aciclovir

[debs453]

original symptoms include left arm, hand and fingers, tingling, numbness, electric fairy lights,
had this for 3 weeks growing in intencity, then i had shingle spots and was given actclovir.- They were great and stopped the spots in their tracks,and also stopped the other symptoms.now 2 weeks after symptoms are returning and no more aciclovir.Dr now thinks i may have a trapped nerve and shingles was just a coincidence, is it true that to have symptoms so long befor a shingle spot appears is unlikely to be shingles alone? I am due to celebrate my 25th wedding aniversary soon in st lucia and am worried i will not be free from my torment, i go in 20 days time. A friend has a few aciclovir spare - i thought about taking this with me to help free me from these symptoms - wouild they help me?

[debs453]

Thank you for your replies
today i feel that my symtoms have eased off a bit, they are thier but a lot more tolerable, i am hoping that it will continue on that flow.
My shingle spots appeared on my left side slighlty below
and .to the left of my breast about 5 spots, the treatment prevented further spots appearing. Prior to the spots my symtoms were to do with my left arm, hands and fingers, and my left chest , but mainly left hand and fingers.(a good 3 weeks before spots appeared)
After the spots and treatment i was free from pain for a week and then gradually more and more my left arm, hand and fingers started to get a variety of symptoms again,- Fingers (feels as if been in an ice bucket all day)then lost my balance so balance is a fairly new development.GP is to refer me for a nerve test, i just thought that because the treatment took all the pain away it wouldn't hurt if i used the drug as a put me on if i needed it.Especially whilst i am away- so here's hoping that it doesn't
progress with intensity again, otherwise it looks like a cancellation may be on the cards
Thank you for your comments,

[Godofredo MD]

Hi.

Is there pain in the involved area? Postherpetic neuralgia is a known complication of shingles and can be described as localized pain in the area of involvement of shingles that persists beyond one month.

It would be best to consult a neurologist to assess whether the symptoms are, indeed, related to the episode of shingles or whether some nerve compression is causing the condition.

Drug intake without a physician's consent is inadvisable.

Good luck.

[Caliber2005]

Hi debs,
How are you feeling now?
Self-medication is harmful.
Because the virus is no longer present after the blisters dry up, the antiviral drugs used to treat shingles are not useful. There is no cure for pain. Rather, treatment focuses on relieving pain. The most commonly prescribed medications are strong pain relievers containing opioid, anticonvulsants, and a newly approved topical lidocaine patch.