Ask Dr Rosemary Leonard: ‘Why does my face nonetheless really feel numb after shingles?’

Dr Rosemary Leonard says: Shingles is attributable to the herpes zoster virus, the identical virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve hen pox, the virus doesn’t go away fully – some stays within the nerve roots subsequent to the spinal twine.

At some level in a while, the virus is reactivated and travels alongside the nerve to the pores and skin, inflicting ache and the blistery rash of shingles.

What causes this reactivation is unclear, however it may be triggered by stress, sickness or a weakening of the immune system, which may be on account of sure medicines and in addition happens progressively with growing age. 

Shingles can happen in any of the spinal nerves, together with these supplying the face and the attention space, which may be notably painful.

Although shingles may be a difficulty at any age, it’s rather more widespread in over-50s. Shingles can injury the affected nerve, which then sends confused and heightened messages to the mind, so the realm of pores and skin feels painful lengthy after the rash has gone (a situation known as post-herpetic neuralgia) – and it appears that is what you’ve.

The pores and skin might really feel burning, aching, numb, or itchy and uncomfortable, and infrequently may be very delicate, so a lightweight contact can set off ache. The finest therapy is with medicine to scale back the irregular messages travelling up the nerve, corresponding to gabapentin, pregabalin or carbamazepine.

Amitriptyline may also be efficient. All these can be found on prescription out of your GP and it’s typical to start out with a low dose, which is progressively elevated till the ache eases.

Sometimes a mixture of various medicine is required. Post- herpetic neuralgia does normally ease of its personal accord with time, so it’s unlikely you will have to take medicines long run, however they may definitely make life a lot simpler for you, so please contact your physician.

If you’ve a well being query for Dr Leonard, e mail her in confidence at yourhealth@specific.co.uk. She regrets she can not enter into private correspondence or reply to everybody