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Shingles without the rash

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danielle999
danielle999

For about two weeks I was experiencing pain on my right side, around my rib area to under my breast bone. It was an odd pain, nothing like I've had before, it felt as though someone punched me really hard. I thought it was just a muscle strain from so much coughing as I had pneumonia, but the pain didn't go away when the cough did, the pain got worse, and it was constant and would not respond to over the counter pain meds. It got to the point I was crying from the pain. All I can describe it as if someone beat the s**t out of me and left me there, or a car ran over my side. I had no burning, no tingling, no rash. It is a scary pain.

Nonetheless I was still diagnosed with shingles, and given anti virals and pain meds. Within a week I felt a lot better, now the pain is mostly gone, thank God.

Shingles also makes you feel lightheaded, faint, weak, unwell in yourself, not right. Before I got the pain I had a few days of feeling really weak and not right and thought I was going to pass out. Funny that as I remember a day before I got Chicken Pox, years ago, I felt really off.

Terrible thing to get. Now fearing getting it again so will look into a vaccine.

Just wanted to post this in case there are any of you who are wondering if its possible to have shingles without the rash. Yes, it is. Not common, but possible. It is also possible for the band of pain to shift, rather than just stay in one place. In my case my pain started on my right side, then went to my left side, same area of my rib/breastbone.

Hope this helps some people - if this is you, go to your doctor, the anti virals really work fast and the pain meds make it bearable. Paracetamol is not enough for this. Neither is co-codamol. You need either a med that dulls the nerve endings, or an opiate

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  • jean1956
    jean1956 danielle999

    Posted

    Oh my where to start. First I'm definitely autoimmune suppressed. In the past had imugoblin(?) infusions. I have many health issues including but not limited to pulmonary fibrosis, hystosis x, mac, cml, gastroparesis... When I initially had shingles they were about the size of silver dollars located on my right shoulder blade, on my right arm and under my right arm about midway down from my shoulder. I received the anti viral and lidocaine patches and they healed with occasional mild discomfort in that area. I never had the shingles break out anywhere else. What they are now telling me is that this pain (also on the right side) lower back around kidney area (waist high) that wraps around the front of same area is some type of neuropathy related to shingles. This is a pain I have never experienced and I have had my share. It is constant pain, not throbbing, very tender to touch. I'm on heavy Meds and I'm definitely not looking to get anything stronger it would have to be in the delada(?) line and I have to function. The only test that hadn't been done is a ultrasound of my kidney. I have had ctscan, mri and multiple blood work that has not shown anything with any of my organs in that area. I don't know that an ultrasound would show anything that an MRI wouldn't

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 jean1956

      Posted

      Dear Jean,

      I had a missive, almost done, then this site erased it!

      You certainly have more than your fair share of health problems. That being said, I certainly would believe in the Herpes Zoster-Shingles diagnosis. Did the neuropathic pain start as a continuance of the shingles episode, or was there a span of time in between?

      If the pain is a burning, electric, or lancinating pain, one sided, and it hurts when you or clothing touches the skin, that is neuropathic pain and Herpes Zoster-Shingles. What also could have occurred is your could have had a recurrent episode of Zoster Sine Herpes, or Shingles Without the Rash. The patient experiences every symptom except the rash, including the severe pain on one to two dermatomes. Patients can suffer from Post Herpetic Neuropathy PHN, after the acute phase of the first month is over. I don't know the time frames of rash and pain to know for certain. I am giving you explanations of possibilities.

      Let me reply before I lose this post.

      Best wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • jean1956
      jean1956 Merry19451

      Posted

      Thank you for the reply. My rash was about 1 1/2 yrs ago. This pain I'm experiencing now has been building for about 6 months. Does anyone have experience with Lyrica. I'm told it has some nasty side affects

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 jean1956

      Posted

      Jean,

      What may have occurred then, is you had Zoster Sine Herpes in a new location, was not treated with an antiviral, then acquired Post Herpetic Neuralgia.

      Lyrica is a weight gainer, causes mood swings, and most importantly, might affect your cbc...bone marrow. I would discuss these drugs as possibilities with your oncologist, pulmonologist, gastroenterologist:

      Neurontin

      Topamax

      Lyrica

      Have you seen a neurotologist? Sometimes a pain management physician, usually an anesthesiologist, can do blocks, in which the pain nerve route is ablated. You need to go to a university setting/ medical center to find one, although I do not know where you live. I strongly suggest that route for you as you are medically fragile and the medications I mentioned would probably be ill- advised for you. Please let me know if this information helps.

      All my best

      Merry Juliana

  • patricia31615
    patricia31615 danielle999

    Posted

    Hi I got very simlarare pain aso you. I've had shingles before but rash but it wasnt many. This time I got no rash but pain from my right side going to left side. I went to my doctor Thursday she did liver pancreas test came back fine. Today I still got pain feel nausea light headed I think mI need shingles to. Going back Doctor Monday. Did you get any other symptons

  • mary19820
    mary19820 danielle999

    Posted

    I as well have the shingles symptoms without the rash. I have had it now for 4 months. My doctor put me on the anti-viral meds but so far they have not done much good. I am in pain almost constantly. The only relief I can seem to get is with cortisone cream and compete bedrest with no movement. It started on the upper part of my back between my spine and shoulder blade. The sharp stabbing pains are the worst and come and go with no warning. The burning and itching I can live with but when it feels like someone is literally stabbing you in the back with a knife, it is almost unbearable. I do not wish this on my worst enemy. Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that yes, you can have shingles without the rash. I am living proof sad

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 mary19820

      Posted

      Mary,

      I am so sorry for the agonizing pain you are experiencing. Have they given you Opioids at least for nighttime use? Have you tried

      Lyrica, Neurontin, and Amitriptyline?

      I know the burning pain, but quite agree with you, the severe shocking stabbing is unbearable and the worst of it.

      Best regards

      Merry Juliana

    • mary19820
      mary19820 Merry19451

      Posted

      Yes Merry, they have given me Gabapentin 300mg for nightime use and 100mg for daily use but it makes me dizzy and light headed so I don't take it. I have tried the others and they all make me feel out of control and not liking that I opt to just not use any of them but thank you for your kind words sometimes that helps a lot smile

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 mary19820

      Posted

      Mary,

      I have had recurrent Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every 3-5 weeks for the past 20 years, and I am aware of the many adverse effects of medications. I take Topamax, an anticonvulsant, for migraine prophylaxis, but it has helped attenuate the agonizing pain during each episode, dramatically. Some people do experience depression or mood swings, or cognitive impairment, but it actually helped my other neurological problems, ie cervical and lumbar stenosis, neuropathic foot pain, and major depressive disorder. It is a much cleaner drug as far as not causing liver and kidney damage. This is just a suggestion, as I am a Nurse Practitioner who has been helping people for over 40 years, and hate to think of your suffering if there is anything else that could work.

      Best regards

      Merry Juliana

    • mary19820
      mary19820 Merry19451

      Posted

      I don't like taking ANY medication so if I can get by without any pain killers, I will do that. If the pain gets so bad I can't stand it, I take some of the Gabapentin and go to bed for a few hours. Hopefully this nightmare will  be over soon. Thanks for your advice, I may ask my doctor about the Topamax. smile

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 mary19820

      Posted

      Mary,

      OK...I certainly understand that.

      Wishing you to heal and recover soon.

      Best wishes

      Merry Juliana

  • Momof7vn
    Momof7vn danielle999

    Posted

    Hi

    Are you my twin? I am in so much pain. Same symptoms, same side, same pain. I was given GABAPINTIN and Oxycodone 10mg. I also use Icy Hot with Lidocaine. All of the above works but wears off. It's been 2 months already and I'm still in the same pain. Thanks for sharing because I though I was goi g crazy trying to explain what I'm going through!!

    • help37205
      help37205 Momof7vn

      Posted

      Try lysine, I had the pain for about 5 months and it went away when I started taking 1000mg of L-lysine 3 times a day.

      Not sure if that's what did it but pain free and still taking it.

      Thanks for all u do Merry

    • Momof7vn
      Momof7vn help37205

      Posted

      Thank you help37205.

      I some tired of taking medicine til I think I'm immune. Is it over the counter? Let me know please.??

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