When my DH had shingles, the family doctor prescribed Lidocane Patches. They made the pain worse and he couldn't stand the feel of them. I do use them for arthritis pain and they help me a lot. So they might work for your neighbor's husband. My DH had to resort to narcotic type pain medication because he had just had his left kidney removed because of renal cell carcinoma. The medication helped but he had to take it for a couple of months and had a hard time getting off of it. If your neighbor takes it short term it might not be a problem. I will send prayers his way. :)