I have left arm weakness, still in pain. Help?

Merry19451 sherri67316 · 2016-07-25T14:29+00:00

Sherri,

Go to a physician STAT and get started on an antiviral. It sounds as if you have a recurrent episode of Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

If you start the antiviral today, it will lessen the intensity and duration of the episode. I know, as I get recurring episodes every 3-5 weeks for the past 20 years in my right ear and twice in my right eye.

I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.

Also insist on a strong analgesic such as an opioid.

I know the severity of the agonizing pain you are in!

PLEASE, let me know how your appt went!

I am so sorry for your suffering!

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

thinsport sherri67316 · 2016-07-26T03:34+00:00

I agree you need to go now to your Doctor and have him confirm that it is shingles. Also informed him those old myths about shingles not recurring are not true and let him know new research on shingles indicates this new evidence/information. I found this in WEBMD archives...

The article is from Nov. 2, 2009 (Philadelphia) however, I was unable to post the link so I sent part of the article, and there is more out there about this besides this one article...Nov. 2, 2009 (Philadelphia) -- People with shingles are more likely to suffer a recurrence than previously thought, especially if their attack is accompanied by lasting pain, researchers report. "The risk of getting shingles again, once you already have it, is about one in three," says Barbara Yawn, MD, director of research at Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, Minn. "That's about the same chance of getting shingles once in your lifetime."

People who suffer pain for 60 or more days after their shingles attack are nearly five times more likely to suffer a recurrence, Moore says.

The research was presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) -- the same virus that causes chickenpox.

In many people, the virus remains dormant in the nerves. But in some, especially older people and those with compromised immune systems, it can reactivate as shingles. "We don't know what causes reactivation of the dormant virus," Moore says. Risk Factors for Shingles Recurrence

Moore and colleagues studied the medical records of nearly 1,700 people with a confirmed shingles attack from 1996 to 2001. Only 8% had compromised immune systems, she says. But 95 of them suffered 105 recurrences by the end of 2007.

"Clearly most recurrent attacks are occurring in people with healthy immune systems," she says

The time between attacks ranged from 96 days to 10 years.

Recurrences were:

2.8 times more likely in people with shingles-associated pain for 30 or more days during the initial episode

4.8 times more likely in people with shingles-associated pain for 60 or more days during the initial episode

60% more likely in women than men

40% more likely in people who were 50 or older when they had their initial attack

"Still, most recurrences occurred in people with none of these risk factors," Moore says.

The only way to protect yourself against shingles is to be vaccinated, she adds. The vaccine, known as Zostavax, was approved for use in adults ages 60 and older after studies showed it prevents shingles about half the time. IDSA spokesman Aaron

Glatt, MD, of the New Island Hospital in Bethpage, N.Y., tells WebMD that he was "surprised" at the high rate of recurrence.

"We knew you could get another episode, but we didn't know the risk was so great," he says.

I have left arm weakness, still in pain. Help?

sherri67316

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