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What Causes Stiff Neck And Headache After Treatment Of Shingles?

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Posted on Mon, 22 Dec 2014
Question: I was dignosed with shingles a couple weeks ago on my face. I finished all the meds they told me to take. The bumps are almost all gone but pain persists on and off. For 3 days now I've had a stiff neck and headache which both just keep getting worse. Excedrin doesn't seem to be helping either pains. At times I also see spots but that's nothing new (tends to happen on ocasion with my bad headaches) as well as my left ear has been bothering me a lot. Last Monday out of nowhere I very quickly felt very nauseous, dizzy, hot and shaky. I almost passed out at work that day but just chalked it up to low glucose. I've seen posts about these symptoms and directions to seek immediate care but how do I know i just didn't sleep funny? I also get chronic headaches so I suppose it could be that too. I don't have insurance and don't want the extra cost of going to er if I don't need to. Advise?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (2 hours later)
Brief answer:
use of tricyclics antidepressants and anticonvulsants should help you.

Detailed answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I understand your problem and really feel very sorry for the state you are in.
In around 10-20% of unfortunate people suffering from shingles, residual pain is left on the area where shingles was erupted. This pain may be constant or occasional.
There is no specific treatment for this condition ( post herpetic neuralgia ) but medicines like tricyclic antidepressants ( amytriptaline ),anticonvulsants like (GABAPANTINE and PREGABLIN),opiods like tramadol are used to control pain and headache.
EXCEDRINE is not going to help you much.
The best is to use a combination of tramadol and GABAPANTINE, instead of single medicine therapy.
Normally people tend to be all right in following few weeks but sometimes the pain may persist for many months.
Since the above mentioned medicines are prescription medicines, I would advise you to consult your treating doctor and discuss with him about the use of these medicines and take prescription.
There is nothing to worry as pain and headache should settle gradually.
I hope it helps, however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1978

Answered : 6704 Questions

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What Causes Stiff Neck And Headache After Treatment Of Shingles?

Brief answer: use of tricyclics antidepressants and anticonvulsants should help you. Detailed answer: Hello, Thanks for the query. I understand your problem and really feel very sorry for the state you are in. In around 10-20% of unfortunate people suffering from shingles, residual pain is left on the area where shingles was erupted. This pain may be constant or occasional. There is no specific treatment for this condition ( post herpetic neuralgia ) but medicines like tricyclic antidepressants ( amytriptaline ),anticonvulsants like (GABAPANTINE and PREGABLIN),opiods like tramadol are used to control pain and headache. EXCEDRINE is not going to help you much. The best is to use a combination of tramadol and GABAPANTINE, instead of single medicine therapy. Normally people tend to be all right in following few weeks but sometimes the pain may persist for many months. Since the above mentioned medicines are prescription medicines, I would advise you to consult your treating doctor and discuss with him about the use of these medicines and take prescription. There is nothing to worry as pain and headache should settle gradually. I hope it helps, however you may revert to me for any further query. Best of luck Thanks