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Is There Any Clinical Correlation Between Post Herpetic Neuralgia And Blood Tests?

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Posted on Mon, 30 Mar 2015
Question: I have post herpatic neuralgia, and they did a complete blood work up, and they didn't explain, and my levels are weird
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Post herpetic neuralgia has no clinical correlation with blood tests.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.

If you would have presented to me as an outpatient, I would have told you that Post herpetic neuralgia(PHN) has no clinical or prognostic correlation with any blood or cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) levels. What are weird levels are you talking about? Please make it clear.I can guess that it is herpes zoster antibody levels you are talking about.If yes,improvement or worsening in PHN has nothing to do with these levels.

Opioids(oxycodone) and antidepressants(Nortriptyline) medicines you are taking are effective medicines for PHN.If response is not good,you can discuss with your physician adding pregabalin or carbamazepine.capsaicin local patches can also be used.It will improve with time and can take even upto a few weeks to improve or rarely even months.

Please upload your blood reports and other lab reports,so that I can see if any abnormal blood tests are there and comment accordingly.

Hope I have answered your query for now.If you are satisfied with the response,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me,else I shall be glad to answer if you have some follow-up questions.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (34 minutes later)
My white cells are elevated, and my red blood cells are low. Leukocyte is positive. Mucous UR SED is present. Neutrophilis is 89.4. Lymphocytes are 9.7. Monos auto is 0.9 basophils is 0 neutrophilis complete is 10. another lymphocytes is .1. Creatin is .72 Bun is 18 Glomerular filtration is 88 RBC urine is 11-25 wbc's/HPF 6-10 squamous epithelial cells urine auto count few. Mucous UR sed auto count present. Ketones 10(1t). Urine protein trace. Plus the shingles, I am not fighting infection. I don't have any std's like HIV. I never got an explanation about my labs, they were in my in box, and some are outside the normal level. Could the levels be the reason I'm not fighting infection? I also broke out in shingles in another spot
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Shingles has inherent tendency to recur.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.

Your blood lab results appear to be normal (baring white blood cells which you mentioned as elevated but did not write the value) while urine have increased Red blood cells of which common cause is urinary tract infection. Please consult a urologist for its evaluation and management, as it may be a cause of shingles recurrence.

Shingles has an inherent tendency to recur and common causes of recurrence are mental stress, sunlight exposure, alcoholism, steroid therapy, and infection. Assuming here that your age should not be the factor as you are not of older age group, you will have to see whether the other factors mentioned above apply to you. If yes, please try to alleviate them.
Meanwhile, continue treatment for PHN and it will improve in due course of time.

Hope I have answered your query for now. If you are satisfied with the response,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me, else I shall be glad to answer if you have some follow-up questions.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (11 minutes later)
     Standard Range     Your Value
NEUTROPHILS %, AUTOMATED COUNT     42.0 - 75.0 %     89.4
LYMPHOCYTES %, AUTOMATED COUNT     20.0 - 51.0 %     9.7
MONOS %, AUTO     1.0 - 12.0 %     0.9
EOSINOPHILS %, AUTOMATED COUNT     0.0 - 10.0 %     0.0
BASOPHILS %, AUTOMATED COUNT     0.0 - 1.0 %     0.0
RBC NUCLEATED AUTO COUNT, BLD     <=0.0 %     0.0
NEUTROPHILS, ABSOLUTE, AUTOMATED COUNT     1.8 - 7.7 x1000/mcL     10.0
LYMPHOCYTES, AUTOMATED COUNT     1.2 - 3.4 x1000/mcL     1.1
MONOCYTES, AUTOMATED COUNT     0.1 - 1.0 x1000/mcL     0.1
EOSINOPHILS, AUTOMATED COUNT     0.0 - 0.7 x1000/mcL     0.0
BASOPHILS, AUTOMATED COUNT     0.0 - 0.2 x1000/mcL     0.0
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
This is likely due to some infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
These blood reports are indicative of some infection.Your urine reports are suggestive of urinary tract infection.Please consult and get evaluated by a urologist.He will probably be of help.

Hope I have answered your query for now. If you are satisfied with the response,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me, else I shall be glad to answer if you have some follow-up questions.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ajay Panwar (17 minutes later)
My results are to the right of the level range. I sent more lab results. I don't have a UTI. I think the blood is from my bladder prolapsing. I need to see an OBGYN about that. I was wondering if looking at my blood tests, is their anything there that would show why I'm not fighting infection. I'm not in any undue stress, or anything like that. I got sick with shingles first in December, and the pain never went away. I just recently got them again. Is it true that opiates don't really work on neuropathy pain?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
These lab reports are not suggestive of weak immune system.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Ok. This can be due to bladder prolapse. This haemogram report at the most indicate some bacterial infection, although sometimes can be normally present. So, you needs to be evaluated on that front. These lab reports does not indicate weak immune system.

As I said, shingles has inherent tendency to develop recurrence and any pathologic condition (just like bladder prolapse) may cause physical stress on the body and hence the recurrence. It is said that any bodily illness can cause recurrence. Menses are associated with recurrence in some. Moreover, in some cases there is no identifiable cause of recurrence. So, its nothing like recurrence occurs only when you have weak immunity.

Opiates are not the first line drugs for PHN. Nortriptyline and pregabalin are the first line drugs. Opiates are used as add-on but its not that they don't work on neuropathic pain.

Hope I have answered your query for now. If you are satisfied with the response,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me, else I shall be glad to answer if you have some follow-up questions.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)



Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
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Dr. Ajay Panwar

Neurologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 1827 Questions

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Is There Any Clinical Correlation Between Post Herpetic Neuralgia And Blood Tests?

Brief Answer: Post herpetic neuralgia has no clinical correlation with blood tests. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com. I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query. If you would have presented to me as an outpatient, I would have told you that Post herpetic neuralgia(PHN) has no clinical or prognostic correlation with any blood or cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) levels. What are weird levels are you talking about? Please make it clear.I can guess that it is herpes zoster antibody levels you are talking about.If yes,improvement or worsening in PHN has nothing to do with these levels. Opioids(oxycodone) and antidepressants(Nortriptyline) medicines you are taking are effective medicines for PHN.If response is not good,you can discuss with your physician adding pregabalin or carbamazepine.capsaicin local patches can also be used.It will improve with time and can take even upto a few weeks to improve or rarely even months. Please upload your blood reports and other lab reports,so that I can see if any abnormal blood tests are there and comment accordingly. Hope I have answered your query for now.If you are satisfied with the response,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me,else I shall be glad to answer if you have some follow-up questions. Dr.Ajay Panwar, MD,DM(Neurology)