Lower Back Pain

[Per123]

I have dull pain in lower right side and back
A month ago I had shingles in the lower right. back and side,  that healed in about a week. Nerve end pain in the lower back has been a problem since healing of the shingles and was treated with 25 mg Lyrica. With gradually less pain from the nerve ends, I now experience the dull pain inside the right side and back.  I am slightly constipated but manageable.
Your comments to my condition would be appreciated

[Tuckamore]

Hi Per,

Welcome to MedHelp's Pain Management Forum. I am sorry to hear that your pain continues. We can relate..... and you are not alone.

It's estimated 1 million Americans will develop herpes zoster 1 which is a painful viral infection that we more commonly known as Shingles. It's the same virus that causes Chickenpox. So if you've ever had Chickenpox the varicella-zoster virus can be lurking in your bloodstream until something triggers it to reoccur in the painful form of Shingles.

Would you describe you pain as sometimes being a burning, aching, itching and does it ever become sharp? If so you may be suffering from PHN.

As Sherry indicated and unfortunately the pain from Shingles often doesn't go away overnight and sometimes can last for months or longer. This pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). In order to understand it you have to understand why you have pain with the Shingles Virus. Shingles is a painful inflammation of the nerve ganglia. Once the initial rash and pain has subsided the nerve(s) can remain inflamed, irritated or damaged and this the pain continues as a neuralgia.

It's painful and difficult to treat. The pain can fairly tolerable with a dull ache or suddenly it can become acute with hot burning, itching, or shooting pain. I cannot diagnose you... only your physician can do so. Please return to him/her and mention PHN. See what his thoughts are and ask for treatment. The sooner it's treated the better.

You may have something entirely different going on ... but when ever I hear Shingles I think of PHN. I hope you will let us know how you are doing. I'll look forward to your updates.

They say the pain of Shingles or PHN can be excruciating and my heart goes out to you. Did you know it was the only thing besides heart by pass that caused David Letterman to miss any time from his nightly show. Interestingly he was out for the same period.  

Take Care and Please keep in touch,
~Tuck

[namnam46]

Hi Per123,

First, I want to welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know that we are glad you found this Forum. I want to let you know that there are NO Doctors on this Forum, only CP  {Chronic Pain}  Patients that help each other with our OWN expertise and experiences that we have developed through our OWN CP Issues.

I'm sorry to hear that you are having this continuing problem with pain in your lower right back and side.  You have a pretty good chance that this is all a continuation of what you have been experiencing. Once you have nerve pain, it can be REALLY difficult to get rid of it.  

Have you called your Doctor, AGAIN, and let him/her know what is STILL going on with you?  They REALLY need to know how much pain you are CONTINUING to have and that it's NOT letting up.  

I have SEVERE DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease) and I KNOW what the lower back and side pain can do to a person and the pain is UNRELENTING in the way that it makes you feel and especially when you feel there's NO relief in sight!!

PLEASE contact your Doctor again and ASK them to find out EXACTLY what is causing this and let them know that you NEED some answers so that you can get some help in STOPPING this pain!!

I HOPE that you will keep us informed as to what you find out as we will be worrying about you and how you are doing!!

My Thoughts are with you and I will be looking for your update...........Sherry