary in their presence, location, length, intensity, and quality; hence, pain must be studied in greater depth. The type and duration of this pain differ, and finding an effective Herpes Cure is crucial for relief. Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the name for pain that persists after the rash from herpes zoster has gone away.

When compared to other common diseases, the medical repercussions of herpes are disproportionately high. When the infection isn’t treated effectively, several complications arise. The non-adherence to antiviral drug treatment plans recommended by medical professionals also poses a significant problem in finding a lasting Herpes Cure.

One of the well-known effects of herpes is pain in various parts of the body, such as the back and the legs, along with a burning sensation and a desire to scratch. Although there are no definitive studies on the topic, it stands to reason that when the herpes virus is combined with nerve pain, it may cause a wide variety of pain that is not localized to any one area of the body. The herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2) can cause pain, particularly when symptoms flare up or inflammation in the nerves occurs, making the need for an effective Herpes Cure even more pressing.

The most common causes of pain include degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, and malignancy. When left untreated, the inflammation caused by these conditions in the spine and muscles may become chronic. Anti-inflammatory supplements are recommended to help relieve the pain and swelling that come with these conditions, though a complete Herpes Cure remains elusive.

Levels of Pain in the Herpes Cure Process

When infected with the virus, you will experience many stages of pain.

The First Phase

This stage occurs two to eight days after infection. Usually, the infection causes clusters of small, painful blisters. The blister fluid may be transparent or cloudy. Underneath the blisters, the skin will be red. Blisters burst and develop into open sores. The blisters may or may not be noticeable or uncomfortable. Urinating at this time may be painful. While the majority of patients have a painful first infection stage, others do not. They may be oblivious to their condition. The pain experienced at this stage varies greatly from person to person. While pain can be exacerbated in children and the elderly, when the blister occurs at the site and is scratched unknowingly, it can cause severe pain.

Dormant Period

During this phase, there are no outward symptoms such as blisters or lesions. The virus has penetrated your skin and is now infecting your spinal cord nerves. Mostly, this stage doesn’t result in external pain, as the virus remains dormant for a long period before reactivating due to factors like depression, anxiety, HIV/AIDS, or menstruation. This period of dormancy is a significant challenge in finding a comprehensive herpes medication treatment.

The Shedding Phase

The replication of the virus in nerve endings starts during the shedding phase. If these nerve endings are located in or often come into contact with bodily fluids, the virus may enter the body. Saliva, sperm, and genital fluids all fall under this category. Even if there are no signs of illness at this time, the virus might still spread. It’s an indication that the herpes virus is spreading rapidly right now. While the virus is still replicating, the infected person can still experience pain. The pain is not only caused by the herpes virus spreading but also because of a weakened immune system. In addition to the herpes virus, several other factors contribute to the persistence of pain, highlighting the need for a Herpes Cure.

Recurrences of the Herpes Virus

Many individuals experience blisters and sores after the initial herpes outbreak subsides. This is known as a recurrence. Symptoms are often less severe than during the first bout.

Recurrences may be triggered by anxiety, illness, or fatigue. Being exposed to the sun or having your period might also induce a recurrence. If you experience itching, tingling, or discomfort in previously infected areas, you should be on the lookout for a recurrence. This becomes the last stage of pain, although the severity is generally lower than in the first phase. However, the pain can be significantly more intense in the elderly, children, and individuals suffering from other diseases, emphasizing the ongoing need for an effective Herpes Cure.

Post Herpes Neuralgia (PHN): Why even after Herpes treatment, the pain in Nerves does not go away?

Herpes Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, can occur at any age. Herpes zoster is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which reactivates after remaining dormant for a long time, usually following an earlier episode of chickenpox. The varicella-zoster virus typically reappears only once in a person’s life, with only 10% experiencing a recurrence. But what exactly is Post Herpes Neuralgia? In this blog, we discuss Post Herpes Neuralgia.

What is Post Herpes Neuralgia (PHN)?

Shingles is a disease that causes a painful rash with blisters and other symptoms. Usually, the rash appears in bands on one side of your body, often on your trunk (the central core of your body). Blisters form as a result of the rash. Even after the rash or blisters have healed, the pain may persist, a condition known as Post Herpes Neuralgia (PHN).

Post Herpes Neuralgia is the most common and feared complication following herpes zoster. Its definition varies, ranging from pain that persists after the rash has healed to pain that continues 35 days or 5 months after the onset of herpes zoster. Some physicians view herpes zoster-related pain as a continuous condition. Therefore, we recommend using pain duration and pain at specific time points (such as 3.5 months after treatment initiation) as outcomes in clinical studies. Scarring of the dorsal root ganglion and atrophy of the dorsal horn on the affected side are associated with Post Herpes Neuralgia, which develops due to the significant inflammation caused by herpes zoster. Pain and other unpleasant symptoms of Post Herpes Neuralgia, including allodynia (pain in response to generally innocuous stimuli) and hyperalgesia, are caused by these and other peripheral and central nervous system abnormalities.

What does Post Herpes Neuralgia (PHN) make you feel?

You will experience discomfort at the site of the shingles rash. The pain may be intermittent or continuous. Some describe the pain as burning, jabbing, or excruciating, while others (less frequently) report numbness or itching in the affected area. The urge to scratch the affected area can become overwhelming. Soft cotton clothing may help ease the pain by gently rubbing the area, but the satisfaction of scratching won’t entirely go away.

Why, even after Herpes treatment, does the pain in the nerves not go away?

When a person is infected with chickenpox during childhood, the virus may later resurface as Herpes Shingles. In most cases, the virus remains dormant for a long period, but certain conditions (such as depression, a weakened immune system, or old age) can reactivate the dormant virus, causing it to spread. According to research, there is no definitive cure for herpes simplex, but some treatments can ease the pain, whether through vaccines, medications, or Ayurvedic treatments. However, the pain often persists even after Post Herpes Neuralgia treatment due to several factors.

Age: The risk of developing Post Herpes Neuralgia increases with age. When you’re older and contract shingles, you’re more likely to develop PHN and experience more severe pain than if you were younger. Approximately 10 to 15% of shingles patients over the age of 50 will develop PHN, while it rarely affects those under 35. As a person ages, their ability to tolerate pain diminishes, making the pain last longer in older adults.

Weak Immune System: As you age, your immune system weakens, increasing the likelihood of the latent varicella-zoster virus reactivating and causing shingles. Medical conditions such as cancer, chronic infectious diseases (like HIV/AIDS), organ transplantation, and the use of immunosuppressant medications (such as chemotherapy, steroids, or anti-organ rejection medicines) can further weaken the immune system. A compromised immune system reduces the body’s ability to recover, causing the pain from Post Herpes Neuralgia to persist far longer than usual.

Intensity of Shingles: A severe rash increases the chances of developing Post Herpes Neuralgia. Before shingles develop, you may experience painful, itchy, or tingling sensations in the affected area. You are more likely to develop PHN if these symptoms appear in a skin area a few days before the shingles outbreak. When herpes sores appear on more sensitive parts of the body, such as the lips or genital regions, they cause significantly more pain than in less sensitive areas, leading to more severe and prolonged pain.

Delayed Treatment: The chance of developing PHN increases if you wait more than three days after your rash appears to consult a doctor, as this is the window during which antiviral medication is most effective.

Self-help to alleviate the discomfort and irritability of Post Herpetic Neuralgia:

Cotton or silk clothing is less likely to irritate the skin than other fabrics.
Use cling film or a plastic wound dressing to protect the injured area.
Use cold packs, but never apply ice directly to the skin. Some people find that wrapping an ice pack in a towel and placing it on the affected area helps cool the skin.