Any tips on pain relief for shingles/herpes zoster?

Several options: For acute shingles (rash lesions present) you should take an anti-viral medication like Acyclovir or Valtrex to treat the illness. You can take nsaids like Motrin or aleve for pain. If you have pain that continues after the lesions resolve, topical Lidocaine and a neuropathic pain medication like lyrica, (pregabalin) neurontin, or Cymbalta may help.

Zoster pain: 1. Anti-virals- decrease length of symptoms 2. Anti-inflammatories 3. Neuropathic pain meds: gabapentin, lyrica, (pregabalin) tcas... 4. Traditional pain meds 5. Epidural steroid injections hang in there!