Herpes zoster is a viral skin disease characterized by clusters of herpes and neuralgia along the nerves caused by varicella-zoster virus infection. Neuralgia is an important feature of the disease; it occurs mostly in immunocompromised, post-exertional, and elderly patients.
2. Although herpes zoster patients show skin herpes and pain, it is more difficult to treat because the virus invades the spinal nerve and even the cranial nerve, resulting in nerve damage that is difficult to repair. Xie Guanglun, Department of Pain, Henan Cancer Hospital
3, Some patients still have neuralgia at the invaded area after the herpes has subsided, which is called postherpetic neuralgia, often spontaneous and paroxysmal pain, and some patients can’t sleep at night and are in pain.
The incidence of postherpetic neuralgia is directly proportional to age, with normal young people having no postherpetic neuralgia, 49% for those aged 50-59, 65% for those aged 60-69, and 74% for those aged 70-79. If left untreated, its duration can be as short as 1-2 years and as long as 10 years, and in some cases even more than decades.
5. Patients with postherpetic neuralgia are poorly treated with medication alone. Our department adopts a comprehensive therapy combining physical therapy, drug therapy, nerve block and neurotrophic repair, which has achieved satisfactory results.
6. Patients with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, rheumatic immune disease, tumor and elderly patients over 70 years old have relatively poor treatment effect due to the difficulty of nerve repair.
7, Nerve block and other therapies have certain risks in the treatment process (such as pneumothorax, dizziness, respiratory and circulatory function inhibition, etc.), although the incidence is not high, but still need patients and their families to weigh the pros and cons.
8. Since patients with herpes zoster have a low immune system, they are prone to complications such as upper respiratory tract infections and pneumonia during treatment, and it is difficult to heal. Therefore, it is important to keep warm, avoid getting cold, strengthen the body’s resistance, and eat more highly nutritious and easily digestible food.
9. The treatment process for patients with postherpetic neuralgia is relatively long, so you need to have enough confidence and patience, trust the doctors and nurses, and we will work with you to overcome the disease together!