Jan Willem Elte, The Netherlands Vaccination Shingles (Herpes Zoster) is a disease characterized by a painful, blistering rash caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. The symptoms usually are limited to a limited skin area at one side of the body. After having had chickenpox the virus can lie dormant in the nerves and become active again if the immune system weakens due to aging or to an illness. For several years years the recommendation by the EMA (European Medicines Agency) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA) is to give two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine RZV, named Shingrix) to prevent shingles and related complications. This recommendation is for for all aged ≥ 50 years and for immunodeficient or immunosuppressed persons ≥ 18 years. People who have already experienced an episode of shingles are also recommended to receive the two vaccinations of Shingrix with an interval of 2 – 6 months. Vaccination is aimed to prevent the most prominent problem of shingles : the post-herpetic neuralgia, which is a long-lasting nerve pain following shingles, which can be devastating and sufficent for suicide sometimes to be contemplated. The benefits of the vaccination are therefore […]

Jan Willem Elte, The Netherlands Exercising for up to 30 minutes most days may help to relieve pain in patients with cancer or other diseases. This has been shown in a recent study in more than 60,000 people, including 10.651 with a history of cancer. Study participants who had been diagnosed with cancer and reported moderate to vigorous physical activity for more than 150 minutes per week had 16 % less pain than those with no or less activity. Exercise was particularly helpful for those with moderate to severe pain. The more exercise, the less pain was felt, both for people with and without cancer. There was no relationship between physical activity and analgesic use in people with a history of cancer. In another Norwegian study the prevalence of chronic pain was 10 – 38 % lower among people who exercised. There are more randomized trials suggesting that exercise could be an effective pain management tool for conditions such as low-back pain, osteoarthritis, myofascial pain and fibromyalgia. Cancer-related pain may stem from multiple potential causes, such as the tumor itself (nerve compression), but also as a result of treatment, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or complications from long-term medications. Some 40 […]