Dad needs help with shingle pain...

  My dad got shingles about 5 years ago.  Since then he has pain so bad that he says it feels like it hurts down to the bone.  Can anyone suggest anything that might help.  He's tried pepper cream but no relief.  He's gone through my mothers colon cancer, lung cancer and just this week she had another tumor removed from her brain.  He's had open heart surgery and I guess dealing with all this is what first made the shingles appear.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I hate to think he will be in pain the rest of his life.  He's thinking of trying accupuncture.
Dear Sherry,
Postherpetic neuralgia is usually refractive to most over the counter an prescriptive narcotic analgesic medications.  However, there are several other classes of medications that may be effective. Tricyclic medications (Elavil)  are the most promising. Occasionaly, the addition of a phenothiazine or butyrophenone drug may enhance the analgesice effect of the tricyclic.  Other alternative medications include carbamazepine, phynetoin, valproic acid, and topical capsaicin. Discuss these options with your doctor. Good Luck.