Shingles is a disease of the nervous system that manifests itself as either a burning pain in the affected area, an outbreak of rashes, or even both. The older you are, the more at risk you are for developing shingles and the pain that comes with it.
The root cause of shingles is the virus called varicella-zoster. If it sounds familiar, it’s because this is also the virus that triggers symptoms of chickenpox. After the immune system successfully fights off chickenpox, the virus then embeds itself into your nervous system and goes to sleep.
This virus is remarkable because of its ability to lie dormant inside a person’s body for at least two decades after the recovery from chickenpox. When it does, the virus will affect the neural network underneath the skin. When this happens, a person can experience pain, although some people also report tingling and numbness in the affected area as well.
The science is not yet definite on what awakens the varicella-zoster virus after its long dormancy. Possible reasons, however, include the natural degradation of the body’s immunity to the virus because of aging.
Because it affects the nervous system, shingles pain is often mistaken as a symptom for another condition. That’s why it’s important to consult a neurologist in Boca Raton, Florida if you’re experiencing nerve pain. Shingles need to be properly diagnosed and treated because complications include lasting pain that persists even after the rashes disappear.
Getting nerve pain treatment for shingles as soon as the symptoms manifest, however, can prevent that from happening.
Are you currently experiencing persistent pain? Come visit us at Boca Raton Neurologic Associates. We treat and provide medication for various conditions including migraine medication in Florida.