There is no cure for shingles, but treatment can help ease your symptoms until the condition improves. In many cases, shingles gets better within around two to four weeks.Mar 18, 2022
What happens if you wait too long to treat shingles?
Symptoms of shingles usually don't last longer than 3 to 5 weeks. However, complications can happen. The main complications that can result from shingles include: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Can shingles be treated after 72 hours?
Antiviral treatment should be started as soon as possible, as it is most effective when started within 72 hours after the shingles rash appears. After this time, antiviral medications may still be helpful if new blisters are appearing.Feb 15, 2022
When is it too late to take antivirals for shingles?
Valacyclovir works best if it is used within 48 hours after the first symptoms of shingles or genital herpes (e.g., pain, burning, or blisters) begin to appear. For recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes, valacyclovir works best if it is used within 24 hours after the symptoms begin to appear.Feb 1, 2022
What is the most painful stage of shingles?
Typically, the peak pain of shingles is felt within 4 or 5 days after the first symptoms develop, and it comes along with a blistering rash. As the blisters scab over, the pain usually starts to disappear. In some cases, the pain does not go away. This is known as a condition called postherpetic neuralgia.Aug 23, 2021
What triggers getting shingles?
People get shingles when the varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, reactivates in their bodies after they have already had chickenpox. You cannot get shingles from someone who has shingles.
Which painkiller is best for shingles?
To help with the pain of shingles, your doctor might have you take an over-the-counter pain medicine. This could include acetaminophen (one brand: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (two brands: Motrin, Advil). Applying a medicated anti-itch lotion (two brands: Benadryl, Caladryl) to the blisters might reduce the pain and itching.Feb 23, 2021
Can you have shingles for months?
Shingles pain can last for a few days to up to a month or longer. We'll discuss why. Shingles happens when the chickenpox virus, varicella-zoster, reactivates in your body. It can be painful and last for up to a month.
Is 7 days of antiviral enough for shingles?
Antiviral drugs are most effective when taken within 3 days of the rash onset, although they may still be prescribed within the first 7 days of the rash appearing.
Why won't my shingles go away?
The virus can remain dormant in the body's nerve cells after childhood and reactivate decades later. When the pain caused by shingles doesn't go away after the rash and blisters clear up, the condition is called postherpetic neuralgia. Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common shingles complication.
How painful is shingles on a scale of 1 to 10?
“Shingles is extremely painful," Wigand-Bolling said. “On a scale from one to 10, most patients will say the pain ranges from six to 10.” Between 1 and 5 days after the first symptoms occur, a rash will develop in the affected area.Dec 23, 2021
Does your back hurt with shingles?
Shingles is an infection of the spinal nerves by the herpes virus causing painful blisters on the skin of the affected dermatome. Patients may experience back pain in the lumbar spine preceding the outbreak of shingles. After the infection subsides, some patients may still experience chronic nerve pain.
Do shingles make you tired?
You may experience fatigue while you have shingles. However, it's also possible to feel fatigued even after the shingles rash has disappeared. Fatigue may happen indirectly due to PHN, a complication of shingles that involves lingering pain. Many people with PHN experience insomnia.Mar 5, 2021
Diagnosis
Treatment
- There's no cure for shingles, but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications. These medications include: 1. Acyclovir (Zovirax) 2. Famciclovir 3. Valacyclovir (Valtrex) Shingles can cause severe pain, so your doctor also may prescribe: 1. Capsaicin topical patch (Qutenza) 2. Anticonvul...
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Taking a cool bath or using cool, wet compresses on your blisters may help relieve the itching and pain. And, if possible, try to reduce the amount of stress in your life.
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Some people have such mild symptoms of shingles that they don't seek medical treatment. At the other extreme, severe symptoms may result in a visit to the emergency room.