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shingles without a rash

Is it possible to be diagnosed with shingles without having an external rash?  The pain is on my left side only in a band near my waist line.  The pain is horrific - even to the touch.  All symptoms seem to be consistent with shingles but after 2 weeks of this, there is no rash.  Narcotics, vicodin and darvocet have helped some but not completely.
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Avatar universal
Absolutely! I had undiagnosed shingles for 25 years. I never broke out. I finally had a doctor do a herpes zoster test. I had shingles bilaterally in every nerve bundle at the same time. The were so severe my spine was pulled 90 degrees to the left from scar tissue, for about 28 years. My diaphragm was entrapped in my chest, the lower floating rib on my right side was pulled inside the rib cage. I had scar tissue in every place on my body. I started on this oath when I was 27. My doctors expected me to commit suicide before I was 30 because of the pain. God helped me through this difficult time. I am now 61. Pain free with the exception of some post hermetic neruragia around my right knee.

I finally have the scar tissue broken down and with the help of a medical massage therapist I am almost recovered.

Here is the good news after 20-30 cases of shingles I had ten shingles vaccine. I have been shingles free for 3 1/2 years with no medication.

Run as fasr as you can and get the vaccine. Stop the possibility of reacurrance. Live and learn to be happy.
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Avatar universal
Currently it is a self diagnosis. I mentioned it to my doctor at my initial visit and he laughed it off. I have since done some research and got more info on Zoster Sine Herpete. I called my doctor to see about a blood test an he said it doesn't work. I have a follow up visit with him tomorrow to tell him nothing has improved, if anything the tenderness and burning is worse. I am sure he'll be real helpful, NOT!!
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Avatar universal
How were you diagnosed with zoster sin herpete? Blood test? or some other lab test.
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Avatar universal
How were you diagnosed with zoster sin herpete? Blood test? or some other lab test.
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Avatar universal
Did your pain finally go away? That is the exact thing I am experiencing! Stopped taking the anti-viral because I never got a rash but the pain is just getting worse!  I would love to know if yours went away!
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Avatar universal
I know it has been a long time since you posted this, but I think I had similar symptoms and no rash.  Last fall, for about a month, I had migrating pain in my left leg.  It was terrible and doctors could not give me an explanation.  I could sleep maybe an hour even after taking a sleeping pill, and then the pain would wake me up again.  It was only in my left leg and hip and the pain was migrating, changing locations.  I have had the shingles shot, and cannot imagine what the pain would have been like if I had not had it.
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Avatar universal
I can't understand why Acyclovir is not available to you in the U.K. It is an anti-viral drug that seems to help. There seems to be no rhyme or reason why some people get the rash or not and some people have more pain than others. We know it's a reactivation of the chicken pox virus and the virus is in the nerve roots of the spine. I'm beginning to wonder if it depends on the immune system as to whether we get a rash or not, severe pain, or recurring episodes of rash and pain. I hope you can get acyclovir to see if it helps you!
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Avatar universal
   Wow!  I am so sorry that Acyclovir is not available to you.  That seems so cruel to me.  (I found it makes me sick, so I can't take it).  I take Apis Mellifica and lemon water with cayenne to help me with the pain.  So far it is helping.
     Lachesis and rhus toxicodendron are also recommended for shingles.

  I hope this information was helpful.
Wishing you the best.
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1577278 tn?1296728159
I am nearly 84 - have HAD metastatic Prostate Cancer (from 2001) and severe AF (from 2005) Got over my cancer 2009 (literally) and last year had 2 Ablations (AVnRT & AF). So I was looking forward to a new life-span ahead. Suffered with Herpes Simplex from late teens and more recently from Zoster - including recurring bouts of shingles over the last 40 years. At first I used to have a mild rash with the shingles bouts - and which lasted actively up to about 6 days (maximum) each time. Then from about 30 years ago, even the rash hasn't appeared. My Shingles tended to take second place to the more serious maladies I was enduring.   But now - at a time I was feeling better every single day since my last Ablation in August 2013 - I have been suddenly blighted with Shingles attacks where the sort of incessant 'ambushing' stabbing pains become difficult to ignore - even though I have a very high pain threshold.
However 2 weeks ago, "The Daddy" of all Shingles attacks suddenly began - seemingly within the region of my Prostate (firstly even making me wonder if there was a recurrence of my Carcinoma) but which moved, first towards the inside of my thigh and finally settling at a place on the femur region - Midway between Hip and knee.
I have tried Gabapentin and Tramadol. Co-Dydramol - as well as 800 mg Ibuprofen (always on a full stomach - due to being on Warfarin)
I have had 5 sleepless nights and completely ruined my sleep pattern.
I am still very active and deeply involved in advising and comforting fellow Cancer sufferers.
I walk a minimum of 3 miles per day and also exercise on my treatmil and Cycle/rowing machine - a further hour every day.
So, I would say that for a man of my age, I am quite fit.
Now this stupid seemingly inexplicable Shingles Syndrome has blighted me; it is even painful at some times during exercise (the soreness of the local skin/tissue/muscle area is very tender)
Acyclovir is available here in the UK - but only people of age 70 OR 79 are eligible. I have asked if I can get vaccinated privately but the Manufacturers told me this was impossible at the moment because the whole production has been directed to the NHS (National Health Service!
So my options seem to be limited and at this stage, I am trying to find out just what the Physiology of this terrible blight is made of.
I will then research the subject (Just as I did for Cancer) and hope I come up with some relief for me - and then - for whoever wants to benefit.
I will never give up!
Ernstuk777
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Avatar universal
I had severe shingles pain around my bra line on my right side only. After a few days of severe pain with no relief I started to get nauseous and vomit. I got very dehydrated and finally went to the E.R. Luckily I had a good Dr. who diagnosed me as having shingles with NO rash. I was treated with 3 liters of I.V. solution for the dehydration, acyclovir, gabapentin, and tramadol for pain. It helped a lot. A few months later I started to have the awful pain return around the right side of my waist. Still no rash. I kept on the above treatment but the post herpetic neuralgia lasted a little over a year. I am pain free and hopes that pain will never return. For some reason hot soaks in the bath helped too.
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Avatar universal
    I am so sorry that your niece is suffering in this way.  Have you tried putting oatmeal or milk in her bath.  It is quite soothing for chicken pox and possibly for shingles, too.
    Amlactin lotion comes to mind as it has healing properties that help children with several kinds of skin conditions.
     Please let us know if this helps and keep us posted on how she is doing.  Poor baby.
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Avatar universal
    Thank you so much for the info.  I am fighting Zoster sine Herpete (Shingles without the rash) right now.  Doctor prescribed Acyclovir and it made me so dizzy and nauseous that I can't take it.  
    Fortunately I do have Vit. C and Vit. B 12!  Going to take that now.  

    
  
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Avatar universal
Hello, Ive just read your post about your son's suspected shingles, posted in 2008.  I'm desperately trying to find help for my 8 year-old niece, who is currently suffering extremely similar symptoms.  In early autumn she was diagnosed with 'some form of the herpes virus, maybe shingles', and after treatment, it seemed to go away.  In November, however, she was given the flu vaccination, and since then, she has had unexplained "scratches" appearing on her body - mainly arms and legs, but also on tummy and back, now on her face - which bleedand cause her great distress.  she also is in great pain - like your son - and cant stand baths or showers.  Please, was your son ever diagnosed?  Was there some medicine that helped him?  I am certain that the flu jab has triggered the herpes virus to react in her body, but no doctors or specialists appear to know what this condition is, and no-one will help us..  I wonder if you have any advice for us?
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Avatar universal
418khz i mean
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Avatar universal
I went to a doctor, I have been diagnosed  herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and still have til now (6 months). though the blister and "excruciating pain" was gone in one week time, by  megadosing vit B-12 and vit- C. but still i can feel there are still viruses in my brain. The incompetent doctor just gave me expensive pain relievers, and just advised me to eat plenty and rest. but it's herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and a very serious disease. so had to do something and me being a reasearcher, i searched google, and found b-12 and vit-c for herpes virus.

now im trying hulda zapper for 3 days now, but still the same, i am not fully healed yet. but this zapper is 15hz and is not tuned to kill the zoster virus, which should be 418hz - according to hulda clark. I just don't know if it will work though. Though in the past i successfully treated my tuberculosis with 34khz zapper. I can really attest to that.


So for those of you that still have this virus, it will help you to megadose with b-12 (sublingual),
and vit c.

you may want to supplement with L-lysine too.

Goodluck to everyone and be well.
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Avatar universal
I have this right now.  I had the shingles vaccine in June on Fathers Day just so I wouldn't get this. Now I have the symptoms but no rash.  It's not as bad as others are explaining but it is bad enough that I don't really want clothes touching that area of my skin.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
     When I get the pain in my ear or near it I find that Gabapentin (Neurontin) helps.  It is nerve pain and it sometimes feels like neuralgia or neuritis.
    Hope this helps someone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just read your post and wanted to respond.  In October 2013 I started having back pain and extrem fatigue.  My lymph glad above my right ear started swelling. By that night I had a headache with sharp shooting pains on the right side of my hear. My ear was also hurting and had a muffled sets.....like an ear block. I took hydro codeine that I had been given when my tonsils were removed and I was able to sleep that night. The next day I went to the dr and was diagnosed with shingles .....no rash...just raised area all near my ear. I was put on steroid and valtrex 3000mg a day. One day I would feel good next day exhausted and headache for over a week. Within 2 weeks, I again came down with exact symptoms this time with one pock raised near my ear on right side of my face. There was a rash looking like it was developing but got back on steroids and antiviral valtrex at 3000mg per day. I finally got back to work...trying to make up days missed from these two shingles attack. Thanksgiving night I had a dull headache and my ear once again started getting that miuffeled congested feeling with pain shooting through it. I also has a pock pop up under my chin on right side with several raised areas near my right ear again. I immediately started valtrex and back to my family dr. Who is baffled. She sent me to ent who referred me to an infectious disease dr. They took 6 tubes of blood to check my immunity system. All came back good. As of today dec. 15 I still have not returned to work as I came down with an upper respitory infection as well. The drs do not know why I have had 3 outbreaks within 2 months. No one can give me answers or help. I will start taking 500mg of valtrex a day to see if it will keep me from getting another outbreak. I have been under stress for over a year and personally think it was more then I could handle maybe as I was feeling so overwhelmed by the time this shingles kicked in the 2nd time I asked to be given something to help with my anxiety. Started taking Zoloft and has helped tremendously. The Zoloft calmed my anxiety which felt like a constant adrinaline rush that wouldn't shut down.

I am a flight attendant and plan on returning to the air next week. Hoping my ear doesn't start again. I still am getting headaches and shooting dull pains in that ear.

Hope this helps....
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Avatar universal
I personally don't get any swelling or blistering, I simply get a field of pain similar to having a steam burn with no visible effects and no way to curb the pain.My attacks usually sneak up and I don't realize what the real cause of the pain is until the 2nd or 3rd day when it starts to peak. I can't imagine having blisters or swelling on to of it. Did the doctor say weather you would be susceptible to infection during an attack.
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Avatar universal
     Whether the vaccine helps or doesn't is the question.  At first we were told that once you get shingles you never get them again.  That was a lie.
    The shingles shot can cost anywhere from $250 to $500 depending on where you live and what is available.  it it not covered by insurance, not even by the military or Medicare nor Medicaid as we found out.
     My mother got the shingles shot but I didn't.  I have post herpetic neuralgia ( pain after shingles)  - when it gets bad I go to Urgent care and they give me Acyclovir to prevent getting the shingles again.  Usually works right away. (and it is covered by my insurance.)  
  So , there you have it.  Your decision.  

      Hope this helps you decide which way to go.
Wishing you the best.
Helpful - 0
556885 tn?1245088527
This information has been very helpful, though, saddening to hear about how painful most are when afflicted with shingles. I was told I have shingles under my eye this past Friday, but I was not in the kind of pain many have described. It started after a very stressful event with stinging pain, prickly to touch, and radiating stings, swelling soon started under my eyelid. I took Ibuprofen to sleep, but it was not excruciating. My doctor sent me right away to an ophthalmologist, and he said it could be early shingles, but my eye itself was great. He said not take the anti viral Valtrex my Internist prescribed unless another vesicles erupted. I developed a low grade fever and more swelling. My husband a dentist suggested I start the Veltrex, I started it on the third day of these symptoms and finally today after five days, the virus feeling is waning as well as the facial and eye swelling. I am perplexed if I do have a mild shingles, but caught it before it worsened. Any thoughts or insights would greatly be appreciated. I am 56 years-old. I am thinking I should get the vaccine???
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Avatar universal
  If a doctor suspects you have shingles with no rash and he gives you the anti-virus meds - take them immediately!  Don't wait to see if you will break out with the rash.  The pain is immediate - so take the meds and don't wait.
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Avatar universal
  At 25 years of age I had chicken pox, a week later after the sores healed I had burning pain over 20% of my body mostly the upper . It even hurt to have my shirt touch my skin. I worked out side in construction it was almost unbearable. I now am 49 years old I have dealt with it so long that I am now accustomed to it's frequent appearances. early on it came on aprox. 6-7 times a yr ,4-5 days at a time now I have dealing with many work injuries, and the shingles seems to attack areas that are stressed. I will also wake with an ear ache that will grow to feel like an ear infection , it will even hurt when I swallow. A day later no pain at all.this lasts about 4 days.  I have a lot of nerve pain from pinched disks, so I take a narcotic which doesn't do anything for the shingles. but my doctor prescribed me Lyrica which has stopped it completely. I had stopped taking it because I was taking to many meds and the attacks came back, now I am back on the Lyrica and it has stopped it.
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Avatar universal
   Sweetie, I am sorry that you have shingles.  It can last for a very long time or a very short time.  Sorry. We can't know how long.  It's different for every person.  It is especially sad when you see a little kid with it.... how can they tell you how badly they hurt?  
   it is so frustrating when you don't have a rash and the doctors can't diagnose you.  I was very fortunate to have doctors that recognized it before my first "pimple".  But that was so many years ago that there wasn't anything except NSAIDs they could give me.
No anti-viral meds.
     I have since been to the urgent care at least twice and because I had shingles before, they gave me Acyclovir for my pain - just in case I was getting them again.  Thankfully it worked for me.
     L-Lysine works against Herpes Simplex and does afford some relief.  And the Apis helps with the pain.  Available at a health food store.
     Hope this info helps you.
Wishing you the best outcome
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