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Eye pain four months on

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Millwood
Millwood

Came down with first bout oh shingles in September... I am still suffering from terrible burning pain in my right eye four months later. The rash went away within a week after going on antivirals and I thought I was getting better. Then the post shingles neuralgia set in and has been awful. The numbers forehead is bearable but the burning in the eye is fierce. Eye very bloodshot. Was given Prednisone eye drops by eye doc two weeks after outbreak months ago. Did not help. Trying to see an opthalmologist in Toronto is next to impossible they book months ahead to see anyone. I have seen one but refuses to see me for weeks from now. Has anyone suffered burning eye pain for months after shingles on forehead and near eye. Been told eye pressure is fine etc. Some keratitis in right eye, but I can not get any concern from doctors and I am getting scared as this lingers on.

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  • susan26904
    susan26904 Millwood

    Posted

    Hi I did not have shingles in my eye but still get burning up my back and in my breast I got shingles on 5th July even though i had vaccine.I  probably 99% better but still have days where i hit the wall I,m totally exhausted have to go and lie down until I get my energy levels back.Hope you feel better soon
    • Millwood
      Millwood susan26904

      Posted

      Thanks Susan...I guess the burning is commmon after effect. Not looking forward to more moths of this Glad you are somewhat better.
  • joseph34465
    joseph34465 Millwood

    Posted

    Sorry to hear your going through this. I have had it on my left side of my forehead now for going on 4 month. I have been going to a pain management doctor. I take 1 Hundred 50 milligrams of Lyrica 3 times a day and 60 milligrams of Cymbalta once a day. The pain is down but Constant all day all night no sleep. My stomach is a mess. I'm being told that there is no time limit on the shingles and the pain. I'm now looking for some kind of specialist that deals with shingles but I don't know what kind deals with this crap.

    • Millwood
      Millwood joseph34465

      Posted

      Thanks Joseph. It helps to now someone is ogoing through a lengthy recovery as well. I hve refused Lyrica as the idea of it scares me. Is the Lyrica causing yor stomach upset? There seems to be no help with this all. Is the pain in your eye or just the forhead? My forehead is numb but the eye burns. And my vision has changed. I hope you have luck with a pain specialist. I have heard all they do is suggst Lyrica or tricyclic antidepressants. Some choice!  
    • joseph34465
      joseph34465 Millwood

      Posted

      Hi Millwood, the Gabapentin doesn't work on me but the lyrica works. My wife takes Lyrica for fibromyalgia and it helps her a lot, and yes the pain is in my left eye. My optometrist told me to put eye drops in when my eyes burn. That will relieve the burning. Try not to get depressed that seems to be a problem with me. Hang in there I well be rooting for you.

  • lisa46244
    lisa46244 Millwood

    Posted

    My husband is 5 months out with the similiar issues.  He used Lotemax eye drops for the redness and inflammation.  He also used warm compresses or steam on the eye because after the redness he developed clogged pores.  You need to see a opthamologist who has experience with shingles in the eye.  My husband has an ophtamologist (basic issues), neurological opthamologist (eye nerve and redness) and a surgical opthamologist (redness and clogged pores).  He recently had a procedure to open the pores in the eye.  The numbness and tingling of the forehead comes and goes.....more prominent went he is tired and at night.  Good luck to you.
    • Millwood
      Millwood lisa46244

      Posted

      Thanks Lisa. Never heard of the clogged pores...is that the pores around the eyelashes or elsewhere? I sure do not have the choice of docs that your husband does here in Toronto, Canada. Most opthal docs are generalists or cornea specialists here. Never come across a neurological opthamologist for example. I have seen a general opthalmologist but after being seen in Nov. he ssaid he did not want to see me til end of Feb.! I find that scary. I was on prednisone eye drops for the first month after the shingles hit back in Sept. but was weatned off of those. I know Lotemax is one of that type and I had a different brand. Can you tell me if your husband has the burning in or behind the eye or just his forehead. Mine is both. Thank you.
    • lisa46244
      lisa46244 Millwood

      Posted

      His burning is not really in the eye but in the eyebrow and forehead.  The itching drives him crazy at night. Stress and exhaustion make it worse.  The eye doctors take a more wait and see approach because a lot of the issues resolve over time.  My husband saw an eye neurologist because the 4th cranial nerve behind the eye caused double vision.  You are lucky you don't have that....it took 4 months to resolve.  The clogged pores are under the eye lid and on the bottom eye lid...this started 4 months out.  The surgical neurologist is treat them with steam, hot compresses and he drains them.  Not fun.  Besides Lotemax, my husband also used gentle eye drops.  Maybe you should try that too.  Hope you feel better soon.  It does resolve, but slowly.

  • Jane1618
    Jane1618 Millwood

    Posted

    I had shingles 9n the eye, forehead and head at the end of March last year, and my right eye is still very sore and itchy, it doen't go red anymore like it did a few months ago, I go to the eye clinic still every few months but always get told the same thing, it takes time!! Not much help that there is nothing that can be done and sometimes it itches SO badly that it is impossible to not rub it, but then of course that makes it itch even more!! I find it is not so bad when I am working or focussing on something else, but every morning i wake up with it and again during ther day, it is really getting me down!!

  • valerie03145
    valerie03145 Millwood

    Posted

    I see your post was 2 months ago. Any improvement since then? So sorry to hear about how hard it is to see a doctor and that you've had all this pain. I just came down with eye shingles 2 weeks ago. Rash was from eyebrow down side of nose. Now I have numbness along rash path that includes 1/2 of upper eyelid and inner corner of eye. My eye is extremely sensitive to light. Did or do you have the light sensitivity? I can't work (or drive) with my eye like this and am pretty stressed out. I hope you are doing better!

    • Millwood
      Millwood valerie03145

      Posted

      Hi Valerie. I am not a lot better. I have a few days when the burning is not so bad but it comes back. I t did two days ago an I have been in misery again with numb forehead and red and burning eye. Heading into month six! My vision has changed a lot in that eye and not one opthalmologist can tell me it will stabilize. I have to switch glasses four times a day. I have had cancer and this has hit me a lot harder than that did! Do have you eye looked at as soon as you can i did have light sensitivity and also halos around lights. Wishing you the best. Let me know how things are going.
    • Jane1618
      Jane1618 valerie03145

      Posted

      Hello Valerie, I just wanted to say the it is normal thet your eye is sensitive to light as it is early days, i had the same and it took about 30 mins every morning to be able to open my eyes properly as they kept watering, I got myself prescription sunglasses  for driving and then it was ok after a while. I do sympathise, as a year on almost for me and my eye still isn't right, stinging and itching at times! good luck to you and i hope it gets better soon!

    • valerie03145
      valerie03145 Millwood

      Posted

      Thanks for your prompt response. I'm so sorry you are not better at 6 months! Thanks for letting me know about the light sensitivity. I took Valtrex within 48-72 hours of rash and then started steroid eye drops in the middle of week two when the light sensitivity got worse. The drops haven't helped after 7 days, and I have 3rd appointment with ophthalmologist tomorrow. I hope he has a plan B! Thanks again for responding. It really helps to hear from someone going through this. I hope that someday soon you won't be going through this anymore!

    • Millwood
      Millwood valerie03145

      Posted

      Careful with the steroid eye drops...I found after I was on those my vision got worse. I dont know if I was prescribed the wrong dose or what...but they did not help me. Make sure you taper off them and not quite suddenly.
    • valerie03145
      valerie03145 Jane1618

      Posted

      Thanks for your message, Jane! I'll inquire about those glasses. I never get a break from the sensitivity to light. It improves a tiny bit in the last couple of hours before dark each day. I've been on steroid drops for a week, and it is no better. I'm seeing a different ophthalmologist tomorrow and hope he has better info and a better plan. Thanks for the encouraging remark about it still being early in the process for me. It really helped! Good luck with your situation, too!

    • Jane1618
      Jane1618 Millwood

      Posted

      I had steroid drops at one point but this week I was told that they can thin the skin. so I am glad  I no longer use them!
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