Nerve block injection may stop shingles pain from becoming chronic

This study tested whether an ultrasound-guided nerve block (using a steroid and numbing medicine) could better control shingles pain and prevent postherpetic neuralgia—a chronic nerve pain that can last months or years. One hundred adults with acute shingles and moderate to severe pain were split into two groups: one received standard care, the other also got the nerve block every 2-3 days. Researchers tracked pain levels, painkiller use, and how many developed long-term nerve pain at 90 days.