i have suffered from PHN FOR OVER 2 YEARS in my head/eye
I received a second round of Botox but doesn't seem to have worked this time
i have tried all different types of treatment without success
i am a very optimistic person but this condition is wearing me out,
Hi Surfmurph,
I've had 27 years of PHN in right eye, forehead, and scalp. Best management methods I've found are Aspercreme, which has 10% salicylate. Dencorub also has that and some others on this site have found it helpful. A big key is not to expect a "cure," in my opinion. Look for things that help maybe 25-30%, and use several of them.
In my case, exacerbations of pain ["flare-ups"] can be stopped with drinking a large glass of water, after about 30 min.
The pain/itching does decrease with time, but slowly. Mine is now an annoyance, rather than a huge issue in my life. I've learned to manage it pretty well.
Cognitive behavior therapy helped with my emotional response, and that actually decreased the pain too!
27 years?!!! I thought a year was bad enough, poor you!!
No need to feel sorry for me. My life is very good. I had a few very tough years early on, but things have gotten better and better. So, part of my mission on this site is to offer the knowledge that PHN does not remain the same forever, and that it is manageable with a combination of physical and psychological applications.
We cannot give up. I am 8 years in now and have had multiple treatments/drugs in an effort to minimize some of the pain. It would be behoove you to sort through the entire forum for recommendations from other patients. For me it's opiates, lidocaine gel, Aspercreme, rest and icing. Perhaps one day the medical community will be able to help us. Keep the faith šš¼