Postherpetic neuralgia is a common complication associated with the problem of shingles. This mainly affects skin and nerve fibers to cause burning pain, which lasts for a long time even when the blisters and rash of shingles disappear.
Can Postherpetic Neuralgia Go Away On Its Own?
Until now, medical experts are not sure about what exactly triggers the virus of herpes zoster in re-emerging in patients. However, most of the research analysts perceive that the problem has a relationship with age, stress levels and illness of an individual. We know that postherpetic neuralgia is one of the complications associated with shingles and they are painful by nature. Whenever the virus associated with shingles approaches our skin, it causes blistery rashes, which often heal within only 3 or 4 months. However, in some cases, pain associated with shingles lingers for a relatively long time and thereby, a patient suffers from postherpetic neuralgia.
At the time of your shingles, you fight with viruses present in your injured nerves and across your skin, where the blisters and rash exist once. While your immune system suppressed the respective virus eventually, your blisters and rashes disappear eventually. During this time, you feel relatively less pain and you perceive that your shingles have cured. However, within a period of a few weeks or a few days only, the nerve damage takes place because of shingles disrupts the overall functions of your nervous system.
Accordingly, the damaged nerve often sends uncontrolled and random signals of pain to your brain and thereby, causes burning sensations and throbbing across the affected nerve. In this situation, you develop another problem of postherpetic neuralgia. In most cases, the pain or the problem of postherpetic neuralgia goes away gradually, while in some cases, the risk related to the relapse of pain is relatively low. Along with this, a few of the patients succeed to overcome postherpetic neuralgia with skin creams and following a proper lifestyle.(2)
Natural Remedies For Postherpetic Neuralgia
Follow A Healthy And Nutritious Diet: One of the best ways to overcome your pain associated with shingles or postherpetic neuralgia is to follow a healthy and nutritious diet. For this, you should always go with fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and healthy fats.
Regular And Moderate Exercise: Regular and moderate physical exercise helps you in increasing your daily activities. This is because; exercise improves your physical or muscular strength and reduces your symptoms, especially the pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia.
Follow An Appropriate Sleep Schedule: Sleep is one of the important aspects associated with your healthy lifestyle, especially when you are suffering from pain and other problems categorized under postherpetic neuralgia. For this, you should try to sleep on a specific schedule i.e. going to bed as well as waking up at the same time each day, even during your holidays and weekends. Moreover, you should make sure sleeping for 8 hours a day.
Adopt Effective Stress Management Techniques: Dealing with stress helps you a lot in managing your pain, which often takes place due to postherpetic neuralgia. For this, you should adopt effective stress management techniques, like meditation and deep breathing. Both of these techniques help you to relax and give you a sense of your good health and well-being.
Always Have And Maintain A Positive Outlook Or Attitude: Last, but not the least, you should always have and maintain your positive outlook or attitude while dealing with any of the complications, including your pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia. When you have a positive mind frame, you will have your higher focus on your strengths instead of your focus on your weaknesses.(1)
Also Read:
- Postherpetic Neuralgia: Causes, Risk Factors, Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, Investigations
- Is Postherpetic Neuralgia A Serious Condition & Can It Be Reversed?
- What Is The Best Treatment For Postherpetic Neuralgia?
- Can Gabapentin Prevent Postherpetic Neuralgia & What Else Helps?
- What Leads To Postherpetic Neuralgia & Can It Be Cured?
- Best Exercises/Activities For Postherpetic Neuralgia
- How Common Is Postherpetic Neuralgia Or Is It A Rare Disease?