Post-shingles nerve pain, also known as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), is an ongoing nerve pain that may last for many months or years in some people who have had shingles. It commonly appears as localised nerve pain.

People with PHN often describe their symptoms as an intense burning or stabbing pain that may feel as if it's shooting or radiating along the path of the nerve in the skin.The affected area may be sensitive to touch, heat or cold.

Other symptoms of post-shingles nerve pain

As well as burning, stabbing, shooting pain, the affected area may also:

• Feel intensely itchy
• Be more sensitive to pain than usual
• Feel painful as a result of something that would not normally hurt, like a light touch or cool breeze