Chris asks…
Could I have Shingles?
I suddenly experienced severe pain on one specific part of my back…left side under shoulder blade area near bra strap. It’s a stabbing and burning and aching type pain. This started 2 months ago and its not better.
Initially my doctor said it sounded like shingles and to call her if a rash develops. She also did an x-ray and blood work. I had a positive ANA test and she saw osteoarthritis so she sent me to a rhumetologist. He ruled out lupus and dx’d me with fibromyalgia.
I went for a follow up and told him that this part of my back has been numb for over a month and I’m having the same pain. He asked me if I had the chicken pox and I did as a kid. He said I could have a nerve infection. He upped my Lyrica dose.
I never had a rash though. Is there another doctor I should see or what can I do? I can’t stand this pain.
Could I have shingles without a rash and if so is there anything else the doctors can do?
admin answers:
You only describe pain i one area–THAT IS NOT FMS..definately find a new doc–a good PCP to direct you
Maria asks…
41 one years old, Doc thinks I have shingles, what do you think?
I have had severe pain beginning in my right shoulder and emanating down (what seems like a nerve) all the way to my right wrist. The pain fluctuates from about a 5 to a 9 or 10 on the pain scale. The pain has been almost constant for at least 3 weeks. The thing is, I am without work and do not have benefits, and right now do not have the funds to go to the doc again. Went to doc and he thinks it is Shingles (without any sort of rash at all) and prescribed Valtrex. I had a terrible reaction to it, palpitations and tachycardia and extreme restlessness, so forget about taking any more of those.
My wife was diagnosed with Shingles (with rash and severe pain in right arm), about 3 weeks prior to the beginning of my pain, took Valtrex, but still has some pain, but nothing like mine.
I am freaked that it is Fibromylagia or MS or Lupus or whatever, but, if it is Shingles, what are the chances that it goes away on its own without antivirals?
I know that antivirals just stop the virus from replicating and they do not in effect, “cure” the disease. I have never experienced such pain. Any suggestions?
I am pretty sure it is the same thing my wife has, it is just too much of a coincidence that she was diagnosed with Shingles, and had nearly identical pain in the same arm as me.
I have tested only negative for HIV. My wife has never been tested. When I was in my 20s, I did my fair share of pot and cocaine, and meth twice (hated it). Wife has never done anything except maybe Sake every party and New Years!
admin answers:
What’s your and your wife’s HIV status? Also, any history of drug use?
EDIT: Did you ever have chickenpox as a kid or were ever vaccinated against it? If not, then you essentially have chickenpox for the first time, which is why you got it from your wife. If not, then it becomes an even greater mystery. Why would you and wife, if both of you had it as a child suddenly develop shingles without any apparent immunosuppression. Despite not having insurance, you’re going to need a doctor for this. Go to a doctor, in one visit, tell them everything about your past medical health, any medication you’re taking, any surgeries you’ve had in the past, any immunosuppression, any drugs you’ve done, any new things that have happened in your life recently just before your wife develped shingles, etc.
Laura asks…
I was just diagnosed with Shingles, how long should I expect to be in pain?
I am 27 and have had symptoms for about a week but am very lucky and don’t have the rash. Let’s hope it stays that way. The pain is pretty moderate but constant with intermittent sharp, stabbing pains. It’s on my lower back and hip so sitting down is awful. (I get to sit in the car for 8 hours this week too!) The Dr. gave me some Famvir to help suppress it. I took my first dose last night and just took my second. The pain is noticeably better could it really be working that quickly? And if I have had it this long without the rash could I stay rash free? Also, she prescribed Darvocet for pain but since it seems to be ebbing I don’t know if I should fill it.
Any advice or experiences would be appreciated. Thanks for letting me whine.
I already have a disc herniation between my L4-L5 vertebrae that causes sciatica. This is not sciatica. I believe this kind of shingles is called something like Herpes Sine Zoster.
admin answers:
I had shingles, herpes zoster, last year. The rash and pain lasted for about three weeks. After that, my energy was drained, and I was about 5 months feeling weak. The doctor told me that it caused by the chicken pox virus. If you had chicken pox as a child, the virus stays in your system and when your immune system weakens, generally caused by stress, the virus reappears as shingles. Be gentle with yourself, take the anti-virus medicine and whatever pain medicine your doctor recommends. Free yourself from stress if you can. Good luck. It wasn’t my favorite experience. Thanks for letting me whine.;) Does shingles induce whining?
Linda asks…
Shingles….If you have had them without the blisters breaking out ..will you please give me info?
Please answer this if you have experianced this
Shigles without breaking out:
Info:
66 year old woman with COPD and emphysemia..
We belive she has Shingles..she has had them before about 6 years ago..with out break..But she has no breakout of rash this time tho the pain seems the same. She has been in pain in her back aeras and has hurt so bad she lost her breath and had to be hospitalized for 9 days /3 on a respirator.
Has been this way 6+ weeks
What are the meds you where given/how well did they work for you?
Anything you did that relived the pain? heat or cold?
any info will help..We found info that you can indeed have shingles without a breakout..after another Doctor said to just wait the pain out and see if it’s just Gall stones or she had hurt her back..
She can’t bear the pain at times and we need to do something.
Cases without know lesions are know as..Zoster Sine Herpete
admin answers:
Wow the poor lady. I hope she gets better soon and the suffering goes away.
I have never heard that you can have Shingles without a rash or blisters. I have had Shingles 3 times and every time I have either had a rash or blisters. I was prescribed Valtrex and they worked well. I was one of the fortunate people not to suffer much in the way of pain.
I found this information on a web site –
In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved a VZV vaccine (Zostavax) for use in people 60 and older who have had chickenpox. When the vaccine becomes more widely available, many older adults will for the first time have a means of preventing shingles. Researchers found that giving older adults the vaccine reduced the expected number of later cases of shingles by half. And in people who still got the disease despite immunization, the severity and complications of shingles were dramatically reduced. The shingles vaccine is only a preventive therapy and is not a treatment for those who already have shingles or postherpetic neuralgia.
Mandy asks…
ramsey hunt syndrome/shingles?
hi i am 33 female and 12 weeks ago i was very ill with fever ,shakes couldn’t move hurting all over and at the time my children had chicken pox,now too my knowledge i never had them could i have had shingles without the rash?
also i have not been well since then i have face weakness and ear pain and head pain and eye pain i am worried i may have developed ramsay hunt syndrome i have been to the doctors 5 times for this and finally getting a mri done friday but i told them all my story and keep dismissing shingles as i had no rash!i really don’t know what to do please help
admin answers:
The only way you could have shingles is if you have had chicken pox at some point in the past. Shingles is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus. If you have never had chicken pox, you can not get shingles. Your symptoms are being caused by something else. See your doctor.
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