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Dr. Roach: Shingles patient doesn't experience pain due to vaccination
The Detroit News • • health
Key Points:
- Shingles is caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus and can occur even after vaccination, although the vaccine reduces the risk and severity of symptoms, including pain and post-herpetic neuralgia.
- The shingles vaccine lowers acute pain by about 40%, shortens the duration of pain medication use by 50%, and decreases the likelihood of long-term nerve pain by approximately 90%.
- Shingles affecting the eye requires urgent evaluation by an ophthalmologist, as specialized treatment and possible intravenous antiviral medication may be needed to prevent complications.
- COVID vaccination is recommended for individuals with long COVID symptoms; it is safe and may improve symptoms in about 20% of cases while protecting against future COVID infections.
- Recovery from long COVID involves tailored exercise programs, probiotics/prebiotics, good sleep hygiene, stress management, and psychological support, with no single treatment guaranteeing full recovery.
