Welcome to the Shingles Support Society

The Shingles Support Society supplies information on shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN for short): what they are and how to treat them.

(These pages were reviewed on 8th March 2010.)

You can download the 'Guidelines for GPs' or to get a paper copy send a donation (at least £2.50 please) for the full 19 page information pack. It includes:

For the GP (patients can take it to the surgery to show their doctors):
- seven pages with details of amitriptyline, gabapentin, lidocaine    plasters and capsaicin cream: the dosages, references and a    treatment algorithm - provided by a pain consultant

For the patient:
- two page introduction to shingles and PHNtreatments,
- two pages of self-help advice from other sufferers,
- a two-page contact list of names/addresses of other people    who'd like to share experiences of shingles,
- information on TENS with the details of manufacturers who'll    refund your money if the TENS doesn't help you,
- and more...

You can also buy this information pack on-line: click here where you can order it. 

People who are blind or partially sighted can receive these leaflets dictated onto a standard cassette: send a donation (at least £2.50 please) or phone 020 7607 9661 to order this with a credit or debit card.

This video shows the experiences of people with neuropathic pain - you may find it helpful in helping you understand PHN. (We thank to Understanding Neuropathic Pain by Jose Closs from the University of Leeds)