Shingles without the rash

Shingles without a rash or herpies san zoster (something like that) is a possibility but with the high blood readings it sounds like polymyalgia rhumatica, or PMR for short.  I suffer with both problems.

Hi Joyce12429,

It certainly sounds like Shingles and the post herpatic neuralgia is agony as I can attest to this having suffered for 14 months in all!

The burning of the blisters couldn’t be touched by any materials whatsoever,and as the main spot for the virus was in my groin, the upshot was I couldn’t wear any knickers so had to drape a blanket over my bent up knees,making a “Tent” to relieve the agonising burning and pain.

I was eventually diagnosed 6 days later,but by then it was too late and the shingles had killed the entire nerve that is affected.

I was as fit as a fiddle up until that damn awful disease and still feel like rubbish most of the time even now.

I had a scan at the hospital but the results were inconclusive!

 

It’s a shame that the nurse said it’s a red herring but having been to hospital several times with my shingles (not known or identified at the time, even with a load of blisters down my left leg and in my groin, they too said I had a urine infection!)

I would definitely agree that this could be a really bad attack for you and I would like to know if any trauma happened before the attack took hold. Have a good hard think about the events a month or more before you felt so poorly Joyce.

Stress is a big factor with the Herpes Zoster Virus and I think most will agree that something, no matter how small could trigger an attack!

I can say that since the attack in 2011,I have lost all interest in anything,including my love of life and the make-up,smart dress etc.

I don’t think the anti Virals will work  now , but as much as you hate the medicines,I would personally ask them for the Shingles anti viral,even at this late stage!

The sensitivity is a well known factor so I think your a classic Shingles patient, which saddens me as you should have got a diagnosis with all you’ve been through and still none the wiser!

Shingles is horrendous, &have since had another bout but I instantly recognised the “Pain” and told the GP who prescribed Aciclovir without a rash apart from one tiny spot on my buttock, and I was fine very quickly.

 

I really hope you find the solution Joyce, because your presenting with everything on this horrible disease in your message.

Please ask your GP for anti virals, maybe they will still work I hope, but it’s so difficult to diagnose when no rash is visible.

My sympathy for you L you will improve J and I personally think the “Not Knowing” is making you feel so low ,which again was my problem.

I’m not a wimp either, I am tiny,63 years old but I sobbed my heart out many a time from despair and desperation.

Just try and plod on hun,and rest as much as possible but please think about trauma just before the shingles attack..I am sure that stress is the trigger.

Wishing you well xx

Hi Hoyce -- I am so sorry that you are in so much pain.  Your story is similar to mine, except my pain is in my waist on the right side and around to my belly.  It's unbearable and like you I can;t wear norma clothing because of he sensory pain, pinching, stabbing pain.  After many tests, the conclusion is that I did have shingles, but because I did not have the sores, I did not know it.  Now if have a condition called post herpatic neuralgia, which is basically the pain of shingles after the condition should be over.  This is what I've learned.  It is worse in the cold weather and the the only medication that helps is methadone with gabapentin.  Methadone is not only used for herion addicks, but also for chronic nerve pain.  I take 5 mg two or three times a day -- more int he cold months.  Mention this to your doctor -- nothing else worked and I also went to a chiropractor, neurologist, endocrinologist, Emergency Room,  Finally, my pain management doctor put me on methadone and it changed my life.  I hope this helps.  Lorraine

Hello Joyce,

This is my 2nd attempt at replying, the first message disappeared after typing about 30 lines. So I will try again.

I first suffered with a pain in my shoulders and round into the midriff. I saw the Dr several times before he arrived at a diagnosis of Shingles. My husband told him  about a rash that he saw around the separate sites.

He ordered blood tests which confirmed his diagnosis. He prescribed Lidocaine patches and ointment and I found that helped. I researched the issue online and through this forum and the contributors comments found that I may get Post Herpetic Neuralgia, in different locations. That has happened in the last year, a lot!  

Fortunately, my Dr has continued to prescribe the Lidocaine patches and ointment, although he had suggested weaning me off them. 

When I get the PHN it is normally without a rash, but is very debilitating, nevertheless. 

I hope you get resolution of your problem.

Best wishes 

Pauline

Dear Joyce,

I am so sorry you have been suffering with this severe excruciating pain for seven months.

The Inflammation Blood Test is an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate or ESR. It can be increased with a severe case of Herpes Zoster. It sounds like you had "Zoster sine herpete" or Shingles without the rash if the pain has strickly been on one side of your spinal column.

Zoster has a predromal phase of malaise, weakness, joint and muscle aches, headaches, fever, etc, that is like getting the flu. Then the severe pain starts before the rash, although you never had a rash appear. Unfortunately, you were not diagnosed with Zoster in a timely fashion, but it certainly sounds like you had it. The pain is agonizing, electrical, lancinating, excruciating, and can only be appreciated by those who have or who are suffering from the pain. The patient who does not receive the antivirals within three days of onset of pain/rash is more likely to develop post herpetic neuralgia, the severe agonal excruciating lancinating pain you are currently have. Shingles only occurs on one side of the body, however so the pain should be on the right side or the left side, n

never both (except in rare exceptions when patients are critically Ill and the disease has spread all over the body)

I will continue, but will post as I am afraid of losing this content

Merry Juliana

Firstly can I thank you all for your comprehensive replies and to Sim who asked me about trauma before the onset of the pain.  I can only think that in early December we had a problem with a relationship in the family which ended in a very sad parting.  Although it wasn't my relationship I was so distraught as it altered completely my vision of the future.  I cried for days and never left the house.  Perhaps this was the trigger for the onset of shingles?  My husband thinks I should put the BuTrans 5 microgram/hour patch on today as I have been in so much pain since visiting the Chiropractor.  He thinks it will give my body time to heal if I am not in pain?  Is anyone else using these and do you think I should cancel my bookings with the Chiropractor for tomorrow and Thursday?  Sorry to sound so indecisive and helpless but I really don't know what to do next.  Thank you again so much for all your help, it is really comforting to know that I am not alone. Xx

Sorry to do this in stages, but I lost too many "epistles" to you, yesterday.

Someone mentioned Polymyalgia rheumatica or PMR, but I doubt if you have that based on your description as the pain is neuropathic and centered on the right side near the bra.

Your physician unfortunately cannot order a blood test to check for shingles now as it would only indicate that you had chickenpox as a child, as we all had back then. The time to order a blood test would have been about 4 weeks after onset of pain, as the IGM to varicella would have been elevated.

Continuing

Again, I hope this has helped you. I think you have found a physician who believes in your pain, although you diagnosed the cause yourself. Please do use the Morphine patches, as you will feel better when the pain is controlled.

If the pain continues much longer,

there are options, such as seeing a painspecialist anesthesiologist who performs

Continuing

A pain specialist anesthesiologist who performs nerve blocks may also be able to help you a on a more permanent basis.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

We are here to help you.

Stress can play a role in Zoster outbreaks, although sometimes if one is immunocompromised with autoimmune diseases such as SLE, Psoriasis, Sjögrens Syndrome, ITP, Rheumatoid arthritis, or has taken corticosteroids, or has cancer, it can precipitate Herpes Zoster, as well.

I sincerely hope this has helped you.

Merry Juliana

Thank you so much Merry you have really helped with your very knowledgeable replies.  I have called the Chiropractor today to cancel my planned appointments.  One of the reasons I am reluctant to use the patches is because one of the side effects the manufacturer listed was severe headaches (a one in ten) chance and I didn't know if I could take any other painkiller to offset the headache.  Do you know if there is a patch available that contains the plant extract from Capiscum (I don't know if that is the right name) that I could apply instead? Thanks again for all your help with this. Xx

Thanks again for all your advice - you are a wealth of knowledge.x