Can shingles cause neuropathy?

Shingles can cause neuropathy, or nerve pain. According to WebMD, some people who have shingles develop a long-lasting type of neuropathy known as postherpetic neuralgia or PHN, which can last for months or years.

Roughly 10 to 20 percent of people who have shingles continue to experience neuropathy after the rash has gone away, notes WebMD. This pain usually occurs in the area that was affected by the shingles rash. Researchers do not know why shingles patients continue to experience pain after the infection has gone, and it is not possible to predict which patients are going to develop lasting neuropathy.