Shingles pain
Posted , 9 users are following.
I wonder.if anyone can help me. I was diagnosed with shingles on Friday after having the worst pain ever between my spine and right shoulder blade since the Monday.Nothing was taking the pain away. Doc said shingles gave me.antiviral.800mg 5 x a day and amitriptylin 10.mg every night but can take.20 if needed. Took them friday night 20 mg as 10 mg didnt touch me. It.only took the edge.off. Yesterday which was Saturday was the worst pain ever I felt like a poker was being pushed in.my back and it was. Coming out of my chest took a same painkillers again just taking edge off. Today Sunday paid has been bearable not quite as bad as yesterday took the.20mg to go.sleep but stabbing. Pain has.woken me and I'm in agony it radiating around the.side now into my breast. I'm. Such a worrier I'm. Beginning. To.think.ive been misdiagnosed and the pain is.something much worse. Can anyone advise please sorry. It's. So . long-winded xx
0 likes, 17 replies
yvonne34003 claire90618
Posted
Hey you are ok put your faith together my doctor gave me lyrica 150 and 300 it helps me a lot because the pain sometimes make you cry but its ok I have had pain so bad I called the lord ansaid this test will past too so you will be tested with this pain just hold on I go swimming Monday Tuesday and on wensday I go cycling then go Thursday I swim on Saturday I go cycling on Sunday I rest though all of this I can lift weights again and I have been though a lot I also have systemic lupus so I have double duty so believe just work though it and when it's too bad rest and drink plenty of fluids you will be okay
claire90618 yvonne34003
Posted
Thank you for your advice. Doc changed my tabs to gabapentine today so I'm. Hoping they work for me xx
Shoe_Lady claire90618
Posted
claire90618 Shoe_Lady
Posted
It feels like a really bad stitch pain in my shoulder and boob together did urs feel.like that . Doc changed tabs today to gabapentine 100mg 3 times a day. Then after 3 days I can.double it. I've taken one this afternoon and.no change I'm. Going to take my second one now. I just cant believe that such a small.cluster of spots can cause so much pain. Thank you for your advice xx
Merry19451 claire90618
Posted
Claire,
Neurontin, or gabapentin, is not going to touch the agonizing pain of Herpes Zoster-Shingles. Is this a young physician? It can help slightly, but does nothing for excruciating pain. If this physician is not sympathetic and dies not understand the importance of pain control, I would go to your A&E, Urgent Care, in the States, and obtain Opioids. I would seriously consider switching physicians.
All my best.
Merry Juliana
jimboggs Shoe_Lady
Posted
This large mark, was it 1 mark like a mosquito... I think I have this, I dont have the traditional spots all over like a band (yet) and its been 7 days and counting
Shoe_Lady jimboggs
Posted
jimboggs Shoe_Lady
Posted
Thanks so much for the reply! They certainly do, its the weekend here so i cant see a doc anytime soon, in saying that i have the 4 spots still, not getting bigger at all, probably about a small fingernail size, 2 in armpit, 1 on shoulder, 1 on chest. I assume a buster means a puss sac? It is now day 8 I think... its hard to think of days, thats the first day I felt something was wrong. In saying that I can take an ibprofen and i feel nothing, and I can sleep through the night. I wouldnt think it was shingles if it wasnt for the sensitivity of the skin i had last week on my right scapula and lat area that I read so much about. It wasnt on fire like people say, but more like that tingly feeling I experience when you are about to get sick, I havent felt sick and went out for a 10km run the other day so thumbs up for that lol
I hope everyone is doing ok and managing their pain, I definitely still have the shoulder pain later in the day when the drugs wear off
Merry19451 claire90618
Posted
I am so sorry for your suffering. Herpes Zoster-Shingles is one of the most painful excruciating conditions known to man. My strong suggestion to you is to call your physician and tell him that you are in agonizing pain, cannot sleep or function, this is the worst pain of your life, and ask for Opioids. I have recurrent Herpes Zoster-Shingles every three to five weeks for the last 20 years in my right ear. I take oxycodone every episode and cannot survive the 3-5 days without it. That being said, I use adjunctive medications to help with the pain and start the antivirals STAT, at the first inkling of the disease. You are experiencing a disease process, so also expect to feel exhausted and fatigue with the pain and rash.
Please let me know how else I can help you. I am a nurse practitioner in the States.
Best Wishes.
Merry Juliana
claire90618 Merry19451
Posted
Thank u so much for your advice the doc has changed my.painkillers today to gabapentine so I'm. Hoping il see a difference. Your right about it being the worst pain ever I. Keep saying I'd rather go thru labour than have this pain lol xx
janbi claire90618
Posted
I'm sorry to hear you have such a bad case of shingles. Since the pain was not quite as bad yesterday, it is likely that the antiviral is beginning to work. The two times I have taken one (acyclovir), it took about 3 days to overcome the attack. At any rate, hold on to the thought that shingles does run its course and go away, and it doesn't necessarily return.
Although I have had recurrences since having the vaccine (Zostavax) several years ago, the pain and duration have been nothing like what they were the first time. That time, my doctor didn't recognize what I had, so I went through 7 weeks of it with no antiviral and no pain killer other than tylenol. I am sure my pain was nothing like as bad as yours, or I wouldn't have been able to bear it. I hope you will soon get relief.
Stress can make things worse or sometimes even just feel worse, so try to hold to good thoughts like "This is going to be over pretty soon." The best thing for your worries would be to consult your doctor again if you can.It does seem as if lung cancer or some other such frightening disease would not be acting the way your pain is, and a heart attack usually affects people on their left side, doesn't it? But put a name to your fears and ask specifically if it could be "X" or "Y". Don't be afraid to ask--nicely, but remember, it's your body and your pain, and worth bothering your doctor so you can at least have peace of mind while dealing with the pain.
claire90618 janbi
Posted
Thank you for your advice. I do have a rash only.small and since being on anti virals another small patch has appeared . I think your right about the stress I've been off. Work since Feb with anxiety and depression so I suppose that hasnt helped it xx
joyce01872 claire90618
Posted
Hi Claire,
Ditto Merry's advice and other suggestions.
Dec 2015 around Christmas my symptoms started with low back pain right side coupled with flu symptoms for several wks. On 28th or 29th of Jan 2016 I was struck with every heart attack symptom on my left side in the middle if the night...next morning I was limp and miserable with pain, discovered a rash on my chest, my immediate thought "shingles"! I could hardly get dressed, but got to Urgent Care and was given the shingles diagnosis and prescriptions for acyclovir, gabapentin, and prednisone (which I can't take it drives me up the wall!); got the acyclovir and gabapentin and naproxen filled, started them immediately..pain worsened fir several days, finally had to call for stronger pain meds the first week...primary doc prescribed Tramadol which is an opioid; it only took the edge off..I took it together with Naproxen, but I was still in pain...this lasted for one month before I got relief. I couldn't sleep or concentrate, I was a basket case; didn't want to see anybody or talk in the phone. I didn't stay in bed, but U didn't get dressed for about 6 wks. After the excruciating pain subsided, the itching intensified (rash on chest, arm, shoulder and back left side). I took oral antihistamine and used a cream. Finally after 2 months I got relief and was able to sleep, began to sleep 10-12 hrs at night or during the day. I started feeling better and would overdo activity, and every time I would come down with flu symptoms eventually cycling into almost chronic exhaustion.
Now, I'm about 5 months out from diagnosis ...I am definitely getting better, but still suffer abnormal fatigue and sporadic itching (which could be due to the intense summer heat and humidity here in the Deep South). My risk factors are immunosuppressant conditions of Graves' disease and severe environmental allergies; also vascular congestion in my legs and age, and a little hypertension (I do take small dose of medication (I am a young 78!)
Claire, I've attempted to give you my disease history hoping it will give some peace of mind.
Shingles us s horrible disease and REST is extremely important! On days you feel better,
don't overdo it until you are sure you are well.
I know I'm not well yet, but I'm improving every day.
It has been a spiritual testing to refine my faith, I'm sure if this.
I hope this helps some and that you're beginning to feel better.
Peace & Blessings,
Joyce
Ophiana68 joyce01872
Posted
Hi Joyce !
Just happened to read your message to claire90618 and am writing about my battle with Shingles.
We seemed to have sailed almost on the same boat (of Shingles). I have had Psoriasis (on many parts of my body, esp. knees, elbows, palm-tops, hips, scalp and back of my shoulder) for nearly 8 years now. And the Shingles appeared from under the psoriasis attacking the left side of my face, scalp, ear, top of my chest, shoulder and back. I'm in 8th week now, but I too have the symptoms similar to yours and trying to cope with it as you're.
It's nice for all of us sharing and learning from each others' experiences.
Kind regards.
joyce01872 Ophiana68
Posted
Hi Ophiana,
You're at the 2 month mark; that's about when my worst pain ceased. I hope you're free of that awful debilitating pain.
Did your psoriasis have anything to do with the shingles? I guess so, since psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and that places us at higher risk for shingles. I have thyroid disease (Graves) and perrenial (chronic) rhinitis (allergies), and had a really bad case of chickenpox as a child.
This weakness (fatigue), brain fog and general feeling of unwellness is really getting
to me. The weather here is terribly hot with high humidity and that definitely aggravates this condition...I've even noticed a sensitivity on my arm, shoulder and back where I had the rash.
Before I broke out and was diagnosed, my right lower back ached, and now that has returned. (Rash was on my left side). I am so ready to feel well again! I live alone and probably don't rest as much as I should, although it seems like that's all I do because I don't get much accomplished before I have to take a break and sit down in front of a fan.
I sure hope you are feeling better, free of pain and not suffering with this awful fatigue, brain fog and irritability.
It is really nice to have others to talk to who understand what you're going through. I have learned a lot on this site, it has been very helpful.
Take care of yourself and don't forget to REST!
Peace & Blessings,
Joyce