Forum on Opportunistic Infections: shingles

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		shingles May 9, 2000 i have had shingles for 3 yrs. now will it ever go away ? i suffer with pain every day & my dr. prescribes me morphine & elavil to help me with pain why don't i get s.s.i. for this infection ?


		Response from Dr. Feinberg If your shingles is still causing new lesions to form and you've been treated with antivirals a lot, you could possible have resistant shingles which may require intravenous medicine (foscarnet). If your shingles hasn't caused new lesions, but hurts all the time, then pain meds and Elavil are typically used. You may not be getting a big enough dose of the Elavil -- this can be increased gradually and then your doctor can get a blood level to see if there is room to increase it still more. This pain, called post-herpetic neuralgia, can be very bothersome, but I don't have a clue how the government decides who gets SSi and who doesn't. You can appeal their decision -- get a lawyer experienced with this to help you.

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