I'm a 56 year old man that had an outbreak of shingles two years ago on my
right chest side.  Since then, I've been dealing with the aftermath of PHN.
I've gone thru almost everything to help during this time.  I've done the
following:

Epidural and intercostal nerve blocks (the Lidocane works but the steroid
has no effect).
Spinal cord stimulator.
Intrathecal injections.
RFI on intercostal nerves (T5, T6 and T7)
Surgical cutting of intercostal nerves and sympathetic nerves.

Nothing has helped. My main pain is from T7 front and back.  One thing I did
notice is that when the doctor did the RFI on T7, she injected lidocane.
The lidocane took away all of the pain for about 2 hours, but the RFI did
nothing.

I don't understand how cutting T5, T6 and T7 intercostal nerves has had
absolutely no affect.

I'm currently taking Lyrica (doesn't seem to have any affect) and neurontin
(3000 to 4000 mg per day). The neurontin helps some as I take it in 100 mg
doses throughout the day.  Taking 1000 mg at once has the exact same effect
as taking 100 mg.  The relief takes about 10 minutes to start and lasts
about 15 minutes.

I also wear an Ace bandage around my chest.  This is to prevent the skin
from moving. If I walk, talk or do any other movement, it shakes the skin
and starts a severe spasm of pain that lasts for about 10-15 minutes at
about a 8-10 pain level.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Terry