Permanent itching after shingles

Yes I agree, there could be worse things like loss of vision, but  knowing that that doesn't make it any easier having a sore  itching eye every day for over a year, when others seem to get over the whole thing in a few weeks, I do feel very sorry for anyone who gets shingles more than once as I know how painful it is!

It isn't shingles, it is the after effect from PHN which I got unluckily! I never expected the itching to continue forever,,and would like to hear from anyone else that has had this problem for over a year

Hi Jane. I still get itching on and off after 2 years, sorry about that but shingles and its after effects can go on for a long time. I read somewhere that itching is a form of nerve pain so that's most likely what you have, pain from the damaged nerves. Try asking your doc for some pain relief, cream or drops which might help. I had an operation recently and had to have heparin injections after to prevent blood clotting. One of them was exactly where my shingles started on upper right arm and I now have terrible pain in the region again! I'm just taking the pain meds I am prescribed but they seem to wear off pretty quickly especially when I use the arm a lot. Take care, Pollyanna UK.

Thanks,

I do have drops  and gel for at night time, Nothing stops the itching, Sorry you have this too, do you ever have days when it is ok? I find keeping busy helps as then I don't notice it so much! Good luck to you too x

PS I don't get any pain

Itching is pain as I said before. you should ask your doc if he/she can prescribe something for it. I don't get much pain now except last week after an injection as I previously said.  X

I have asked loads of times and there is never any help, even at the eye clinic and they are supposed to be experts!

I agree that the nighttime is the absolute worst. I am busy during the day I notice it but it more manageable. I honestly get stressed thinking about night time knowing the pain that awaits. I don't get any sleep due to the incredible burn, itching , bugs digging their way out of my skin feeling . I had a huge huge rash that covered my entire abdominal (right side) and back area. I am at a loss of what to do and truly am at my breaking point at night time . I sit a night scrolling the internet looking for that miracle post on HELP with shingles. Best of luck and know I'm here fighting the misery.

Hi Jane and jenniejack,

Your posts reminded me once again that shingles and PHN are truly health problems that affect eveyone different. For instance, unlike you both, my PHN pain is better at night. I still have to sleep on only one side but my pain is hardly noticeable at night when I go to bed. However, I sometimes wake up with a panic attack because on certain days I may wake up in pain. Then, I immediately get stressed out. The stress triggers the pain to get worse and my panic becomes really bad. I truly believe that shingles and PHN directly influence anxiety and that anxiety makes pain much worse. There are many articles online that support the idea that nerve pain is closely influenced by our emotional states. That's why, as Charlie often mentions, working on our psychological health can help those of us who suffer from complications related to shingles and PHN. I know that I feel much better when I concentrate on methods that keep myself calm and mentally peaceful. It is very difficult not to get nervous when pain is constant, but finding ways like meditation to soothe us, often takes the edge off a bit. Sometimes, if a person worries about not being able to sleep and dreads going to bed, then they can't sleep. Our minds are complicated and react to stimuli we may not even be aware of and can contribute to our physcial pain. 

Hi Tiffany,

By pain do you mean itching? I have no pain just awful itching especially when I wake up in the morning and again a couple of times throughout  the day, I totally agree with you  about the dreaded night times and knowing I wont sleep for a whole night , so when i wake around 3am my eye starts itching badly again! Nothing really stops this, antihistamine cream, sudecrem, etc, All it does is ease the soreness a bit and stop the eyelid from drying out too much causing it to feel even worse! I realise I have  to live with this probably for the rest of my life and I know things could be a lot worse, ie, loss of vision, but it is still uncomfortable to heve this every day! I get anxious and I'm sure it makes it worse, but unfortunately I suffered with anxiety before I had shingles too. The itching is mostly on my eyelid, but sometimes in my eye, I have to use steroid drops every day now and other drops, and a gel at night in my eye, I have been put back on the aciclovir tablets this week by the cornea specialist , to  try to prevent  my eye getting inflamed again, but now and again it does feel really sore, not helped by the rubbing of it when it's just impossible not to! I eat a healthy diet and try to be calm and that is all I can do really, I find that being occupied helps the most, as then I don't notice it as much if my mind is on other things, How long ago did you get shingles? I got it March 2016! Good luck in the future. 

Hi Jane,

To answer your questions, I got shingles in November 2016 and now have PHN. In regard to pain, itching is considered pain so it is classified as pain. I suffer from anxiety, too, and I do know that anxiety makes nerve pain a lot worse. So, rather than just focussing constantly on ways to stop my pain, I now try to concentrate more on methods to easy my stress and anxiety. Often, it seems to be working for me because my pain gets better when I am not in panic mode. I wish you luck, as well, in your battle to fight this stressful nerve condition!

Hello Jane

I have the itchy scalp since I got shingles and get the stabbing pain where just combing my hair hurts!  Cold water eases the itch

Yes, MS. Jane. I have had itching from shingle going on two years now. Havn't, been to a neurologist yet but my VA doctor prescribes me gabapentin that helps. The worse part is trying to wear shirts in the winter that enhances the itching on my chest . If anyone out there that can give me any advise, please do.