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Postherpetic pain in different area to shingles...?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Natpot
Natpot

Hello, i recently had shingles in my sciatic nerve and had a rash from my bottom down to my ankle. I now have a horrible pain around my waist and lower back on the same side of my body.

There is no rash, but the pain is very similar and has been increasing over the past week. My GP says it is nerve pain but has no connection to my shingles. 

Is it possible to have postherpetic pain in a different area to the shingles site?

Thanks,

Natalie

 

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • steve_1
    steve_1 Natpot

    Posted

    Shigles is caused by the chicken pox virus that doesn't leave your body but hides itself attached to a nerve. Something causes it to re-activate and hey presto...Shingles..

    Herpes Zoster I think is the name.

    The doctors will tell yopu lots of things including it only effectng one side of your body, don't believe that for one minute.

    If you've got the pain but no rash you may well have Herpes San Zoster ( I think that's what it's called) 

    I've been suffering one way or another for about 9 years,(But I think this sort of duration is very rare) sometimes I get a small rash and sometimes no rash, although I can sort of feel something under the skin that is bumpy but no visible signs.

    With me it usually starts with, or without the rash followed by a "sun burn" kind of irritation and that's followed by the actual pain bit, which feels as though my flesh is being torn apart, a bit like a chinese burn.

    Tramadol and Amitriptyline work very well for me, not killing the pain entirely but making it tollerable.

    • croft4Penny
      croft4Penny steve_1

      Posted

      Yes, Steve all you say is correct. I use Gabarpentin instead of Tramadol, but I can understand that Tramadol might work. I don't think the Amitriptyline does much, but it can hurt and I take it for other problems as well.
  • croft4Penny
    croft4Penny Natpot

    Posted

    Sorry, but I have no idea. As far as I know post herpetic neuralgia is the scientific name for shingles. I am seeing a new doctor tomorrow, who has a treatment that sounds promising, but I don't think it would relate to your problem.
  • croft4Penny
    croft4Penny Natpot

    Posted

    I'm not sure, Natalie, but I would push to see a specialist in Pain Management.
  • Natpot
    Natpot

    Posted

    Thanks, both of you for your advice. I think I may have a new bout of Shingles where the rash just hasn't materialised yet. It is such a distinctive pain and general feeling of being unwell that I am sure it is a new outbreak.

    My previous bout started about 6 weeks ago and I assumed that I had completely recovered, but it seems This was wishful thinking!

    I have been under a great deal of stress lately so I suppose it is to be expected. Steve do you have flare ups in different areas of the body? I am just wondering what might be in store for me if this continues!

    Thanks again,

    Natalie

    • steve_1
      steve_1 Natpot

      Posted

      I have flare ups but in the same places.

      You're right about the pain being distinctive, it tends to be in straight lines with me (following the nerve run) and I swear I can almost see it.

      As I said, I've had it for years, but, with the right medications (Tramadol and Amiltriptyline) I lead a prety normal life, I worked until retirement and am still working, I'm a builder. Plenty of the B vitamins especially B12.

  • Natpot
    Natpot

    Posted

    Thanks Steve, it sounds like you have had a rough time.

    I have been very lazy and not taken any vitamin supplements, but I am going to start! I have been prescribed amitriptylene but have avoided taking them because of the sleepy side effects.

    I have two adopted children under the age of 5 and my husband is seriously ill at the moment, so I need all the energy I can get!

  • croft4Penny
    croft4Penny Natpot

    Posted

    Yesterday, my wife was kind enough to spend 6 hours of driving for me to have an initial consultation with a physician. On 21 August, I will have a proceedure during which he will freeze two of the three nerves that are affected. Doing the third is too dangerous for losing ambulation in my right arm. We are hoping that the proceedure will give me a moderate reduction in pain. I'll keep you all posted.
    • patricia49047
      patricia49047 croft4Penny

      Posted

      Very interesting. I haven heard of anyone having that done. I will be anxiously waiting to see if it is a success! I'll be thinking about you, good luck!

      Patricia

  • patricia49047
    patricia49047 Natpot

    Posted

    Hello, Nat. Yes I would think so based on my experience. I had the rash behind my knee and a little on my left bottom side. Now the pain is down the back of my thigh to the back of knee. Then it skips and is around my ankle and on the bottom of my foot. It follows the sciatic nerve but just not on all of it thankfully! I've had the PHN pain for 16 years now. I guess one has to just learn to live with it the best you can and keep trying things and meds as they become available. I know how you feel, it's not an easy way to live. Hope you get better soon and are able to find some relief from the pain. God Bless.

    patricia

  • Natpot
    Natpot

    Posted

    Gosh 16 years is a long time Patricia! I do hope you are finding ways to cope - it can't be easy.

     Freezing the nerve sounds like a good idea - I hope you get some relief croft4Penny!  

    I was was admitted to hospital on Friday as I was in an awful lot of pain and my GP suspected I may have kidney stones. My blood test, X-ray and ultrasound results were all negative, so I was discharged the next day and I will have an MRI scan soon.

    I am convinced it is shingles again, although I still have no rash. 

     

    • patricia49047
      patricia49047 Natpot

      Posted

      Glad you didn't have kidney stones in addition to PHN! My son has them, extremely painful, but they eventually pass. Hope they find out the cause of pain soon and can do something to help. Maybe it's not shingles again.I've had them once, but in a different area, since the initial outbreak 16 yrs ago. I knew to get to my dr immediately and got the antiviral medication. The rash was not as bad and no lingering pain, thank God!
  • steve_1
    steve_1 Natpot

    Posted

    Some years ago (8 ro 9) I had such a pain in the area of my right kidney I was convinced that I had stones or that or that it was falling out at the very least, and the pain killers the doctor prescribed (something or other of Sodium) were of absolutly no use. All tests were negative and I'm sure the doctor thought I was putting it on.

    Suddenly the pain stopped and although I still get the occasional twitch has been of no further annoyance. 

    This was maybe a year before I was diagnosed with PHN.

    So maybe it's the same as you have and maybe it's connected with shingles or PHN (I've suspected it for some time)

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