Shingles rash and pain

Posted by azbarb @azbarb, Dec 6, 2018

I’m in week 10 of shingles and still have crusted blisters in my arm pit. Why are they still there and how do I get rid of them? I feel like the pain won’t start easing there until they are gone. I had severe pain for 3 days in my left shoulder blade. When it started to ease I felt blisters on my back. I went to urgent care and was diagnosed with shingles. I took acyclovir for 7 days and then nothing. My doctor’s office wouldn’t fit me in and insisted I wait for a regular slot so I didn’t see him for 3 weeks. In the meantime i then got the rash and blisters on the underside of my left arm, in my arm pit and over the left side of my breast. The rash slowly crusted on my back leaving ugly scabbing and holes on my back. That left and I just have a large discolored area on my back that is fairly painful. The rash and crusted blisters on my chest took longer to go away and the pain only left the sides of the breast. I still have pain in the middle and top near my armpit. The last to start going was my underarm and armpit and the pain has been awful. Better than it was but ....... I’m worried I’ll never get rid of the pain but what worries me even more is the crusted blisters in my armpit haven’t made any progress in at least 2 weeks. I hope someone knows a magic way to make those go away. THey said the rash would only last 10 days to 2 weeks but it’s now 10 weeks. I have low-level MDS so I catch things easier and they tend to last longer.

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@kaa1

I have shingles going into the 4th week now. I still have the rash, but it is slowly dissipating. I have a lot of nerve pain. The rash and pain is under the breast and around the left side of the torso. I am unable to wear a bra for any length of time even a softer one without wires. The problem is I am a DDD and obviously I have to wear a bra outside of the house. I teach yoga. I tried teaching a few classes, wearing a bra on the outside of a camisole with another shirt over that. I had tremendous pain afterward. I am on gabapentin. Was on 100 mg 2x daily, starting today 300 mg 2x daily. I hope it will help. I’ve tried a few topicals. Dermatologist recommended capsaicin cream that was a terrible idea. The burning was intolerable. I had to wash it off and lie down for an hour. Dr. also recommended lidocaine spray that also made the pain worse. Calamine lotion is OK. It’s frustrating because I don’t seem to be able to function or do anything much because of not being able to wear a bra. Hopefully it will pass so that I can return to some normal life. Thanks for listening. Any suggestions most welcome. Thanks.

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I can't wear anything from the waist down to my upper thighs. The shingles lead to post herpetic neuralgia. Then the ultra sensitive skin. Of course, when I'm forced (doctor, lab) I wear inside out sports shorts. It still hurts.

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@topsz

Curious how many ppl had the shingles shot? Should everyone over 50 that’s had cold sores and chicken pox get the shot?

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I am 81 had the first shingles shot in my 60’s then got the stronger one last year. I did get shingles anyway but went to Dr. asap received treatment and it was a light case. Still very painful though.

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Is it ok to use hydrocortisone ointment USP,2.5% on herpes rash to relieve burning pain? Our urgent care clinic isn’t open today.

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@peggycasey

Is it ok to use hydrocortisone ointment USP,2.5% on herpes rash to relieve burning pain? Our urgent care clinic isn’t open today.

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@peggycasey, you might call your local pharmacy to talk to a pharmacist, since urgent care clinic is closed.

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