Many people suffer from chronic neuropathic pain after shingles virus infection. The incidence of postherpetic neuralgia increases rapidly with age. In patients over 80 years of age, after shingles, the zoster is almost 100%.
ABC of knowledge about postherpetic neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia is a syndrome of chronic neuropathic pain, which may develop in patients after herpes zoster infection. It is caused by damage to the peripheral nerves and the central nervous system and is associated with the occurrence of pain, which is burning, stinging and stabbing.
Causes and symptoms of the disease
The disease is caused by herpes zoster virus infection. The virus causes infection in 9-15% of infected people. This is related to the sensation of nagging symptoms in the form of local pain of burning, stinging and piercing nature. Symptoms may also be accompanied by depression, anxiety and sleep disorders, which often leads to a significant deterioration of the patient's quality of life.
This ailment exacerbates pain symptoms
Often, postherriform neuralgia induces allodynia, or pain in response to the action of stimuli, which are usually not experienced as painful and extremely severe pain in response to a stimulus that does not generate such a strong pain in the usual situation.
The disease generates pain resistant to treatment
Like other neuropathic pain syndromes, postherpetic neuralgia is difficult to treat. Many patients expect pain relief for months or even years, and for some pain they remain lifelong. It is also worth knowing that aggressive drug therapy threatens serious side effects.
Safe local treatment
Currently, doctors using the available systemic therapy often have to make a compromise between safe and effective therapeutic dosage of strong drugs - because of the possibility of side effects. As more and more doctors are concerned, an effective therapeutic option is the method of local relief of pain - for example, using special patches to relieve neuropathic pain.
Advantages of patches that relieve neuropathic pain - explains explains the specialist anesthetist dr Małgorzata Malec-Milewska.
"The patch, thanks to its high efficacy and local mechanism of action and the proven favorable safety profile, is a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of neuropathic pain symptoms." This is reflected in international guidelines recommending the use of a therapeutic patch containing 5% lidocaine as the first-line treatment in the treatment of neuropathic pain in the course of postherpetic neuralgia. For the first-line drugs alongside 5% lidocaine in postherpetic neuralgia, we also include gabapentin and antidepressants. Thanks to the introduction of 5% lidocaine patches on the Polish market, our patients also have a chance to take advantage of this new therapeutic option "- adds Małgorzata Malec-Milewska.
The healing mechanism of the patch
A single patch is adhered directly to the painful area of the skin once a day and left for up to 12 hours. Lidocaine contained in the patch penetrates the skin continuously, exerting long-lasting local analgesic effect. This effect increases as the medicine is repeatedly used.
The drug works locally - only within the painful area of the skin
In contrast to systemic drugs such as tablets, intravenous solutions, etc., the treatment patch only works within the painful area of the skin, minimizing the effect of lidocaine on the whole body.This leads to improved treatment tolerance and reduced risk of side effects. In addition, the patch itself as a mechanical barrier provides protection to the hypersensitive area of the skin and, thanks to the hydrogel, exerts an immediate cooling and soothing effect.
