Shingles is a viral disease caused by the same organism that causes chicken pox. However, shingles is more severe than chicken pox and in shingles the afflicted area can not only itch, but also cause pain in severe cases. The virus is an alternate form of the Herpes virus. The virus, which causes shingles usually, afflicts a nerve. It can lie dormant in that nerve for years. When active the virus causes inflammation across the length of the afflicted nerve and thus causes an irritation where the nerve lies. The disease’s first symptoms include mild itching and a rash usually forms on the site of the afflicted nerve. However, within two to three days, the itching becomes more severe, and eventually turns into a burning sensation and causes deep, persistent pains. The pain can become unbearable and thus cause great discomfort for the patient.
If the virus targets more than one nerve, the patient can have multiple rashes all over the body and the pain in these can be extreme. However, like all viral infections, shingles is itself cured by the body’s immune system within seven to ten days. Complete removal of all symptoms may take up to a month or in some cases even longer. The peak days of the disease usually last only a week though.
Shingles treatment is the common treatment for almost all viral infections. Anti-viral medications are usually prescribed by doctors and are to be taken until all the symptoms clear. The list of anti-viral medication includes acyclovir, vancyclovir and famciclovir. These are the usually anti-viral that are commonly prescribed. In some extreme cases foscarnet may also be prescribed. The good thing about foscarnet is that it is effective against all strains of the herpes virus. However, all anti-viral medications are harmful for the kidneys. Foscarnet especially can cause kidney failure and also induces seizures.
Pain management is also included in shingles treatment. Some patients are given high doses of steroids to control the pain caused by the disease. However, patients suffering from shingles also use regular painkillers. Steroids are usually only prescribed to older patients who have a decreased resistance to pain and are more susceptible to suffer more in the absence of the pain medication.
All of the above-mentioned treatments are the official shingles treatments. However, there are countless others shingles treatments that are also approved by physicians and can help in controlling the pain and managing the symptoms caused by shingles. These are not really prescription medicines, but are readily available from any pharmacy or even at some departmental stores.
The easiest of the natural shingles treatment is vitamin C. Vitamin C has been known to boost the immune system and with a better stronger immune system, you would be able to fight off the shingles virus on your own, much faster than the natural duration of the disease. A stronger immune system also means that the symptoms caused by shingles would be less intense and more manageable without the use of extra medication. The pain would be less severe and the outbreak of rashes would also be controlled.
Secondly, calamine lotion is something that is easily available as an over the counter product at every pharmacy and general store. The lotion is used on the skin over the lesions formed caused by shingles. It eliminates all kinds of itching and pain and leaves a cool and calming effect wherever it is applied. It is especially helpful if the itching and burning sensations are severe. The best thing about calamine lotion as a shingles treatment is that it can be used repeatedly without any worry of harmful side effects. Whenever you feel that the burning sensations is returning or becoming unbearable, just soak the spot in calamine lotion and that will provide temporary relief for a period.
Another scientific way to treat shingles is to use lysine. Lysine is a chemical that inhibits the intake of another chemical, whichis required by the shingles virus to survive. When the other chemical intake is slowed down, the shingles virus becomes less effective and due to this, the symptoms also become less severe. However, like all chemicals, whichare taken into the body, measures should be taken to ensure that the person does no overdose on this. Excess of anything can be dangerous and a person may try to take in more than what is prescribed to try to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by shingles.
Aside from these pharmaceutical based shingles treatments, there are also certain homemaderemedies, which are effective as shingles treatment and can be used by patients. However, these are only specific ideas to try alongside medicine and not as a substitute for the doctor or prescribed medicines.
Firstly, if the rash or itch is persistent, try covering the afflicted areas with wet dressings. Frozen bags of ice or even frozen peas and corn can be placed over the target rash. This gives a soothing sensation by numbing the affected area. It is a temporary relief that is cheap and available in every household. Also, try to avoid humid areas. Try to keep yourself cool as sweat can also agitate or even aggravate the condition or the burning sensation.
Secondly, avoid eating proteins and amino acids during the duration of the disease as the virus also feeds off proteins and can develop and grow if you provide it with nourishment. Finally, try not to scratch the affected area as this can cause the virus to spread to other parts of your body and make your condition worse.
Thus, shingles treatments include a variety of options. From anti-viral drugs and strong painkillers in the hospitalto simple over the counter medicines to homemade remedies, all of them are effective in controlling and managing your pain during shingles. The only definitive cure however is time. So try to manage the symptoms until your body can manage the disease and try not to be too agitated or distraught by the disease.