First I had a severe pain in my back, well up near my shoulder and under arm. Not stinging or burning, but achy, achy, achy. Go to doctor, and she thinks its shingles. I now have a rash across my chest, both sides. This can't be shingles right? Rash is suppose to be where pain started, I thought. I'm not having any burning or stinging pain. Help!
View 3 RepliesFor about two weeks I was experiencing pain on my right side, around my rib area to under my breast bone. It was an odd pain, nothing like I've had before, it felt as though someone punched me really hard. I thought it was just a muscle strain from so much coughing as I had pneumonia, but the pain didn't go away when the cough did, the pain got worse, and it was constant and would not respond to over the counter pain meds. It got to the point I was crying from the pain. All I can describe it as if someone beat the s**t out of me and left me there, or a car ran over my side. I had no burning, no tingling, no rash. It is a scary pain.
Nonetheless I was still diagnosed with shingles, and given antivirals and pain meds. Within a week I felt a lot better, now the pain is mostly gone, thank God.
Shingles also makes you feel lightheaded, faint, weak, unwell in yourself, not right. Before I got the pain I had a few days of feeling really weak and not right and thought I was going to pass out. Funny that as I remember a day before I got Chicken Pox, years ago, I felt really off.
Terrible thing to get. Now fearing getting it again so will look into a vaccine.
Just wanted to post this in case there are any of you who are wondering if its possible to have shingles without the rash. Yes, it is. Not common, but possible. It is also possible for the band of pain to shift, rather than just stay in one place. In my case my pain started on my right side, then went to my left side, same area of my rib/breastbone.
Hope this helps some people - if this is you, go to your doctor, the anti virals really work fast and the pain meds make it bearable. Paracetamol is not enough for this. Neither is co-codamol. You need either a med that dulls the nerve endings, or an opiate.
For the past week, I have had pain in my side...about the size of an apple. The skin is extremely sensitive to touch (even getting goosebumps makes me wince), and am getting sharp stabbing type pains. I went to my local emergency department. The nurse who looked me over first asked me many questions, and said that she believed I have shingles, although I don't have a rash. I have had shingles before, and it does feel the same...but when the Dr. came in, he said he has no clue going on, but that it can't be shingles without the rash. He didn't do any bloodwork, nothing. I know for a fact that a person can have shingles without a rash. What is even more confusing is that he prescribed me a muscle relaxer, some Naproxen, and a script to go to physiotherapy. Why would he do this if he doesn't know what it is, and why would he rule out the shingles without any tests?
View 1 RepliesI had classic shingles symptoms but never got the rash (and my doctor diagnosed as shingles). Left side only, numbness, itching pain on one side of my neck/shoulder. Antivirals reduced pain and itchiness but I still remain totally numb there and occasionally having itching or slight pain at 8 weeks out.
Now my lips and the end of my tongue feel different...not numb or painful but just different enough that I notice it. I am trying not to be a hypochondriac...but it worries me that it is not Shingles and something more neurological- MS...etc... My gut tells me this is all related to the shingles but....
Has anyone else had a similar experience with symptoms like these?
My understanding that blood tests are fairly inconclusive..
I'd like to give you a synopsis of my last few days. I woke up Friday feeling sick with what I thought was allergies, which caused tons of sneezing fits, and body aches. I've been sleeping on my couch because my dog had surgery and cannot make it up the stairs. Anyway, Saturday I woke up feeling like I slept funny and had the start of a stiff neck. Over the next day or two the pain got progressively worse and seemed to originate by my spine on the left side. My skin is sensitive to touch on that side from my spine to my left breast. I have a deep agonizing pain in that entire area as well and the sensation goes down my arm. I noticed what I thought was a bruise on my back where the pain seemed to originate and I was having pain with every breath I took. On Tuesday I went to urgent care thinking maybe I fractured a rib from my sneezing fits because what else would have caused a bruise on my back when I had no falls and didn't bump into anything ?! In the urgent care the dr said I had shingles and had another dr come in to confirm it. I was put on antivirals and pain meds (which doesn't even touch the pain). Yesterday, Wednesday, I looked at my back and the bruise/rash was gone after only 3 doses of meds but I am still in intense pain. Basically my question is is it truly shingles with the mark going away so soon and is the pain of shingles so deep in the muscles that it hurts to walk, sit or move? Should I be getting another opinion?
View 7 RepliesIs anybody aware of any drawbacks to using Aloe Vera. Gel on their shingles rash? I am in the midst of a bad attack of shingles and the itch and burning has been driving me mad! A friend brought me some Aloe Vera Gel to try instead of the calamine cream prescribed and already it feels slightly less
painful. Would like to continue to use it if no drawbacks to it.
i suffer with bouts of shingles about twice a year. i have the usual, sweating, tiredness, swollen calves, familiar burning in my left calf, and then the rash, which gets infected by the 3rd day then slowly goes down within a week. they dry off and leaves a permanent reminder.
I'v always gone to my gp who have looked at it in the stages when its infected and told yes it is shingles, and was also told that i can get it when my immune system is low or if i'm very stressed!
Going to my gp today, i saw a locum who looked at it and said that it were'nt shingles, as shingles does'nt come up on your leg and is localised to your midriff!! So i asked what it could be, and he said he did'nt know!
He gave me the usual anti viral cream but refused to give me the anti viral tablets i've had before, just incase it harmed me!!!
I do not fall in the catergory of over 60, i dont have hiv/aids, im being checked for diabeties, im not on any treatment for cancer or anything, im waiting to get my hypaparathyroid out, could this be causing my shingles? I just dont know.
How can so many doctors tell me its shingles and 1 locum tell me its not because its in the wrong place, i've looked up shingles and it states shingle can be anywhere on your body. So what do i do??
Has anyone else had the same or similar?
I had successful hip replacement last September.
Around mid November I began to have chills and tingling in random places all around torso above waist and below neck and only in upper arms
Several doctors, a physiotherapist, a chiropractor later I paid to see a neurosurgeon who said it was nothing serious - he is arranging an MRI scan.
Three days ago I started with a rash with swelling about 4 cm by 2 cm on upper left side of my head accompanied by uncomfortable sometimes feeling around my left eye and a strong headache between the two area.
I am controlling it with Gabapentin cocodamol and ibuprofen.
We have been in Tenerife for three weeks and go back to UK on 22nd March- I've booked to see GP on 24 tha want to ask for check for herpes zoster virus.
Can anyone out there say what is going on?
We're due to celebrate our daughter in laws birthday next Friday..... Should I stay away to avoid co tag ion?
I have had low and mid abdominal pain and bloating for a couple of days, which is getting worse. Since last night I have also had upper abdominal burning pain and nausea. I started taking Ramipril 3 days ago for high blood pressure and have read that gastrointestinal inflammation, abdominal discomfort and dyspepsia can be common side effects, so I am assuming this is the cause. I can't see a doctor for 3 days. Is there anything I can do to ease the pain/burning in the meantime please? I have taken paracetamol, a pro-biotic and gaviscon tablets to no effect.
View 1 RepliesI was diagnosed 10 weeks ago with shingles and unfortunately it was on my head, forehead and around my eye, which was very painful and uncomfortable, My vision is ok but I keep getting a very sore and pink eye, and have been told at the eye clinic that it is dry eye and I now have the same type of drops that I was given weeks ago. Has anyone else experienced sore itchy eyes so long after getting shingles and if so, any idea how long it lasts? my eye gets SO itchy and sometimes I have to rub it which I suppose is just making it worse!! There seems to be nothing i can put on my eyelid to stop the awful itching
View 2 Repliesi have rash on the penis (red dots) and they are not painful but have severe stomach pains. any idea what is it? medication?
View 1 RepliesI have just been diagnosed with shingles for the first time. Feels as though I have a boulder in my eye and the pain shooting through my head is excruciating. Have got a few blisters around my eye and am praying my eye sight will not be affected. Am taking Acyclovir, Paracetamol and an anti inflammatory. Have noticed as the day goes on and I take more pills the pain eases. Early mornings are worst and I have to get up and take more pills
View 3 RepliesI am a 20 year old female that has been experiencing pain in the right side of my neck that radiates down my right arm to my fingers for a week or so. This is often accompanied by a burning sensation under my right armpit and down my arm. Today this has been replaced by a tingling sensation on my chest, jaw, arm and occasionally my upper abdomen. This is again all on my right side. I also have a headache. Could this be shingles?
View 1 RepliesSo nearly two months back my life changed, I used to have average bowel movements every day *3 on average* but I woke up one day and none of this exist anymore, I tried to play it off and wait assuming it was your normal constipation problems, I let it carry on for nearly two weeks before I tried laxatives and for the most part I only got good results from Equate natural Laxatives, enema's didn't work, suppositories didn't work, so I went to the hospital and found out I had shingles, when I got x-rayed for my abdominal pain n such I expected a clear diagnosis or at least some help but I only got subscribed polythene Glycol AKA Miralax, it gave me false hope thinking I just had terrible constipation, the Miralax worked to a degree for a while but it started producing less efficient movements as I used it, now I am not using anything and have very little gas passing through and I sometimes have oddly shaped small bowel movements, they're not complete and I strain for portions in the bathroom. As of now I have very slight abdominal pain that is in waves showing up in my left side and sometimes on my right. Not sure what to think, as embarrassing as it sounds it feels like my sphincter is really tight making it all troubling. I've started trying natural remedies such as oatmeal, water, and peppermint tea to help bowel movements. I don't know what to really do and I'm worried for my health...
View 1 RepliesI am currently experiencing a burning sensation on the entirety of my left arm, and an intermittent, shooting pain travels from my elbow into my wrist and hand every little while as well. I just noticed those red bumps today and thought it may be connected with my pain, which has lasted for a day and a half now. The burning sensation is aggravated by touch.
Note that I have never had chickenpox before, I was vaccinated.
So am I getting shingles? Should I stay home tomorrow to go to a physician?
After a short flight I started experiencing sharp pains in my right chest..... 5 days later was at outpatients where they tested for everything cardiac and pulmonary..... Was sent to family Dr who asked if I had a rash anywhere and my husband said yes as he noticed a red patch on My back while doing up my hospital gown. I had been a bit itchy in that spot... Anyhow I do not have any pain at rash site just the severe pain in my chest. Dr says the pain can present along any nerve.... Has anyone ever had shingles symptoms like this ?
View 11 RepliesThis seems like an odd question, but I have looked everywhere and couldn't find any answers, so I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this before?
I have been experiencing a post shingles pain this week, lots of nerve pain, flu like symptoms, headaches and just overall exhaustion, my boyfriend wanted to get intimate and when we did it was like he hit a nerve and it just flared down my leg and it then felt like every nerve attached to my pelvic area was on fire, I made him stop and had to go get a vicodin and some Tylenol which was very painful for me to walk and get. So I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this?
I had shingles in October 2013 followed by what was assumed to be postherpetic neuralgia. I have tried all the various medication prescribed but appear to be allergic or react to all of them and none take you pain away. I don't know what to do next, seem to go from pillar to post.
I had an xray done about a year ago as, (because I was involved in a car accident 3 months prior to the attack of shingles) it was thought the pain could be due to something else. It wasn't but the radiologist said that if I had a certain nerve 'snipped' in my back (left hand side) all should be well. Has anyone else heard of this. My doctor said they didn't have anything in writing from the radiologist to confirm this. I really feel as if nobody is much bothered about this sort of pain.
I do know for a fact that having nerve ends burnt off can stop pain. I had this done (privately when I was covered through work) in my neck which stopped the migraines I had suffered badly with for years. I no longer have private medical cover unfortunately.
I can can only sympathise with others who have suffered following shingles. The pain is HORRIFIC but the advice seems to be to take pill after pill and then If that doesn't dork have another ruddy pill.
I still have this gnawing pain under the skin on my collar bone, cheek near the ear, behind the ear, and neck and there's some swelling too.
Can somebody explain and what are the natural remedies?
My 88 year old mother who has dementia has developed odd sensations and pain in her upper back. She's had two bouts of extreme pain which moved around but were in a similar area of her back - lower ribs on left side. The pain lasted only for a day each time and each time I saw what looked like sweat pimples but they were on her upper chest at the front - ie a different place. Now she often feels cold and shivery (when in fact she is hot) and puts more layers on to the point where she starts sweating, feels pain in her upper back and gets very anxious when she gets it (most days in the afternoon/evening). She gets night sweats. Does this sound as if it could be left over from shingles?
View 1 RepliesI was diagnosed with shingles in my forehead and eye 6 weeks ago,( the worst kind!!) and after weeks of discomfort with eye and forehead re-infecting, watering eye, headaches , itching etc, I now feel better in myself and my vision is ok, but unfortunately I have had complications ands am left with such painful neuralgia, my head hurts just to touch it and my temple is so tender, I have been told that this can go on for months or longer.
View 1 Replies