CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Post-herpetic neuralgia - Management
What advice should I give about post-herpetic neuralgia?
- Explain that symptoms can resolve after a few months, or may persist for longer. Interventions may not completely resolve the pain, but may reduce it.
- Advise the person to:
- Wear loose clothing or cotton fabrics, as these will usually cause the least irritation.
- Consider protecting sensitive areas by applying a protective layer (e.g. cling film or a plastic wound dressing).
- Consider frequent application of cold packs (unless allodynia is triggered by cold).
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement