Shingles pain brings woman to her knees

October 4, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 73-year-old female who is suffering from shingles night and day. This has gone on for about seven weeks now and I am really depressed and miserable. I was diagnosed early and was put on an anti-viral medication (Valtrex) within two days of the first pains. I have a red, blotchy band from the navel to the spine. It has gotten a lighter pink. A weird fact to anyone I’ve asked is, nobody seems to know why I have not had any blisters, just the red. The most painful spot is on my rib, right under my right breast.

I have tried several pain medications including Oxycodone, Tylenol Extra Strength, lidocaine patches which seemed to help a bit at first but irritate my skin now, ice cubes wrapped in a soft cloth, and amitriptyline. [Read more...]

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Patient’s neuropathy raises questions

April 7, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Please comment on neuropathy. How does one get it, what medication treats it, and is it curable? Can it be caused by a broken toe?

DEAR READER: Neuropathy can be defined as a disorder or disease of the nervous system. Because you provide limited information, I cannot determine which form, if any, you might have. Unless your toe fracture was quite traumatic, it’s my guess it’s not likely to have resulted in neuropathy.

Autonomic neuropathy refers to damage to nerves over which we have no control, such as those of digestion, perspiration, blood pressure and heartbeat. Symptoms can include dizziness and fainting on standing (orthostatic hypotension), caused by a drop in blood pressure; gastroparesis (difficulty digesting food), causing diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite and bloating; exercise intolerance, during which the heart rate remains stable despite the level of activity; hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) [Read more...]

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