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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Joe Homps

Carol asks…

If you had shingles, tell me your experience with it?

What are the stages of shingles, and is twitching in the fingers a sympton?

How long does it last if caught early on?

Not finding much info on the internet about it.

admin answers:

Honestly, I can’t answer your questions with certainty but I did have shingles. I was in college and the nurse, if you can call her that said i had a rash from detergent.. Which i knew was wrong. It was very painful and i could barely sleep aside from obviously being itchy. When i finally was able to get to a real doctor they knew in a second that was what it was and they gave me vicoden for the pain. Unfortunatly by the time i got to a real doctor it was on its way out.. But i would say definitly go to a DR.. It will look like splotchy bumps and it will hurt like hell- it will spread so try not to itch just like chicken pocks- I wish you better luck than i had with it.

Paul asks…

can a 16 yr old or anyone who already had chickenpox get shingles from someone w/ shingles or chickenpox?

or from someone who just now “got over” chickenpox? or from someone who does not have blisters from shingles, but still has lingering pain from just “getting over” the rash stage of shingles?

admin answers:

Yes you can. The virus that causes chicken pox can become shingles in a person who has had chicken pox when they were a child.

Jenny asks…

Can adults who’ve had chicken pox develop shingles if they come into contact with a child who has chicken pox?

My daughter is in the contageous stages of chicken pox and I’m meant to be visiting my grandparents this afternoon. They are concerned that they might catch shingles. Is this something that can actually happen?

admin answers:

The answer is NO. If you have had chicken pox as a child then you are immune to re-infection. However, you can develop shingles simply because you have had a prior infection with chicken pox as a child. The fact that you are exposed will not mean that you will get shingles, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get shingles. It would just be a very unlikely coincidence.

That is a great question by-the-way.

Also, note that people who have had chicken pox as a child can develop multiple episodes of shingles due to the dormancy of the virus in the nerves in a single dermatome. Re-infection due to re-exposure would not explain why people who get repeated episodes of shingles have the distribution within the same dermatome (look this up), because the virus does not ‘know’ to go to the same place everytime. However, a dormant virus in nerve endings explains this. Shingles can come about due to stress, among other things and is not too much unlike a dormant Herpes virus.

Donald asks…

If my only risky behavior was kissing should i stop worrying?

please help im having a panic attack. i made out 2 months ago with someone who i later found out has some behaviors that make them higher risk for hiv. i know there is a theoretical risk of passing it this way, but this is my only risk other than one other sexual experience 5 years ago with a virgin girlfriend. I know believe i have the beginning stages of shingles which is very rare in non hiv patients my age (im 22). i cant stop researching the internet and panicking i must have already spent like 20 hours online. Im to worried to get the test i cant do it i even went to the clinic but backed out. what should i do?

admin answers:

Its reallllllllllly hard to get HIV from kissing, even if you were trying to contract it.
But you really shouldnt be afraid to get the test. The only reason magic johnson is still alive is because he caught it early and started taking the meds as soon as he found out.
THEORETICALLY if you had it, the longer you waited the worse it would be for you, so you should get tested because IF you did contract it you would be doing yourself a favor by treating yourself.
Hopefully you had no open sores in your mouth and neither did they.
But still, you dont even know if they have it, so stop worrying and just get tested to put your mind at ease.

Richard asks…

yeah but shes not broke out?

it says
the time prior to healing or crusting of the blisters is the contagious stage of shingles. Once all of the blisters are crusted over, the virus can no longer be spread.
so if its not doing this she cant spread it right? thats what the website says.
shes not broke out she can feel it in her body,,the pain she get before she breaks out. and she wont break out now because she took valtrex

admin answers:

Doesn’t the commerical state that you can still spread the virus even if you have no signs of an outbreak? Valtrex only helps stop the spreading of it.

I don’t know exactly what your talking about though…

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Joe Homps

Laura asks…

I have a disability insurance policy that I pay through payroll deductions. Can they legally deny a claim?

I have been off of work ill since 11/1/2007. I have post herpetic neuralgia (nerve damage in my forehead from a shingles outbreak in 1999). I have filed a claim on this before and it was honored; now, I have filed again and the insurance co is giving me the run around. Its ok to file as many times as needed; but, their argument is that I have not seen a treating dr since my absence. I have seen my diabetes dr and he had been prescribing my meds for this but since they are questioning him, he referred me back to my specialist who can’t see me until 2/22. I treat this illness with med and I still have meds and I take it; it only makes me sleep and when I awaken sometimes the pain is still there. I take it again and sleep again. The insurance co says I should be able to work. I can’t because the pain is constant and causes me to miss work too much–my boss agrees. Is the ins co justified in denying my claim? Many meds have been tried-same results. PHS has a mine of its’ own.HELP!

admin answers:

You are being denied because you do not have a doctor’s order indicating your disability, at least not one which they will accept.

The severity of post herpetic neuralgia varies widely in those affected by it. Hence, the insurer is not going to take your word without a medical certification from a specialist.

You may have to wait until late February for such certification, and with any sort of luck, the insurer will give you ‘back pay’ from the time the disability triggered your work absence.

I know this sounds difficult for you in your situation, but please understand the number of questionable claims which such insurers receive. In order to maintain control of claims, they will, in nearly all situations, require medical certification of the condition you are claiming.

Good luck.

Mark asks…

What are some home remedies for Shingles that have worked for you?

I am a young woman who has no business having shingles, but, unfortunately, I get them several times a year (always in a small patch on my arm) and this has been going on for about 7 years.
The only thing that worked to avoid them completely was Valtrex, but it’s an expensive drug I can’t afford anymore. I use Neurontin for the pain once they go away, and it totally works.

I currently use tea tree oil to try and help the outbreaks go away faster (I think it helps). But the itching is driving me crazy and I’m tired of all the scarring it causes! I see conflicting information on different websites suggesting treatment of symptoms, so if anyone can give me some pointers on what has worked for them to alleviate the itching, I’d appreciate it very much.
Thank you!

admin answers:

I found this info at health911.com while I was looking for wart remedies for my son. It looks helpful & very informative.

Since shingles is a virus, boosting your immune system will help knock it out.

Changes to Make
Supplements
Lysine
Selenium
Vitamin A Take 25,000 I.U. Daily.
Vitamin C Take 2,000 mg twice daily.
Zinc Take 25 mg daily.

In addition to these recommended supplements, many people with shingles have low stomach acid which leads to poor digestion and nutrient absorption. This, in turn, will lead to a weakened immune system, chronic infections and other health concerns. Correcting your digestion will alleviate many of these problems. We recommend taking a digestive aid which includes hydrochloric acid. Your health food store will carry several brands.

——————————————————————————–

Remedies
Apple cider vinegar To relieve pain and discomfort apply apple cider vinegar directly from the bottle. Dab on affected areas, let dry, and repeat as often as needed. It is suggested that you apply the vinegar four times during the day and three at night if you are awake. The itching and burning will rapidly dissipate after the vinegar is applied, and the shingles will heal more quickly.

DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) Dabbing it on the affected area twice daily stops the virus’ growth by penetrating right to the center of the herpes infection. It should get rid of the stinging and rash in three days.

Vitamin B-12 Indian researchers have had great success with shingles by injecting 500 mcg of vitamin B-12, a nutrient important to nerve health, daily. Dramatic results were seen after three days, with pain relief and drying of the rash. None of the patients tested developed neuralgia. This method is more beneficial than taking supplements because the vitamins bypass the digestive system.

Vitamin C This vitamin has also successfully been used to overcome shingles. Patients were injected with 2-3 grams every 12 hours and also took a gram orally every two hours. The patients were relieved of pain quickly, with blisters drying up and disappearing within a few days.

Vitamin E As mentioned above, post-herpetic neuralgia can last for years. Remarkable results were achieved with people who had long term neuralgia when they were given 1200 to 1600 I.U. Of vitamin E daily for six months. In the study done, 75% of the patients were nearly or fully relieved of the neuralgia. Doctors have reported that using D-alpha tocopheryl acetate or succinate in the above dosages was successful when used for at least six months. These doctors also stressed the need to avoid medications and estrogens, as well as white flour, vitamin-enriched cereals, and vitamins containing inorganic iron.

Zinc Make a salve by combining a tablespoon of aloe vera juice, the contents of one 1,000 I.U. Capsule of natural vitamin E (NOT DL-alpha tocopherol) with zinc ointment, and applying it to the blisters. This will bring quick relief from the pain.

Sharon asks…

is my baby doomed for birth defects? and malformation?

i just foiund out i was preg at 9 weeks… before i knew i was preg i was given meds… doxycycline, diflucan, azithramicin, ibprofen, cephalexin, and i had gotten drunk about two times a few weeks after conception would have occurred. then i just found out i have an outbreak of shingles. on my leg. i was given all those meds to clear up an infection well they did a pelvic exam and he said he thinks i may have a lil bit of PID but he anted to wait for my test to come back… is my baby bound to have malformations and birth defects.. i already have one child with health problems that the cause is very unknown and i did nothing harmful with that pregnancy.. so i am sooo worried that all this is goin on with me will it absolutely harm my baby? they gave me and ultra sound b/c i was cramping and said it looked good, tho there is a little bleeding by the placenta where it attached, and the baby heart beat is 168 i am 9 weeks.. is that a good heart beat?

admin answers:

I looked up all those meds in a book and you should be fine. It did say that Doxycycline shouldn’t be used in pregnancy or children as it can cause permanent staining of the teeth. There are worse things in this world than grey teeth. Diflucan is only used in pregnancy when essential. Azithromycin should be used with care in pregnancy. Ibuprofen is not recommended for the third trimester but can be used with caution. And Cephalexin is a very safe antibiotic for pregnancy. I’ve used it myself many times as I’m allergic to penicillan. I hope you are feeling better and everything works out OK. 🙂
EDIT – The normal heart rate is usually between 120 and 160 but a little variance is OK. I have heard that laying down and resting a lot can help the placenta to attach, in cases of bleeding, as it provides better blood flow to the area.

Linda asks…

Got a rash that is killing me and I cant figure out what it is?

Initially my legs were quite itchy, to the point of waking up to scratching. Small pimples appear mostly on my leg area, friction definitely triggers it and maybe sweating. I noticed after playing racquetball or ice hockey it was the worst. I haven’t been playing either sport in a while. I assumed it was my hockey equipment, but I haven’t played in months.

Lately, 5 to 10 small white pimple appears on legs. If I don’t put cream on them quickly, a red mark the size of a quarter will develop and it will itch and hurt, almost like a tact is stuck in my leg. I finally noticed my right leg is more sensative due to my work badge continually bumping that part of my leg, the inseams of my pants can cause irritation to. I have been using Bacitracin lately, but at first I was just using a skin moisturizer, which helps reduce the outbreaks.

I tend to line dry most of my pants and started to suspect a “outbreak” from my washing machine. I have bleached it since, but I think it is more likely that line dried clothes are not as soft on the skin and it is more a friction issue. We use a skin sensative detergent.

I been searching the internet for rashes and pictures of rashed, really disgusting stuff out there. I am freaked out that it could be scabies, but haven’t seen any pictures that match and nobody else in the family has this issue and it has been going on for almost a year. I doesn’t look like shingles , but it can be quite painful, it was really itchy all over my legs months ago, but now it manifests itself in a few white pimples with a red mark around them, they eventually turn red though as they heal.

I also started thinking about bed bugs, mostly get it on my legs, but sometimes on my back of my neck and no pimples but slight symptoms of a rash on my face.

I have been to the doctor, they suggested a low dose of an antihistamine and OTC moisturizer, helps but does not stop the symptoms. I also have not been great a keeping moisturized

admin answers:

Hi,

You can identify the itching skin whether it is scabies rash or not. Find out more about scabies rash at

http://scabies-rash.blogspot.com

Thanks
Aina

Mandy asks…

Dentist prescribed an antiviral drug for CANKER SORES?

I am a frequent sufferer of canker sores (mouth ulcers). I always use Crest toothpaste (until now) that contains Sodium Laurel Sulphate, I have a horrible diet, have sharp teeth and anytime I cause damage to my internal mouth flesh a canker sore will appear. It could be from biting it, or my mouth rubbing against my sharp teeth, or a toothbrush slipping off and hitting a corner of my mouth. But it’s clearly a combination of bad diet and physical damage. And I generally only get one at a time. I don’t get like an “outbreak” of them at random times or anything.

Any research I have done says it is NOT viral and is NOT herpes.

But I had a really really bad one the last few days, like a constant burning pain because it was big, even had a swollen lymph node. My mom called the dentist to see if he could prescribe Aphthasol and he did not but he prescribed something else; Acyclovir.

I went to pick it up at the pharmacy and it said it was an antiviral used to treat things such as chicken pox, shingles and herpes. So I asked the pharamacist and she said canker sores are viral and I’m like umm no they’re ulcers and she flatout told me they’re caused by herpes. I didn’t feel confident in the recommendation so I got a refund.

What do you think? Were they right or wrong?

admin answers:

You are correct. Canker sores are not viral. Check here.

Http://dentistry.about.com/od/basicdentalcare/f/cankertreatment.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_3069_treat-canker-sores.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-treat-canker-sores.html

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Joe Homps

Betty asks…

is shingles contagious?

admin answers:

Yes very very contagious especially to older people and if you have shingles it’s very important to shower 2 a day to make sure it dosent spread to other parts of your body
Here is some info if you need it
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_zoster

Michael asks…

can you still travel while you have the shingles??

my friend has just been diagnosed with the shingles and we are going away in three weeks. Also is it contagious? i have already had the chicken pox?

admin answers:

It is contagious for newborns, pregnant women, people with weak immune system like people with HIV/AIDS, people who never had chickenpox before. Shingles is very painful, even if he travels, he will be in pain and never enjoy his travel. If your friend still wants to go, better bring some medicines like ibuprofen (ADVIL) for the pain, anti-histamine for the itch, anti-itch creams, wash it twice a day, Take a comfortably cool bath. Sprinkle the bath water with baking soda, uncooked oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal — a finely ground oatmeal that’s made for the bathtub

Chris asks…

should someone with shingles?

hi my grandma got shingles and i have a school party tomorrow and shes gonna cook for it
should she cook or is it contagious to the point if she cooks the kids will get it (high school if it makers a difference)
oh btw its on her leg

admin answers:

The virus that causes shingles is very contagious. She can easily spread it. The thing is, it’s the same virus that causes chicken pox. Hopefully your classmates all either had chicken pox, or got vaccinated. If so, they can’t get anything from her.

Cooking will kill the virus. However, if she puts frosting on cupcakes after they are cooked (for instance) and one of your classmates has flaky “ani-vax” parents who didn’t vaccinate them, it could make them sick. Chicken pox is much more serious if you get it when you are older, so this would be more serious for an 18 year old then a 13 year old.

Sandra asks…

shingles scar wont go away!?

i have a shingles scar on the left side of my neck and i HATE it! when my friends see it they say eww and move away like its contagious and its soooo annoying! my mother says it will go away in time but its been ages and there has been no change so is there anything to make it go away QUICKLY!
of the wood ur sooo LUCKY i have already had this god damn scar for a year >:( THANK YOU EVERY1 SO FAR
xxxx

admin answers:

Try Bio Oil-it has helped with my scars on my arms
Merry Christmas !1

Steven asks…

Should I have to skip school if I got shingles?

im not allowed to go to school because i have shingles, a minor form of chickenpox that you can only get if you have already had the chickenpox. its caused by a low immune system. the doctor says the only way its contagious is with direct contact with my rashes and people can only get it if the havnt had chickenpox before. my school wont let me go back, but i have a big week this week and i think it is unfair that i cant go. what do you think

if you want to learn more about shingles look it up on google
btw my rash is in kinda a private area… hopefully no one will be touching me their directly…

admin answers:

Haha, well rach, personally iii think its fine if u came to school 😀 and since no one’s gonna touch u there, it should b totally fine! Comeeeee, don’t wait a whole weeeeeek!

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Joe Homps

Mary asks…

How does Shingles develop?

I was diagnosed with shingles two days ago and from what I’ve heard it can be very painful. But I’m intrigued because the order of my symptoms seems a bit weird!
A week and a few days ago I noticed an itchy spot on my back next to my spine. It felt like just an acne spot but it was itchy so put it down to an insect bite. There were a number of smaller dots round about it but didn’t think much about it.
After a stressful week, I got swollen glands in my throat and felt like I was getting a bad cold. I felt generally run down. The following day I started to itch like crazy, like I had fleas or something! The spot on my back was fading and there was no rash developing. The next day I had a tingling burning sensation in the same place and round to my tummy too. My mum suggested shingles so I went to the docs that day and he confirmed it.
So I’m on my 2nd day of antiviral tablets and its 3 days since the bad itching started. Should I expect a full rash to develop? My skin still feels like it’s burning and I don’t feel 100% in myself. How long til the burning irritation stops?
I’m also only 24… pretty young to have shingles, no?

admin answers:

Shingles is caused by the same virus as chicken pox. Although shingles is most common in people over the age of 50, anyone who has had the chicken pox can develop shingles. Those with a weakened immune system such as people with HIV/AIDS, anyone with history of prolonged steroid use and individuals who are or have undergone radiation or chemotherapy are more at risk for developing the virus. Stress can and will exacerbate shingles.
Without any treatment, shingles typically will self-resolve in about three weeks. The anti-viral medication will help to shorten this period. There are medications available to alleviate the pain caused by shingles. If you do not find over the counter medications helpful, ask your doctor for something more. There are both oral and topical drugs available. The topical medications seem to bring about the best relief with the least side effects. I have found with my patients Silvadene Cream, a preparation used for burn patients, to be incredibly helpful. It works directly on nerve endings and shingles is a virus that lies in nerve tissue. Antihistamines will help you to keep from scratching the blisters.
Until your blisters completely scab over it is important that you avoid newborns, pregnant women and anyone with a weak immune system.
Feel better soon!

Sandra asks…

do i have shingles? help!?

i have a rash on my back, that looks a lot like shingles. ive had it for a week; a little itchy, but no pain. i looked up symptoms of shingles, and on every website it says that shingles is supposed to hurt really bad. Any ideas on what this could be?

any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

admin answers:

Shingles normally does hurt. Typically the rash spreads from your back to your abdomen across nerve pathways, which is why it hurts. The rash usually forms blisters on the 5th day, which fill up with clear or yellowish fluid which last for about a week. If you don’t have the blisters and pain it may not be shingles.It might be an allergy or reaction to laundry detergent .Have your doctor check it if it persists. Good luck.

Maria asks…

I was eleven weeks when I miscarried. I had no symptoms. Is that normal?

I am really confused and sad right now. A few weeks ago my partner and I went to the doctor. I was 8 wks and 6 days and we had a US and the heartbeat was a strong 184 beats. Well fast forward 2 wks, this past friday I went to the doctor because I had a rash on my side. It ended up being shingles. Well, before I was diagnosed with shingles my ob/gyn suggested a US to make sure everything was okay. It wasn’t, there was no heart beat and the baby stopped growing at 9 wks 1 day. I had a D n C that day. The baby died from natural causes. I am so confused and feel I don’t have enough answers.

admin answers:

Sometimes some babies just don’t make it. They don’t have exact causes of why they don’t, they just aren’t strong enough or aren’t growing correctly. I’m sorry this had to happen to you though.

Nancy asks…

Can Agent Orange symptoms start years after exposure?

My dad is now 60 years old. He served in the Air Force and was in Vietnam in the early 70’s. Well for the past 1 1/2 years he has been having this problem with his left leg. It started in his foot/lower calf with numbness. Then it progressed to pain…pins and needles, burning, very sensitive to the touch. It’s at the point now where he had to call 911 to go to the hospital last weekend because he literally couldn’t get off the couch. He’s on Gabapentin, steroids, antibiotics, antivirals and morphine (again). All meds he has been on for most of the past 1 1/2 years with no relief/cure.

He’s been to numerous doctors…pcp, neurologist, dermatologist, neurosurgeon…and they’ve all gave him different diagnoses. The most recent diagnoses was shingles and they think he’s had it this whole time (1 1/2 years) because of the rash. His leg gives out at any moment and he falls all the time. At work once he fell stepping out of his truck, rolling into a ditch and was covered in hot black top. His coworkers had to pull him out. He has no balance, nothing helps the pain go away and he seriously asked the doctor to cut his leg off. That’s when he started getting morphine.

Sorry it’s so long but I seriously need some help here. He’s had CT scans, MRIs, blood work, nerve tests and anything else you can possibly think of. They’ve confirmed nerve damage but cannot figure out why. Everything else comes back as he is the healthiest 60 year old alive.

Please help!
A friend of my dad’s that was in Vietnam with him is the one who mentioned it, he is very worried about him as well.

admin answers:

YES, most definitely. Has he contacted the VA? Friend of mine at church has some heart problems and they have been traced back to Agent Orange (AO was not ORANGE, but clear. It’s called that because the barrels it was stored in has/had an orange band around the upper end).

(USN retired 1965-85, in-country Viet Nam vet, 1966 & 1967)

William asks…

Please help me with this chest pain! (i know its long but please)?

Please help me with this chest pain! (i know its long but please)?
im sorry this is long but i really need help. A week ago i started feeling weak and dizzy with no energy what so ever. I then started getting pain in the centre of my chest. On tuesday this was diagnosed as costachondritis which is the inflamation of the cartilage connecting each individual rib to the sternum. all that could help this is anti inflamatories but being an asthmatic i could not get prescribed any. MY GP told me this pain would last around a monnth and all i could do was take paracetamol. On thursday the pain started spreading away from the area of the sternum, and started to resemble the pleurisy symptoms i had a few months ago, however there was no shortness of breath. By friday i was in absolute agony with constant pain on my chest with designated areas of shooting pain. I went to the walk in centre to see a diffeent GP as it was around 9pm. She carried out a number of tests and was completely stumped as to what was wrong. She mentioned shingles but i didnt have any other symptoms. She also mentioned pneumothorax however she couldnt hear any whistling and my oxygen levels were 99% and again no shortness of breath. Later friday night and now saturday morning atop of this pain it has been feeling like someone has been stabbing pins into the top of my back. Im in agony and really have no idea what to do and neither do doctors it seems. I have looked up shingles but have no other symptoms and no rash. PLEASE HELP ME!!!

by the way just incase it matters. i took paracetamol however it was doing nothing. And when i went to the walk in centre she gave me co-codamol which doesnt seem to be helping with the pain either. Also i am a 15 year old female. And i know i will need to go to the hospital again but i was just wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what is wrong?

admin answers:

I was diagnosed with costochondritis at first, but then they figured out that it is chronic myofascial pain (which is very similar to fibromyalgia). You probably have some trigger points (a trigger point is a knot in the muscle). The trigger points are most likely in your sternalis, pectoralis, or intercostal muscles – but can spread (ie. Serratus anterior) . The only way to relieve a trigger point is to put pressure on it (Use a broad tip marker on the pointy end – I like those fat sharpie’s and consider buying a THERACANE – it is a great tool for the back especially!). The external intercostal muscles are responsible for expanding your ribcage when you take a deep breath. It will hurt when you press on the trigger point at first and lots of times they refer pain (you will press on the trigger point and feel the pain else where). The pain will be felt at first but then it should gradually get less and less. You have to work out the trigger points (consider seeing a massage therapist who does myofascial release – I tried electro-acupuncture but it was NO-WHERE NEAR AS EFFECTIVE as massage therapy) also make sure you stretch your back, neck and ribcage (do a pec stretch). Remember that anything affected in the back will also be affected in the front and vice-versa. To do a pec stretch (which stretches your pectoral muscles, sternalis, and intercostals) stand in a doorway with your arms against the door frame in an “L” position (and keep your bicep at shoulder height and lean forward. You should feel a stretch in your upper chest. To stretch the neck (re: sternocledomastoid and scalenes) sit in a chair with the feet flat on the floor and arms by your side relaxed. Tilt your head to one side and hold when you feel a stretch. Then do the other way. Also for the scalene muscles in the neck tilt the head to one side while seated in the chair and then at the same time turn your head upwards to the ceiling and hold. Also make sure you sit with feet flat on the ground and your back straight and not slouched as this can lead to developing trigger points in your back & neck in the scalenes (re: neck) and in the rhomboids and trapezius in your back & other places. You should try to deep breath (Make sure it is from your diaphragm) even if you can only get a little air in and hold it as this will allow your diaphragm muscle to stretch. I suspect it might also be tight. Sometimes you will hear your bones crack and pop if your diaphragm is really tight when you stretch it – this is normal and will not hurt you. Your diaphragm is your primary breathing muscle. Rehab I found is a LONG PROCESS for this and RX muscle relaxents do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! You should consider buying the the book by Claire Davies called “The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook”. Trigger points can also create sattelite trigger points (i.e. In your abdominal muscles which can sometimes give you bladder urges – you feel like you got to go but you actually don’t). Use heat on the affected area to increase the blood flow – you only want to use ice immediately after an injury for swelling. At this stage you want heat (and I find heat much more soothing and helpful myself).

Good luck to you. I got my diagnosis from a Thoracic Surgeon, but you can also see a Rheumatologist.

I also want to note that I went for a pulmonary function test and my family doc told me I had asthma. HOWEVER, he did not know my specialist got a copy of the test results and he said my test was “normal” – so I don’t have asthma! Apparently ALOT of family practice MDs have never heard of Chronic Myofascial pain and do not know about trigger points (mine didn’t).

It took a year for me to be able to yawn through my nose (in though the nose and out through the mouth) – I still cannot yawn with my mouth cause of my trigger points and diaphragm tightness.

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Joe Homps

John asks…

What makes a poem proper?

I etched me marks on an old shingle
with the scribing tool Grandad used
to cut out a Tory’s eye,
I writes good poetry and true with that one.

I scrapes the words angularly,
making Alpha Alfalfa…
Zed Dread.

I fences them off on the posts right here,
so them diseased locusts can swarm it,
and do the plaguing chew they’re born to.
I’ll be the judge of cool, fool.

admin answers:

Hehe i like that poem , i guess what i find interesting about a poem if it has like a meaning to it, like a story.
I guess you can make a poem however you want it to be!
If you have any others then put them on 🙂
Good Luck xxx

Sharon asks…

Almost two weeks late of menstration? antibiotics?

Hi, im worried bout my gf who ive been together with for 2 years. she’s late almost 2 weeks already, but before that she had a sickness called shingles which is a skin disease, and was treated with several antibiotics and medicines. Me and my gf been doing it without condom for 2 years already and been always doing with withdrawals and it was always safe, although sometime she would be irregular for few days till a week. So im just wondering does the antibiotics or her sickness affects her menstruation that long?

admin answers:

The pull out method I thought worked as well I now have 2 children and 1 on the way. Sorry doesnt work. Yes taking antibiotics can mess up your period and cause you to either skip it or to bleed heavier. You can call the pharmasist and let them know what she was taking and what the effects are. If you were really that worried about her getting pregnant then I guess that you would use a condom!

Mandy asks…

The left side of my face is numb (it doesn’t droop). It has been for 2 weeks now. What could it be?

I still have full muscle control. My doctor gave me medicine for shingles and Bell’s palsy. Also, I tested negative for lyme disease. I go to a neuroligist on Tuesday…..

admin answers:

Take it very seriously, particularly the trip to the neurologist. If your life is stressful, or you are working long hours, get migranes?, smoke alot?, change your life work load and life style.. Saying you can’t isn’t an answer here… Don’t ask me why I am saying this to you. I hope all will be ok for you, apologies if this answer worries you a bit, but give this some serious thought. Hope the neuro gives you the all clear.

William asks…

Does short term disability cover pregnancy when I am unable to perform my job?

I work in healthcare and am required to lift upwards of 75 lbs on a daily basis (not every day but I work in home health so I have no one around to assist me usually). I am 6 wks pregnant now so I don’t have my first OB appt for 2 wks and have not told my boss yet. I don’t know what weight restrictions my OB will put me on and when, but I know she is not going to permit me to lift a 200 lb patient off a bed when I am 8 months along! I have short term disability benefits thru work. My job is not one where I can make it thru 9 months pregnant. It involves a lot of lifting and carrying heavy bags (as well as possible exposure to diseases like shingles). Will STD cover the time after my OB puts me on weight restrictions?

admin answers:

You need to tell your boss not that you our pregnant
and he should put you onto light work he cant fire you
as you have a right to start a family at anytime

Hope this helps xx

Richard asks…

parasites in goodwill clothing. please read if you shop there.?

I ussually shop at goodwill for my work clothes, looking for a deal. Instead it cost me $177.00 for my medication, and I have not yet recieved my doctor bill. I caught a parasite trying on goodwill clothing. When I called the GOODWILL they told me they are not athorized to wash thier clothing. It is not thier policy. Clothing can be another way to transfer scabies. Also lice and crab eggs can live for 1 week w/ out touching a human being. Click here: Shingles (herpes zoster). DermNet NZ , (copy paste in new window) shingles is another transferable and deathly disease. It is not thier policy to pass this information on to you either. Right now I have the Health Department in Brunswick OH looking into this matter.
Please do not try on thier clothing or let children, if u choose to buy from them still.leave the tag on and WASH IN HOT WATER. If the clothes dont fit then return. remember to keep your reciept.
I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE CAPITALIZED THAT I TRIED THE CLOTHING ON, LIKE I STATED.
THEY DO NOT WASH THIER CLOTHING, CALL THEM AND ASK THEM THEY R NOT REQUIRED TO, R U NOT READING EVERYTHING I WROTE?
THIS FREAK ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO U OR YOUR CHILD, IF U HAVE ANY.
lol, medicine for crabs or head lice does not cost$177.00 dollars. so if thats what u had to pay to get rid of yours, thats just down rite nasty.
THIS IS FOR MISS LADY, JUST BECAUSE I ANSWERED YOUR ? BOUT YOUR SKANKY PUS*Y N U DIDNT LIKE MY ANSWER, U TRACK ME DOWN TO DEGRADE ME, BOY U R A SKANK AMOUNGST OTHER THINGS, BUY A DOUCH.

admin answers:

Although this has never happened to me I understand that the possibility does exist and it is gross and scary. Always wash your used clothes before wearing them. In the future just don’t try jeans on and you should be fine (if you know your shirt,sweater size you don’t need to try them on) so you’re safe. Wash them all as soon as you get them home though. (Yukky) Hope this never happens again to you and thanks for trying to spare others. Ignore those who were rude-you’re only trying to help and that was thoughtful. Yes, everyone what this woman is saying is true!!!! However, you can also pick these disgusting things up and carry them home from many public places (buses, hotels, etc). Bed bugs are making a huge come back these days and they are in 5 star hotels as well.

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Joe Homps

Sandra asks…

Does lees feed in Shingle Springs Buy baby hamsters?

I want to breed my hamster and i wanted to know if lees feed would buy the baby hams from me.

admin answers:

Call and talk to the workers there. Worst they can say is no

Nancy asks…

I’m afraid I’m 5 months pregnant and I am infected with shingles does it affect my baby?

admin answers:

Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) and chicken pox (also known as varicella) are both caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). If you develop a VZV infection during pregnancy, it may pose some risk to your unborn child. This, of course, depends on your stage of pregnancy.

If you develop chicken pox before you are 30 weeks pregnant, your baby may be born with a birth defect. However, these cases are rare and experts differ in their opinions about how great the risk is.

Most experts agree that developing shingles during pregnancy is even less likely to harm your unborn child.

See your doctor!

Lisa asks…

I have shingles and I am pregnant…?

I am 5 weeks pregnant now, and today I just found out that I have the shingles! They gave me the choice to take pills for it or not, because the pills might have side effects on the baby, so I did not take the medication… Now, because I have shingles, will that do anything to my baby?!

Has anyone had shingles while pregnant?

admin answers:

Shingles is caused by the herpes zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It appears as a painful rash of tiny blisters, usually on the arms, legs or body.

You can’t “catch” shingles from anyone else; it is already in your body from when you had chickenpox. The virus tends to lay dormant for a number of years, but can reactivate and manifest itself as the painful shingles rash.

Whilst there is a close connection between shingles and chickenpox, there is no evidence to suggest that shingles in pregnancy will lead to any problems with your baby. This is probably because you already have immunity to the virus, and this immunity is passed on to your baby.

While shingles is harmless in pregnancy, chickenpox can cause problems. A small percentage of babies whose mothers catch chickenpox when they are pregnant have birth defects.

Although you cannot give anybody shingles, it is possible to pass the virus on as chickenpox. For this reason, you should avoid other pregnant women if you are suffering from shingles. It’s best to wait until the lesions on your skin have healed up before you make contact, particularly if the rash is on a part of your body that is not covered by clothes.

Your doctor will be able to discuss which treatment can help to relieve your symptoms with you. You may find that the treatment you are considering is not licensed for use during pregnancy, so you may want to talk this through, and think about whether the benefits outweigh any possible risks.

Chris asks…

I’m 6 weeks pregnant and I’ve got shingles, will it affect my unborn baby?And how?

admin answers:

Although shingles and pregnancy happening at the same time is not a frequent occurrence, some pregnant women have been known to have chicken pox. It is actually possible to recover from chicken pox while pregnant. It is also possible to deliver a normal baby even if the mother has been sick with chicken pox. There have been cases however when chicken pox can result in health complications for both the mother and the baby. Pregnant women who are sick with chicken pox may develop pneumonia or encephalitis. Babies too may be born with some abnormalities. Chicken pox during pregnancy is therefore dangerous.

What You Should Do
The effects of the chicken pox virus on an unborn child may be most critical if a pregnant woman is within 3-5 months pregnant. Depending on the severity of your illness and the term of your pregnancy, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication or medicines that can suppress the virus.

For more information on pregnancy visit my free websites the addresses of which can be easily obtained from my profile
one is listed here for your ease
http://birthdefectcauses.blogspot.com
http://pregnancyguidelines.blogspot.com
for the most useful one you have to go to the profile

Donna asks…

how long you have to stay away from ur new born if you had shingles 6 weeks before the baby is born?

i am 34 weeks pregnant.my husband has got shingles 2 wks back.rightnow he is in Uk and i am in india.but he is coming in 3 weeks.Although his rashes have already dried up ,We are schared that the baby may contaract the infection from him .I also had chickenpox few years ago.my baby may be deliverd at week 38.Plz give me some help.how long should i have to stay away from my husband and is there any chance that our baby can contaract the infection.?

admin answers:

Chicken pox are NOT FUN. I have had them three times. The last time was about 3 years ago. I was working in a daycare with infancts and lo and behold… I got em.

Once the scabs have healed and crusted over and healed you are no longer in danger of passing the virus to another person. I was off work for about 2 weeks when the doctor gave me the OK to go back.

Once you have them, you can spread them for up to 13 days. It can be spread if you touch the fluid from the chickenpox blisters, or the saliva of a person who has chickenpox. The virus can get into your nose or mouth and make you sick.

It is safe to say, that when he does come home in 3 weeks… You all will be safe. So go ahead and give him a hug and kiss!

Happy pregnancy!

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Joe Homps

Steven asks…

Shingles and stress?

What are some good ways to deal with stress? I get so stressed out I break out with shingles all over my chest, arms, and hands. They’re extremely painful!

admin answers:

A shingles outbreak can be serious. I would be hesitant to ascribe the outbreaks to stress. You may have an underlying medical condition (and a fairly serious one) that is associated with multiple outbreaks of shingles.

You should see a Physician. Stress by itself should not be enough to cause shingles, which is caused by the chicken pox virus.

Helen asks…

Does stress cause shingles?

I have the shingles now and am wondering why I have them!!!

admin answers:

Hi Sloopy88; Yes, stress is a contirbuting factor, as well as, poor sleeping habits, like Insomnia. Basically these things irritate the virus (from the Chicken Pox variety) and cause the Shingles. I had them once, and the only thing more painful would be, to be caught on fire.
Cheers!

Maria asks…

depression + mental health problems? will my depression play my nerves and cause shingles? (just had chic pox)?

i’m 13, and i’ve been depressed since july 2009. It was over a huge guilt trip that i had been going through for years, i paniced and eventually told my mum. Then i felt guilty about everything i could think of that was bad, that i had done. My worries and anxiety’s got worse, and so my mum took me to the doctors knowing i had depression, and he got me a councellor. But it would take 6 months for me to be able to go to the councellor. In the end i turned her down because i felt better, but it got worse, and my worries got more complex, like am i being possessed. I had another one, i worried if this world and everything i see real? or just an illusion or simulation, it went away, but now it’s come back. When i worry about this, i feel like i’m physically in a bubble, i go light headed and everything just goes weird, as if it’s fake and not really there. It’s scary, because it’s hard to escape the worry. I also worry when i look in the mirror sometimes, i can’t get my head around that it’s me, that body that’s being controlled, even me that’s thinking? is it actually me that’s thinking, it’s hard to understand without knowing what i’m going through.

at the moment, i just can’t believe the world is real, it’s literally too good to be true. How can there be people exactly the same, why is anything existing, it’s pointless to exist. Everything i think of i sometimes think, well it’s not real anyway, so i may aswell stop thinking about it, i’ve totally tricked myself into thinking nothing is real, like it’s all in my head, but what head? like it’s just an illusion.
It’s ruining my life, what can i do? please help

My mind can just not be controlled, i feel insane, i wake up in the morning and i just can’t think to myself “my mind is clear” i begin feeling empty and just not happy, my worries stop me feeling good about the world and a new day. I have negative attitude, my mum goes to work, and it’s just me and my two older brothers, i should feel free and cosey that i’m still in bed, but i don’t.
I feel as though my mind can think anything, i feel like everything is just too overpowering. On fifa (xbox game) in the middle of a match i start forcing myself to explaining things, like if something happens, i force myself to think in my head how would i explain that, for example:
a keeper makes a save… i think to myself, i have to explain how that effected the game in my head, so i’ll think “well the keeper struggled to get to it, but he got there in the end, and if he didn’t get to it, that ball would of gone in” << it bugs me if i don't do it, it can be things that are hard to explain, and i’ll force myself to do it, if i don’t i just feel empty and annoyed (a tiny bit).

I hate who i am, i just feel as though my mind is free, it’s not normal and relaxed like everyones else is, i feel guilty about bad things i do and think, i feel as though i need to tell somebody, i panic, i wake up in the morning still with a guilt trip about something, eventually i just calm myself down by telling myself it’s not even that bad.

every day i just go round in circles, i’ll get better soon, is what i tell myself, but then i don’t, then the next day is the same, when will it stop, i just can’t tell anyone? please help

will this cause shingles with stress? i’m not stressed, but would i get shingles with the depression and mental health problems?

admin answers:

OK some basics here to start –

No you will not get shingles because you are mentally stressed (although mental stress does make us less resistent to things) Shingles infects adults who have had chicken pox earlier and they meet some one with chicken pox and the second time around it appears as shingles. Definitely not anything to worry about right now on top of what you have now.

At 13 with hormones going mad it’s not unusual to start to worry and panic and the whole meaning of life thing is debated to the ground by every one at some stage. Some worry more about this than others and some don’t totally grow out of it. That is at odds with your thoughts that the world is too good to be true. Crumbs look at all the bad stuff going on in the world it’s definitely not good.

Feeling like you are going mad or insane, or are already there, usually means that you are not! Try not to worry about going off the deep end it will probably not happen with any luck.

These feelings of depersonalisation or maybe derealisation are relatively common at this age but they be related to disorders like anxiety or panic attack and there is a separate disorder called depersonalisation disorder in it’s own right. If it gets worse or carries on longterm or gets much more acute it would be good to start treating it. Learning bio feedback or de-stressing techniques would help as will meditation or yoga. Other sorts of exercise will help burn off worry and fear, we were born to produce adrenalin when we are scared and that provokes the fight or flight syndrome with racing heart, sweating and in some cases loss of control of the bowels and bladder and even vomiting. These were designed to help us be as light and fast as possible to run away or to be as strong as possible to fight the predator. Adrenalin is what helped a mum to lift a car off her child when it was run over! A feat normally impossible for a young lady.

It sounds as if you are a high state of anxiety all the time from morning to night and anxiety can be one of the symptoms of depression, they often go hand in hand. Feeling guilty is another symptom of depression.

What was that about being possessed and being in control of your body? Was there any specific reason for you to fear that? Did anything actually happen or is it a fear that it may happen?

I’m sorry that you had to wait 6 months to see a counsellor, it’s a service that is heavily over subscribed and under funded and too many people could do with it. Even if you reached the 6 months wait the chances are it will be 6 sessions, or if you are considered bad enough maybe 12. Still I think you should get back on the list (or ask if you can skip it since you already waited 6 months the first time)

Would it help to share more here about what things you feel guilty about?

You seem to be working yourself up into a terrible panic about all this which is going to make you feel adrenalin rushes all the time instead of the odd time here and there when we all get scared.

The obsessive thoughts may turn into OCD at some stage if this isn’t dealt with.

I really do think that a suitable counsellor could help you through all this a bit at a time and teach you how to be calm and not panic. I hope that you can get the help you need soon.

Chris asks…

i want my g.e.d. and im only 16 school is just so much stress and i have so many questions?

okay so i want to get my g.e.d. and be done with school its really stressing me out im only 16 i have got the shingles over stress and problems that i am having..
im not the type of person that like to drop out or quit anything but school is just to much with everything i have going on right now so my question is.

could i not drop out of school and go take the g.e.d test and pass it and then quit school?

or would i have to be a drop out to get my g.e.d.
can you get your g.e.d. before you quit school?

admin answers:

It depends on what state you live in. In most states you need to be 18 or have dropped out for over a year.

Mark asks…

Does severe stress and fear make a person break out in shingles?

admin answers:

Yes this can happen when body under stress the shingles virus had been laying dormant in body stress reduces your immune system giving the shingles virus opportunity to erupt

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Joe Homps

Lizzie asks…

What is the best treatment for Shingles?

How did I get Shingles? or why?

admin answers:

As the previous poster had said no one knows why. But you can help ease the pain with fresh bee royal jelly it will sooth the nerve endings and help your nerves to relax. There are two companies that offer the freshest and purest on the market. They are beealive.com and beeroyalproducts.com. Most other companies only offer freeze dried or they have “watered down” the product. I prefer bee royal because bee alive pushes their religious beliefs on their customers.

Ken asks…

What is the best treatment for shingles?

admin answers:

I had the shingles once and i bathed in aveeno,It helped

Sandra asks…

Who can assist with Shingle treatment?

My dad had an amputation and is not very mobile, he sits quite a lot. Eats, sits, sleeps.
He has now developed a rash type of thing between his legs I’m not sure if its shingles, but he asked me to research shingles for him.
Does anyone know of or experienced anyone who might have or had a similar situation and what would the treatment be.

admin answers:

Shingles are actually irritation of the nerve endings – and along with a raised rash, cause severe “painful” itching. It is caused by the same virus that causes Chicken Pox. Between the legs is not a normal sight for shingles to break out.
Shingles need to be treated by a Dr. –
If we had a little more info about the rash – it would help – but you may be looking at heat or contact dermatitis.
With your father’s medial conditions – I’d consult his Dr.

Donald asks…

Does anyone know of any natural treatment for shingles?

admin answers:

Hi Gwen

Here are some ideas that will heal the issue.

Cause
Shingles can be due to chicken pox (in children), pleurisy, Bell`s palsy, herpes simplex, appendicitis, colic, gallstones, colitis, trigeminal neuralgia, or contact dermatitis. All of these conditions must be screened for and, if present, properly treated to provide lasting relief from shingles.

Caution: Shingles eruptions that last longer than two weeks can be a sign of underlying immune problems or cancer (particularly Hodgkin`s disease), and therefore require immediate medical attention.

——————————————————————————–

Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: Massage the essential oils of lemon, geranium, bergamot, eucalyptus, tea tree, lavender, or chamomile along the affected area.

Diet: Eat an organic, whole foods diet that emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables and minimizes carbohydrates (avoiding refined carbohydrates and sugars altogether).

Flower Essences: Crab Apple.

Herbs: Combine equal parts of oat straw, St. John`s wort, and skullcap tinctures and take one teaspoon of this mixture four times a day. Peppermint oil applied topically can also help reduce pain, unless the skin is excessively dry, in which case it is contraindicated.

Homeopathy: Useful homeopathic remedies include Arsen alb., Rhus tox., Sepia, Natrum mur., Hepar sulph., Caladium, and Acidum nit.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. We suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments. Please seek the advice of your alternative health care practitioner before undergoing these procedures to make sure they are appropriate for you.
*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.

Juice Therapy: Drink carrot and celery juice with one tablespoon of parsley juice once or twice each day.

Nutritional Supplementation: At the first sign of outbreak, apply zinc oxide along the path of the affected nerve area two to three times daily. Other helpful nutrients include L-lysine, vitamin B-complex, vitamin B12, BHT, calcium, and high doses of vitamin C plus bioflavonoids. Topical application of vitamin E can also be helpful. Snake vaccine made from venom has also been known to take away the pain of shingles.

Topical Treatment: Apply apple cider vinegar to the affected area.

Alternative Professional Care
If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following professional care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating shingles: Acupuncture, Biofeedback Training, Detoxification Therapy, Energy Medicine (Light Beam Generator, Ondamed, TENS), Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Neural Therapy, Orthomolecular Medicine (Vitamin B12 injections combined with adenosine monophosphate), Oxygen Therapy (Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy, Ozone), and Reflexology.

Best of health to you

Maria asks…

On my roof there are many shingles cracked by multiple cracks. Is there a treatment to this problem?

admin answers:

The problem occures when the shakes dry out. Keep them oiled.a garden spayer and wood shigle oil. Don’t fall of the roof!

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Joe Homps

Mark asks…

I have a relative with chronic shingles and the pain. Do you know anyone who has something similar?

What did he or she do to deal with the pain and find relief?

admin answers:

It’s very difficult. She is actually going to a pain specialist tomorrow & say she needs some meds because the meds she is currently taking do not hold her over.

Your relative might start with an evaluation with a neurologist if they haven’t already.

Postherpetic neuralgia is often treated with pain medication, antidepressants & anti-convulsants which can be helpful in neurological pain syndromes.

Google: may clinic>>diseases>>shingles

Mary asks…

Shingles (the medical condition) – what can be done for the pain?

My husband was recently diagnosed with Shingles. It’s very painful for him and he does not want to take the Morphine for the pain, and Motrin only helps to a certain extent. He only feels some pain relief when he sits in a hot shower.

Has anyone ever had shingles? What are some alternatives that he could do to alleviate pain?

admin answers:

I have a friend that uses Lyrica. Check out these links for other info on post shingles nerve pain. Capsaisin cream my be the answer.

Mandy asks…

Any non-prescription remedies for shingles pain (without breakout)?

My friend has just been diagnosed with shingles – although he doesn’t have any of the sores that are typically associated with it, his went straight to the pain that follows the path of the nerves AFTER the breakout. He is in agony – none of the prescription medications are providing relief. Does anyone have any ideas?

admin answers:

Hi, I have the greatest sympathy being a sufferer myself. These are the things that help me…
Ice – leaving it on until the area is completely numb
Glucosamine Rapid cream (the one with Capsaicin in its ingredients as that’s what gives the relief)
Mentholatum Ice Gel – keep in fridge
TENS machine – a new discovery for me and one that seems to work

All are drug-free and better than any prescription – Neurontin helped the pain a bit, but only because it completely knocked me out! Good luck to your friend and try to stay stress free 🙂

Joseph asks…

can anyone offer any advice on post traumatic pain after a bout of shingles?

My friend is in constant unbearable pain and can get no relief and the doctor says this could go on fo 12 months

admin answers:

Painkillers – prescription strength and if that doesn’t work some epilepsy medicine. She really needs to talk to her doctor.

Sharon asks…

Shingles- pain in back, but rash on stomach.?

Hi, just wondering if anyone who has had shingles experience the following:

Before the rash, my lower back was extremly painful, I had actually gone to the doctors and we were going to do xrays and I went to a chiropractor, which gave a little relief. Then, I developed the rash on my left side of my stomach. I went to emerg and they said it was shingles. After taking the medication for 1 week now, the rash is almost gone (but still painful to touch).
I am not experiencing any pain where the rash is, but still having a really sore lower back pain. Does anyone know if this is common (to have the rash in one area, but the pain in another)?

Thanks.

admin answers:

I worked for a Dermatologist for eight years. We saw a lot of people with shingles.

Shingles is an actual infection (viral) of the nerve. It destroys the protective lining around the nerve. Until that protective lining and the nerve itself regenerate, the patient has pain.

Pain management for people post shingles can be a very serrious problem. It can actually take years for the nerve, and it’s lining to regenerate.

It sounds like you had the most common type of outbreak of shingles. That’s where the viral infection of shingles follows a nerve from the middle of your spine, which wraps around your body, to the front of your stomach area. You are fortunate, if it did not cause the blisters all the way around.

Because it sounds like you got on the medications early, you were able to minimize some of the damage.

I’m sorry to tell you that it’s just a matter of waiting for everything to regerate. Nerves and their lining heal very slowly.

Do be sure to talk to your doctor about proper pain managment. Sometimes doctors do not take shingles pain management serriously enough. In our office we did. Over the years, we had two patients (who had other mental issues) commit suicide, because of the ongoing pain from the shingles long after the blisters healed.

Most patients had pain for 2-3 months, which got better day by day, after contracting shingles. Some rare patients still had pain several years afterwards.

It is because you got on the medication early that you have the blisters in one area, but pain in the other. You actually minimized the virus and the damage from it.

Best of luck to you, and be sure to talk to your doctor.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years
Worked in the medical field over 15 years

P.S. To correct BCheeky2, shingles are what happen if you contract chicken pox a second time, however shingles are not chicken pox. Shingles are not suppose to be contageous to other people, unlike chicken pox. That is what all the medical books state. However that is debatable. We had 5 older women who all worked as together as receptionist in a closed in glass cubical, who came down with shingles one after the other.

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Your Questions About Shingles

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Joe Homps

William asks…

I think my dad may have contracted shingles from my son who has chicken pox. What are the symptoms?

Inparticular, the early stage symptoms. I am aware of the latter ones, but what is the first sign? He has a very red and inflamed throat. Thanks…x

admin answers:

Shingles is a VERY painful disease. I suffered it about two years ago (At the young age of 18! Look at that.)

I did not have any physical symptoms except for severe, agonizing shooting pains underneath the skin. They would move like waves and come and go. My skin was supremely sensitive to the touch, making showering excruciating.

I wish your father luck — No one should have to suffer shingles. It’s supremely painful and takes a long time to heal.

David asks…

Shingles-Can you have shingles without the actual rash?

I have all the symptoms of shingles-Stiff neck, burning/sensative skin,My nerves have tingeling sensations and even numbness, sudden drynesss of the mouth and extreme dry eyes, I also get a strange metal taste in my mouth
but I usually only get a small lesion that resembles a pimple (it hurts like hell and will have clear yellowish fluid) then it goes away. When I resrearch shingles it seems that people get huge rashes. Any advice?

admin answers:

Go to the doctor. Yes this can be chicken pox or some other herpes virus.

Robert asks…

what are the symptoms of shingles?

admin answers:

Pain and a red rash

Betty asks…

symptoms of shingles?

shingles rash

admin answers:

Sorry to hear . I’ve read that shingles only affect a small section of one part of your body. You could experience pain tingling and burning . A few days later a red rash begins with fluid filled blisters that burst and crust over. This is also very itchy . Some people experience fever and chills and a general achy feeling. Headaches are common along with fatigue. Some people experience shingles pain and never even get the rash .

Jenny asks…

anyone help? symptoms of shingles?

lumpy spot thing came up on my neck earlier thought at first was midgie bite but bigger than that hurts my friend said it might be shingles didnt think anything of it until bit later when i realized i got one on my arm yesterday and one on palm of my hand same but not as big as one on neck!
squeezed the one on my neck just bled wish i hadnt it really hurts now!

admin answers:

They usually form like small blisters and can have a yellow head on them,you can only get them if you had chicken pox already ,it is very painfull .you could check out nhs direct it will answer your question better but you should see your gp for pain relief and possibly anti depresants to surpress the pain receptors in your brain.you tend to get them in clumps aswell vaseline will cool the pain a bit dont burst them!

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