shingles and disc problems

[bel300]

I HAVE HAD TWO NERVE DECOMPRESSIONS ON THE L5-S1 LEVEL, AFTER MY SECOND OPERATION IN 2007, WHICH WAS PERFORMED AFTER A PEACE OF BONE CAME OUT OF THE INJURED DISC AND LODGED ITSELF THROUGH A MAIN NERVE, I HAVE BEEN GETTING ON GOING OUTBRAKES OF SHINGLES. MY SECONDSURGERY WAS NOT AS SUCESSFULL AS THE FIRST, AND I HAVE HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS AND HIGH PAIN LEVELS. I SUFFER FROM BLADDER URGENCY AND HAVE TO MANAGE MY PAIN ON A COTAIL OF MEDS, THE MEDS IM CURRENTLY TAKEING DAILY ARE OXYCONTIN, TEGRETOL AND ENDEP, THIS IS TO MANAGE MY PAIN. I WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATIVE IF SOMEONE COULD LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MY DISC PROBLEM AND MY CONSTANT OUTBRAKE OF SHINGLES.
THANKS.

[bel300]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE, I USALLY START OF WITH A RASH,WHICH CAN BE QUITE PAINFULL,  BUT I RESOND TO THIS BY USEING AN ANTI VIRAL MEDICATION CALLED FAMVIR WHICH STOPS THE VIRUS IN ITS TRACKS. AND THE RASH QUICKLY HEALS. IAM CURRENTLY HAPPY WITH THIS TREATMENT, BUT IAM CONCERNED WITH FACT THAT IAM HAVING THIS EPISODES ON A REGUALAR BASIS, SINCE MY REAGGRIVATION AND SECOND SURGERY, AND WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THERE IS A CONNECTION. YOUR FED BACK HAS HELPED, AND IM VERY GRATEFULL.
THANKS
REGARDS
BELINDA

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
As you already know that shingles occurs when herpes zoster virus lodges in your nerves. It causes an outbreak in times of stress. In your case the surgeries could have irritated the virus causing an outbreak. Do you get typical rash with it or is it just a hypersensitive painful area to touch?
In case there is no rash, it could also be a case of paresthesia or hyperasthsia due to a surgery on a nerve. It is a common complication. It could also be a case of post-herpetic neuralgia or PHN. This is caused by nerve damage after an outbreak of shingles. This damage causes the pain to last for months or even years after the blisters have scabbed and fallen off. The pain can be managed by pain killers (some containing opioids), tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!