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Shingles nerve oain

Posted , 6 users are following.

bob66741
bob66741

I had a patch of shingles on the base of my skull/top of the neck in right side. It only lasted a week but there was pain that ran from the area of my shingles patch, down my neck alingvand under my right jaw line. I even get pain in the right side of my chest and into my armpit. There is a lot of pain. How long does the nerve pain last or will it go away. Btw I’m 47 so I can’t get the vaccination

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • marci83831
    marci83831 bob66741

    Posted

    I had a bout of shingles end of September .. face and scalp and now almost 7 mos later I still suffer from nerve pain PHN. I am on neurontin and sleep with a lidocaine patch on my forhead . Neurologist said they can’t determine how long it will last 😞 

    • bob66741
      bob66741 marci83831

      Posted

      Wow. That’s not fun. I am just in pain all the time. I’m really surprised as to how much it affects other parts of my body 
  • hope4cure
    hope4cure bob66741

    Posted

    Any one can get the Shingex vaccination sometimes paying for it is worth years of torture and suffering  from the pain and PHN ?

    47 years old and can't get a vaccination.  I am courious why?

    In the Us it's available to anyone and as far as I know common sence, it should be for anyone anywhere. My doctor did recommend it and I was in my early 50's. some insurance will cover it if ordered by GP. If your not in the US I don't understand why you can't get the vaccination. Like any other vaccination it will help stop many diseases. In my experience it has lessoned the frequency and duration of breakouts. 

     

    • bob66741
      bob66741 hope4cure

      Posted

      I’m in Canada. I don’t know why but we can get it when we are 50. Not sure the reason. 
  • hope4cure
    hope4cure bob66741

    Posted

    Check with your doctor you have been diagnosed with shingles then you should get the vaccine. It will lesson the breakouts . IT’s ok to get the vaccine even after shingles breakout. 

    I had them they are 2 shots the new one for shingles called shingles. I also had the older one in my 40’s after shingles outbreak. It was recommended for the shingles vaccine at 60 years a few years ago. Now it’s recommended at 50, but anyone can get them at any age. Ask you GP. 

     

  • Merry19451
    Merry19451 bob66741

    Posted

    Hi Bob,

    I am sorry for the delay in responding. My computer was having problems with the security of this site.

    I do not know when your pain started, but from your description, it seems you have pain in the dermatome C3 or 4 area, and also T 3 or 4. You therefore skipped dermatomes. It is also severe. If it has lasted a month over the onset of the rash, it is considered Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN. As you skipped dermatomes and are still experiencing severe pain, I would recommend seeing an excellent Neurologist or pain specialist. They can prescribe medications, titrate up, to decrease the pain.

    I would also use cold compresses or ice on the area. Some people find Lidocaine cream or Solarcaine with Aloe (contains Lidocaine)beneficial.

    Avoid hot water.

    Are you using any pain killers?

    What is your occupation?

    You are probably working, but avoid exercise right now, as excessive activity increases the pain markedly.

    You cannot power through this virus.

    You also may be experiencing fatigue and exhaustion.

    I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States. I have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past 21 years and twice in my right eye.

    Best Wishes

    Merry Juliana

    • bob66741
      bob66741 Merry19451

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply. My pain is right from the base of my skull on the right side and flows down through my neck and jaw and into my chest and arm pit. My dr didn’t think that the chest and arm out were related but everything went away for a few weeks then all came back at the same time. My pain is really bad at time but it comes in waves everyday. It’s not steady all day. At times I feel okay like today I feel great but later it may come on really bad. I did not want pain killers so I’m. It on them. I’m a police officer for my career. I’ve also have only ever had one rash come out ever
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 bob66741

      Posted

      Bob,

      As you are a police officer, I realize you cannot have any medication that will cause sedation or cognitive impairment.

      It sounds like your physician does not understand Herpes Zoster-Shingles, and that it can skip dermatomes ie cause the pain neck and jaw and into your armpit and chest.

      I think if it actually went away totally, then returned, you had a second episode, but without the rash. You should have been on another round of Antivirals. Shingles without the rash is called Zoster Sine Herpete.

      I will continue this post in a few minutes.

      Merry Juliana

  • Merry19451
    Merry19451 bob66741

    Posted

    Bob,

    Activity and exertion will increase the pain, and rest and sleep reduce the pain.

    As you can't take medication due to your occupation, and it may be you had a second episode, I would ask your Physician to check your Vitamin D level. A low Vitamin D level would impaired your immunity. My level was 14-very low. After 6 months of Vitamin D3 supplements, I stopped getting horrific episodes every 2-3 weeks.

    Also Google Herpes and Lysine Arginine diet. I follow a High Lysine Low Arginine diet. If you love chocolate, high in Arginine, it is a trigger for recurrent Shingles. (I dislike Chocolate, but love macadamia nuts, cashews, and peanuts, all high in Arginine, which would trigger Shingles episodes.)

    I find Auroguard with Benzocaine ear drops help soothe my severe ear ache and headache. Many individuals use

    Lidocaine with Aloe (Solarcaine )

    or an OTC Lidocaine cream topically to help soothe the nerve endings.

    I would possibly find a pain medicine specialist to see if other modalities might work such as nerve blocks.

    Ice or cold compresses do help. Avoid heat. Fortunately, you live in Canada.

    Please keep me posted on how you are doing. I worked the entire time I had my episodes, and it was agonizing.

    Thank you for your service and stay safe!

    Best Wishes

    Merry Juliana

    • bob66741
      bob66741 Merry19451

      Posted

      Thank you for the information. But the unfortunate part is I live in a part of Canada that rarely gets snow and doesn’t get very cold and May to sept-oct ranges from warm to very hot. So I am going to try the lidocaine. 
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 bob66741

      Posted

      Where in Canada? My grandfather and great-uncle were from PEI.

      Merry Juliana

  • r._f._09034
    r._f._09034 bob66741

    Posted

    Hi Bob. Sorry you are going through this horrible condition. Hoping this finds you feeling better. As for the shingles vaccine, age 50 is the CDC "recommended" age but like the first shingles vaccine, it may not be written in stone. Call around to your local pharmacies. I was turned down by every pharmacy and the health dept, even with us offering to pay out of pocket. We did find a privately owned pharmacy in our town that we barely even noticed before then. Pharmacy chains follow the "recommended" requirements but the privately owned pharmacies can and do give the vaccine if your doctor writes you the prescription. Good luck, friend.

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