Shingles pain

[jibs11]

Hi--

I was diagnosed with shingles last thursday after about 3-5 days of (what i thought was) rib injury pain.  I took 2 aleve on thursday morning (had been taking them all week), which had been helping with the pain, but had an allergic reaction (closed throat feeling), along with (what i thought was ) hives.  Doc said i had shingles, gave me acyclovir, prednosine, and some vicodin.  He told me to follow up this week with my reg doctor.  I did that today, and my doc told me prednosine may not be effective, especially if i got a weird, "wired" feeling from it. He told me to try to stop it and see how i felt.  I am glad i stopped the pred. He also gave me a stronger form of vicodin (norco 10/325 vs 5/500) for the pain.  I just started today.  I still have a deep, throbbing pain in my back and chest, but feel "high" from the norcos.  What can i take to ease the pain but net get all looped from them?

[worried878]

Was thinkin....not always, but alot of times shingles affects those with a lowered immune system after illnesses or surgeries..the elderly etc...but not always..prednisone lowers the immune response...so if this is the reason u have shingles//ie been ill or under stress...then it could actually be counter-productive..talk to ur dr about it

[worried878]

could c how lyrica or neurontin would help shingles as it is nerve pain from shingles//usually on one side of the torso and not both..it is the same virus as chicken pox or herpes simplex 1 and 2.  It passes and mostly the symptoms are treated..can see how acyclovir would  help..not heard of prednisone as it is a virus and not an allergic or auto-immune thing???  Often pain like fibromyalgia, lots of forms of arthritis, respiratory things are auto-immune related..but not this virus...if it helps i guess take it..sounds like u double checked on it..even a pharmacist may know as they know more about meds than most drs

Lots of peeps put soaks with a pain relieving solution over the affected area...oral and topical acyclovir helps too...the pills are gonna help more than the topical ointment tho

It will pass but it can be very painful...hang in there

[geminigirl1963]

Neurontin can help with pain, but beware - if you have glaucoma, or are prone to hit (family history) - do not take it.  My father and grandfather both have/had glaucoma and I was not aware of the problem with Neurontin possibly increasing eye pressure until it happened to me.  I had been on Neurontin for about three months and went to the opthamologist for my yearly check up and my eye pressures were WAY up.  As soon as he looked at the medication I was taking, he told me to stop the Neurontin because of it's link to increased eye pressure.  Of course, I called my rheumy who had prescribed it and she was not aware of this link, so she did some research and sure enough - although it is not a very frequent side effect - it does happen.  She agreed that I should stop the medication, which I did.  Within three weeks of stopping the medication I returned to the opthamologist and he retested my eye pressures and they were PERFECT so we definitely know it was the Neurontin and not another medication/problem.  I've not had any problems with my eye prressures at all since stopping the Neurontin and that was about 4 years ago.

[concerned621]

I would try neurontin. Vicodin does the same thing to me as far as the chest/back pain. I think it's indigestion when it happens but not sure.  Lyrica didn't work for me, a ton of side effects. I also can't take aleve or tylenol. I had a seizure taking tylenol. So be careful with even over the counter drugs.  Neurtontin is great for nerve pain. I don't like it in high doses or ongoing just when you need it.  But of course discuss with your doctor.  
I've heard amazing things about L-lysine. as well.  Always adding natural supplements is such a good thing because you are treating the underlying condition not just the symptoms. all the best to you.

[Sandi_W]

1000mg 3x a day L-Lysine has totally stopped the pain I've been experiencing with shingles in 12 hours. I developed shingles lesions 4 days ago and had been experiencing excruciating pain so intense it was debilitating as I couldn't sleep either. Having no health insurance and finding out I would have to shell out almost 200 dollars to get a prescription for acyclovir at a doc n a box, which I don't have, I was on the verge of suicide. I came across 1 post somewhere that mentioned L-Lysine. At this point I was desperate to try anything so I went and bought a bottle of 1000mg this morning. It was suggested that you take 1000mg 3x a day. I took my first dose at 8am and prayed it would help but was not very hopeful. Around noon I noticed the intervals between the stabbing pains (about every 2 minutes with intense shooting pain that made me gasp, lasting about 25 seconds) was getting longer, but it was still debilitating and intense. The next dose was at 3pm (I wanted to get on a 7am 3pm 11pm schedule). Within 2 hours after that dose, the frequency, duration and intensity was clearly dropping! It's now 8:18pm and I haven't had any pain what-so-ever since around 6:30pm! L-Lysine works for me in a miraculous way. I did more searching on the net and found it is suggested that you continue the 1000mg 3x a day until the lesions clear up then drop down to 500mg 3x a day. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced pain before so bad that it made me suicidal. I really was on the verge of killing myself at 4am this morning it was so bad.

[sandymike]

I have shingles. I started having severe pain in my calf.  The pain was so bad i could not sleep even with 5mg of hydrocodone. The pain moved into my feet and up my leg into my calf on the right side. I was even given an MRI but no one could diagnose my problem.  After about 10 days I developed a patch of red lesions in three places on my foot and ankle.  I immediately knew what my problem was. The doctor agreed and gave me Gabapentin 300mg and Valtrex.  Nothing has helped the excruiating pain. I read an article about having an epidural. It is given by pain manageent doctors?  At this point I am wiling to try anything to get relief.  I was told I could have the shingles vacination after I was completely over the shingles.  It is expensive but will be worth every penny if it works.