Update On Shingles and PHN

Posted , 5 users are following.

So I was diagnosed Feb. 20.  I had it on my scalp, forehead, and eyelid. I am much better now than I was (it was a really rough couple of months) but I have numbness in those areas now and my right eye is stuck to the right when it should be looking straight ahead.  

Is this numbness considered PHN and any idea when it will go away?  I am hoping my eye will go back to being normal if the numbness goes away.  I am still using a cold cloth/ice in my eye area as that is the only thing that seems to make me feel better.

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6 Replies

  • Posted

    Yogi,

    Are you saying your right eye's gaze is

    permanently fixed to the right? You cannot move your right eye to the midline or left?

    You need to see an excellent Ophthalmologist who deals with eye movement disorders.I would go to a major teaching eye hospital/medical center ASAP.

    I know you experienced severe Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN, but was unaware of this development.

    Please keep us posted.

    Best Regards.

    Merry Juliana

  • Posted

    Hi Merry,

    I can move my eye in all directions but when it is "at rest," it is to the right instead of straight ahead.  I cannot focus close up clearly as a result.  I did go to the ophthalmologist the week after I was diagnosed and the eye itself is fine, it didn't have shingles in it and the pressure was low.  I did not ask him about it sticking to the right as I had way too many seemingly severe shingles stuff happening and didn't think about this at the time nor did the doctor say anything to me about it.  This eye would previously move to the right but I could always control it.  Now I cannot control it.  I am hoping if/when the numbness goes away, the eye will return to normal.  

    • Posted

      Yogi,

      I would see an Ophthalmologist, now, who specializes in eye movement disorders.

      Let him evaluate what is going on currently with your eye!

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

  • Posted

    The numbness sounds like PHN, but it will be a while before you know. Some people have it for weeks, some for months, some for years, some for life. I got hit with ophthalmic shingles in July 2013. I had the blisters, then numbness, followed by pain and itching. I have not gotten anymore  blisters, but I do have to date a mild case of pain and itching. I also got tsosis of my left eyelid. During the day I am ok as long as I do not touch the affected part of my scalp, eyebrow and eyelid. I do feel very little pain, but more itching late at night or early in the morning. I use a cold wet towel to gently scrub my pain or itching part. I do feel much better today than when I first got the ophthalmic shingles. Perhaps with time the mild pain and itching will fade.

    Hope you are under the care of an opthalmologist who has experience in treating ophthalmic shingles and also look into the new Shingrix vaccine. Wish you the best. 

    • Posted

      Hello Hector 

      As I read you also got shingles on your scalp!  Did you get anti viral at that time?

      I got shingles on my scalp in February and after 4 months got a blister on the same place!  The burning and the itch is mild and at night it’s a little more and when I get up in the morning!  I am on the high lysine diet and don’t eat nuts nor chocolate anymore 

      I just hope by being calm and not being stress help this disease go away forever!

      Let me know if you still take anti viral ok

      Get better

      Myrna

  • Posted

    Yogi

    I guess you got shingles when I also got it on February 18

    I went to my doctor and was placed on anti viral just on the 72 hours required 

    Did you take anti viral?  I took Zovirax which I guess help with the bouts and still I have nerve pain!  After almost those four month I got a little blister on my scalp where l got it the first time in February!  But it’s mild but I do get the burning pain!

    I will go again on June 18 and speak to my doctor if I should get more anti viral or pain meds!

    I don’t know if I should get the new shingrix vaccine being I am very sensitive to most vaccines 

    Let me know if you already too anti viral in February and more after that month ok

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