Shingles

Praying right now. I've heard shingles are so painful. I personally don't think throwing your back out caused shingles, but, I am not a doctor. God Bless You Greatly!

Sometimes the pain of shingles precedes the rash coming to the surface
by as much as a week. Especially if it is at the same nerve distribution.
Prompt treatment with a prescribed antiviral from your doctor is the best remedy.
You can use Tylenol and ibuprofen if the pain is severe. I used good old fashioned calamine lotion to dry and protect the blistering area.
A clean cotton tee shirt to cover the area. The wound area does shed the chicken pox virus for several days.

It’s a pain like no other, including labor! I have only been able to get about 2-3 hours of sleep per day/night for over a week because of the pain. I’m pretty much completely blistered over at this point. I’ve been using calamine lotion and was prescribed an antiviral medication. Also taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen. I appreciate your blessings. I’ve prayed for relief many, many times this week.

Why is amitriptyline prescribed for shingles?
Amitriptyline is an old medicine, originally used at high doses (75-150 mg) to treat depression but now used at low dose for nerve pain. A small study published in 1997 suggested that taking a low dose (25 mg) of amitriptyline early on may help prevent post-herpetic neuralgia.

It is also given in low dose for IBS patients. It has helped some friends of mine greatly.

My guess is that it boosts the Serotonin level in the brain and it effects your mood which could help with pain. Just a guess.

Since shingles run along a nerve, it absolutely could have been triggered by a back issue.

Update…got put on Gabapentin for nerve pain and damage from shingles. Only into it for less than a week so unsure what it’s doing. Got a prescription for Temazepam so I could get sleep. I seriously was only getting about 2 hours of sleep a day for 2 weeks. Blood pressure was elevated because of pain and lack of sleep. It’s helping some! To those of you who have suffered through shingles, how long before the pain subsided? My rash is 75% gone? But the pain is real. Please give me some encouragement. I’m about 3 weeks into shingles and a month from my strained back.

Bless you. I've never had shingles but several of my friends have. The nerve pain from shingles and how long it lasts even after the blisters are gone, is different with every individual.

Praying for you. I've heard how painful shingles are. Blessings & Prayers....

I have had shingles for about 3 years. I use Aspercreme lotion and their spray, with 4% lidocaine. The sprays is used for the top of my head area. One advantage of the pills is that you will get even relief and and help with other aches and pain. Hopefully, your discomfort will be short lived.
I will put you in my prayers!

Three years? How are you surviving? They are so painful. Isn’t there something that can be done to put them into remission for you? Please keep us updated. I wish you well.