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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffWhile you may initially talk to your family doctor about your signs and symptoms, he or she may refer you to a nerve specialist (neurologist) or a doctor who specializes in the treatment of chronic pain.
What you can do
Before your appointment, you might want to write a list of answers to the following questions:
- What types of symptoms are you experiencing?
- When did these problems begin?
- Does anything make your symptoms better or worse?
- Are your symptoms interfering with daily tasks?
- What medications or dietary supplements do you take?
- What treatments have you tried in the past for this pain?
What to expect from your doctor
During the exam, your doctor will look at your skin and ask you about your symptoms. He or she may touch your skin in different places, to determine the borders of the affected area and any changes in the sensation of touch and temperature.
He or she may ask you how the pain is affecting your enjoyment of life, your sleep and your interactions with others. Your doctor may also review in detail medications you may have tried for this pain, including the dosages and any side effects you experienced.
- Bajwa ZH, et al. Postherpetic neuralgia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 11, 2010.
- Sampathkumar P, et al. Herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2009;84:274.
- Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00021-3--s0825&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00021-3--s0845&uniq=188689159&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=966992901#lpState=opened&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00021-3--st0755%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7234-3541-9%3Btype%3DbookPage. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Vora A, et al. Postherpetic neuralgia. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/188689159-4/966996765/1678/116.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50103-6_1654. Accessed March 12, 2010.
- Martin DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 22, 2010.
- Practice parameter: Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. St. Paul, Minn.: Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. http://www.guidelines.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=5989&nbr=003947&string=postherpetic. Accessed March 12, 2010.
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