Recurring bout of shingles?

Hi Dr. Rockoff,
Its me again! Sorry to trouble you, but I fear I am about to have another bout of shingles. I was dx with shingles 1 month ago  after a cold.( I am an otherwise healthy, albeit majorly stressed, female 38y/o). My initial bout was mild and followed a typical pattern, i.e 1 dermatome. After tx with Valtrex the shingles and pain disappeared. Now, I am having similar pain just above the original affected dermatome. The pain feels familiar and is unilateral. Since my original outbreak was mild, (mild pain) and Ive had no pain for 3 weeks, Im wondering if this could be PHN. Or could I possibly be coming down with them again. I know you said previously that was unlikely, but Im (obviously) a worry wart. I did just have another cold a week ago, and am more stressed than usual due to the holidays. As always, I appreciate your advice. Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Most likely, all you have is residual nerve irritation, common after shingles and lasting several weeks or a few months.  It's hard to localize that kind of pain, so the fact that it seems to be one dermatome up doesn't mean anything.  At your age, true post-herpetic neuralgia is really uncommon.  I wouldn't worry, and just ignore the pain, which should gradually subside and disappear.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff