Severe headache with shingles

You likely have it in your trigeminal nerve.  It's a VERY painful nerve, and maybe about the worst place you could get it.  I would recommend you phone your regular GP soon and see if you can get in.  If that's not an option try a dermatologist.  There are drugs that can help with this.  One is amitriptyline, which is an old anti-depressant that helps heal your nerves (and this does work).  Also the drugs you see advertised for nerve problems with diabetes can be used.  The sooner you get treatment the better off you may be here.  I would not let this go for several days.

Tammy,

Do you have pain localizing in your ear? Do you have a severe ear ache with ringing? A facial droop?

You need to see another physician as this one is an absolute ignoramus. Herpes Zoster-Shingles causes severe burning lancinating pain and the fact that this doctor doesn't know this means you need to see someone else.

If it is localizing in your ear, I would encourage you to see an ENT stat. Also, a neurologist is a great specialist to treat the pain of Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

For the acute stage, Opioids and Neurontin, an anticonvulsant- that helps decrease the burning lancinating pain, work well. Lyrica is also used by certain clinicians.

Cymbalta, an antidepressant, is another medication they add to the mix.

You need to find an excellent physician that will actually treat you comprehensively.

The reason I ask if it is localizing in your ear is the ENT can prescribe Auralgon Ear drops, which helps numb the pain topically inside the ear canal. As you have it on your scalp, you might try Bactine, which contains a numbing agent, as well, four times a day. If you are allergic to Lidocaine or have a seizure disorder, do not use these products.

Cool compresses help soothe the pain, hot showers will worsen the already excruciating pain.

You are already fatigued, I am certain, so rest and sleep as much as possible.

You probably had symptoms such as headache, fever, chills and sweating, aches and pains, fatigue, photophobia, and malaise prior to the rash and pain. It is important to get the acute pain under control so that this does not turn into Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN.

I have recurrent Herpes Zoster-Shingles every three to five weeks for the past twenty years and twice in my right eye. I am a Nurse Practitioner in the US.

May I ask how old you are and if you are in good health?

Best regards

Merry Juliana

Tammy, go back to the Doctor, I am not sure how your health system works in the US, but it seems here the UK and in the US they underestimate the level of pain.

See a specialist, if you can. Hopefully they will find a neurologist for you, who will recomend the best pain relief and see you until things improve.

This will take time, Shingles is a depressing virus, like flu symptoms. Rest, sleep, give yourself plenty of healing time.

Your health is very important, go back, take a friend or support person with you. Don't leave the medical practitioners without clear diagnosis, sympathy and follow up treatments and appointments.

It will get better.

Mary Juliana has it right. I have used much of her discussions and as a nurse practitioner I know she has had great advice.  It is unfortunate that many doctors haven't had much training on shingle and PHN.  Many patients who were not soon treated or not sufficiently treated end up with PHN.  It is not easy to live with so go see knowledgable doctors and ask questions.  My advice would be to copy and use Mary Julianas discussion even on office visits. OTC's for some meds may be possible.   In Spain I saw  a pharmacist who recognized and who immediately sent me to the ER where I began mediacal treatment.  

Is anyone following this? I have shingles in my throat, nose, mouth, eye and scalp (since 11/26/22). I've been to my PCP, and an opthamologist, and was give a Rx for valacyclovir (3 x day for 7 days). it seems to be abating in the eye, but I have debilitating headaches and it seems like it's still spreading with pain in my neck. My valacyclovir Rx runs out in 24 hours. Should I try to have this renewed until my symptoms settle? I am working under the assumption that my headache is a side effect of the valacyclovir. Excruciating!

I feel for you, Tammy. I had a similar problem. In 2014, when I had severe pain in my neck and upper arm on a Saturday when my family doctor was off, I went to a Walk-In Clinic and the doctor told me to take Advil for pain. A day later, my pain got worse, and rash appeared. Went to see my family doctor, who diagnosed Shingles right away. She prescribed antiviral medication for me but it was well past the first 72 hours and the antiviral drug had no effect. It is very crucial that the antiviral medication be taken within the first 72 hours of Shingles onset, otherwise you will likely get post herpetic neuralgia (PHN) after the Shingles rash went away. In my case, I now have very painful PHN in my upper right arm where Shingles rash was located. I have spent over $2000 trying every kind of treatment, drugs, ointment, Cannabis, herbal cure, etc. possible but nothing worked. I also had bad side effects taking the anti convulsion drugs. I even tried Acupuncture which hurt me even more. Had to ask that acupuncture session be terminated immediately as the pain was just excruciating. Every day, there is severe pain in my upper right arm, some days worse than other days. However, I am very fortunate that when I sleep, I have no PHN pain. It only hurts when I'm awake. I learned online that there are PHN electronic treatment centers in Tokyo, Japan and in the United States. But online comments indicate that the cost of $3000 - $4000 spent travelling there to get such treatment was a waste of money. After the electronic treatments, people still have PHN pain. I hope you are one of the lucky people whose PHN disappears after treatment. Wishing you all the best, Tammy. Take care, and stay well.