Anyone deal with SHINGLES in their arm?

Posted , 5 users are following.

I have shingles in right arm and shoulder & shoulder blade. Antiviral 1st day of blisters. Blisters dried in 8 days. Pain is itinerant from wrist to forearm to elbow crease to bicep to shoulder. Random pattern. 5 more days of antiviral and asking for more Gabapentin today.

I cant even lift a mug of coffee. I can barely sign my name. Going bk to water aerobics next week. Any way to get my arm back. Its my right arm &I'm right handed.

1 like, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • Posted

    Sylvia,

    The worst thing to do is to exercise your affected arm and shoulder. I would not do the water aerobics if you are needing to increase your pain medications. The first two to three weeks are usually the most painful, and any activity, movement, or even a slight breeze can set off excruciating spasms of even more severe pain than you are already experiencing.

    It is important to rest and sleep. If you are working, take off from work for two weeks. You should ask for help at home with house hold chores.

    Obviously, your analgesic is not holding you. You were not prescribed an Opioid, I assume, due to the backlash of the people abusing Opioids. I would request Opioids for the severe pain for the next two weeks, as shingles and cancer pain are the two most painful afflictions of mankind...

    I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States. I have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three weeks for the past 23 years.

    Best regards,

    Merry Juliana

  • Posted

    i would like to add that the vaccines for shingles are very helpful in controlling this disease even after breakout. i have shingles for 15 years. my doctor insisted on the vaccine for shingles once the first breakout symptoms have gone into remission. that was the old vaccine zostavax and also received the new vaccine SHINGRIX .

    the shingles vaccine in both cases has reduced the chances of recurrence and the severity. But the bottom line is the same, having shingles once doesn't protect you from ever having it again. the vaccines have been helpful and sometimes i can get a breakout mostly itching and no blisters or a small rash. compared to the breakouts before the vaccines it was miserable and nothing stopped the progression of the disease until the vaccines. as a result i have not developed nerve pain from shingles.

    as your doctor or pharmacist for more info.

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