With shingles, how long will the pain stay after the rash has healed?

I had shingles about 15 years ago round the top of my torso (left side, & back) I am an insulin dependent diabetic I still have a few numb spots, it took about 6 months for me for the pain to go. I had to have my mum help me out of bed & into the shower when I had shingles as the blisters where extremely large & many. Every now & again I get a funny itch over the numb spots, very hard to explain how it feels. Lets hope you get over it quicker than I did. Hope all goes well.