researchers have long known that older people are more likely to get phn (postherpetic neuralgia) the nerve pain after shingles but recent studies have found other factors that increase risks. in one study published in the journal neurology researchers -- including robert h. dworkin phd a professor in the department of anesthesiology at the university of rochester medical center in rochester n. y -- looked at data from 965 people with shingles. the researchers identified five risk factors for developing phn in people who had been recently diagnosed with shingles: older female presence of symptoms before the rash appeared like numbness tingling itching or pain severe pain during the illness' initial stages severe rash. importantly the researchers found the more risk factors you have the greater the risk of developing phn. for instance 17% of women with shingles went on to get phn. 26% of people with severe pain did too. but 50% of women who were over 60 and had symptoms before the rash severe rash and acute pain went on to get phn.
what are the risk factors for having nerve pain after shingles?