Postherpetic neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia is persistent pain in an area affected by shingles that continues after the rash has healed, caused by lasting nerve injury from varicella-zoster virus.

Varicella-zoster virus: A herpesvirus that causes chickenpox and can later reactivate as shingles. Its reactivation in sensory nerves initiates the damage associated with this pain.
Gabapentin: A medication that binds the α2δ subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels and is used for neuropathic pain. It is a common oral option for reducing postherpetic nerve pain.
Dermatome: An area of skin supplied mainly by sensory fibers from a single spinal nerve root. Pain commonly follows the same band-like skin territory as the preceding shingles rash.
Shingles: A painful rash caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus in sensory nerves. Shingles is the acute illness; postherpetic neuralgia is pain that persists after its rash heals.
Sensory neuron: A nerve cell that carries information from sensory receptors toward the central nervous system. Shingles injures sensory neurons that carry signals from the affected skin.
Pregabalin: A medication related to gabapentin that binds the α2δ subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels. It can reduce pain and improve sleep in some people with the condition.
Thoracic nerve: A spinal nerve arising from the thoracic region of the spinal cord. The trunk is a frequent site of shingles and the persistent pain that may follow.
Acute herpetic neuralgia: Nerve pain occurring during the acute phase of a herpes zoster outbreak. Its pain accompanies active shingles rather than persisting after the rash has healed.
Neuropathic pain: Pain caused by a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory nervous system. Postherpetic neuralgia is a persistent, virus-triggered form of neuropathic pain.
Lidocaine patch: A medicated skin patch that delivers the local anesthetic lidocaine to a limited area. Applied to intact painful skin, it can ease localized symptoms with limited systemic exposure.

Linked from 9 pages