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What Causes Postherpetic Neuralgia?
i am a 68 yr old female. i had 2/3rds of my right lung removed due to Cancer/ i made a very good recovery. On going appointments to my Consultant early this year after various Scans last one being PET Scan it was diagnosed a small contained , slow growing tumor in the small wedge of my right lung. Ihad a lung Biopsy early March 2016, but was informed my breathing was not strong enough for operation. I was offered Radiotherapy.Ihad 20 sessions at The Chrities Manchester.5May _2nd June i was given Antibiotics due to infection , which has resulted in me having Shinglessince May2016. Iam currently taking Gabapentin+Ibrofen also 2 different types of pain relief Patches. 1is Lidocaine, the other BuTrans patches. i am at my wits end with the never free from pain from the Shingles. Ihad a large red rash around my right side, making its way up to my Scar from my operation. i have never felt pain like shingles pain this has had such a huge impact on my life. i would like to know is there any alternative medication available to help with this unbearable pain. i am being told this is Postherpetic Neuralgia.Can you help? Thank you Margaret Singleton
Mon, 10 Jun 2019
Hi,
Since you are 68 and have undergone surgery for lung cancer, scar being present on right side wherein the nerve had been affected by herpes/Shingles and now you have post-herpetic neuralgia, taking gabapentin and Ibuprofen.
To note, more the age more is the pain in Shingles, late is the recovery from pain.
Secondly, the pain is near the scar tissue making this more complicated.
It seems that the dosages of Gabapentin have not been modulated as per your requirement.
I would advise you the following in such a situation:
Consult your Doctor and ask for increasing the dosages of Gabapentin gradually to safe limit as per your requirement.
Local application of cold helps with pain.
Do not take more painkillers as these become ineffective over a period of time and the dosages of many cannot be increased as there is a cap on higher doses within allowable limits.
You can also ask for chemical or surgical neurectomy is the pain is so much incapacitating.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. T Chandrakant, ENT & General Surgeon
Since you are 68 and have undergone surgery for lung cancer, scar being present on right side wherein the nerve had been affected by herpes/Shingles and now you have post-herpetic neuralgia, taking gabapentin and Ibuprofen.
To note, more the age more is the pain in Shingles, late is the recovery from pain.
Secondly, the pain is near the scar tissue making this more complicated.
It seems that the dosages of Gabapentin have not been modulated as per your requirement.
I would advise you the following in such a situation:
Consult your Doctor and ask for increasing the dosages of Gabapentin gradually to safe limit as per your requirement.
Local application of cold helps with pain.
Do not take more painkillers as these become ineffective over a period of time and the dosages of many cannot be increased as there is a cap on higher doses within allowable limits.
You can also ask for chemical or surgical neurectomy is the pain is so much incapacitating.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. T Chandrakant, ENT & General Surgeon
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