$Unique_ID{BRK01082}
$Pretitle{Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue}
$Title{Crushed Aspirin Lotion Treatment for Pain From Shingles}
$Subject{shingles treatment aspirin}
$Volume{L-2}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Crushed Aspirin Lotion Treatment for Pain From Shingles


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QUESTION:  Although I have read a few of your answers concerning shingles and
the pain that can remain after the rash has gone, I don't believe you ever
mentioned a new treatment my doctor is trying with me.  It consists of using
crushed aspirin in a lotion, that I put right on the painful area with quite
some relief.  Do you know of this treatment, and what do you think of it?

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ANSWER:  The treatment your doctor is now trying with you is quite new, and
reports of its use have only just recently appeared in the medical press.
This type of pain, called postherpetic neuralgia, which follows the acute
stages of herpes or shingles, occurs most frequently in older patients.  It
has always been a difficult pain condition to treat, and while local
application of steroid creams, and more recently a preparation derived from
naturally occurring chemical in pepper plants (capsaicin:  Brand name Zostrix)
have been used with success, some individuals were still left with continuing
pain.  In the continuing search for a treatment that could offer relief to
these individuals, a new technique has recently been reported from several
pain management centers.  Two 350 mg aspirins are crushed to a fine powder and
dissolved in some solution or lotion that makes it possible to apply the
mixture directly to the painful areas.  In one study, chloroform was used as
the liquid base, and in another report Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion was
used.  The results seemed to indicate that most patients experienced
substantial and lasting relief from the tormenting chronic pain that had
persisted after the herpes infection.  While these results are certainly
encouraging, I must point out that they are still preliminary, and additional
large scale studies are needed to fully prove the worth of this technique.
However, the use of this treatment technique, with due caution to avoid
inhaling the fumes of the chloroform preparation, would seem to offer the
possibility of pain relief with out posing any undue hazards for most
patients.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
