Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

@summertime4 thanks so much for your kind words!

I know this is a medical sight and prescription drugs are advised and if any of you prefer this route then that is how you need to continue. I personally prefer not to take drugs as long as I can tolerate the agony of my pain from PHN due to Shingles 4 years ago. However, if any one is interested I just discovered a new non medicated therapy that seems to be helping me, but it is in its early stage so I hesitate to go crazy yet with positivity on it. On Sept.29th I did my first Red Light Cold Laser Therapy in my home administered by myself. I was told of Red Light therapy thru a massage therapist in our local town. My husband did some investigating into it and found that one of the major hospitals in Hartford, CT have this treatment available. I had the exact hospital, but now I do not. Ugh! Here is the web site for the Cold Laser that we purchased. Keep in mind there are several different lasers available, but we chose this because it is the latest technology.
https://www.amazon.com/LaserTRX-Relief-Laser-Therapy-Device/dp/B07HQTB77T
So far I am happy with the results I am seeing and feeling in just one week. My inflammation to my forehead is lessened and I am not in the constant needle sharp, branding iron pains and leathery forehead. Because this was on the left forehead, scalp and in the left eye my left eye does not have the inflammation any more. It actually looks the same size as my right eye. I have actually been smiling the last several days. Any questions go to the sight and look up cold laser red light therapy. I am praying this healing that I am experiencing last a life time for all who choose to use it. God bless and good luck.

Keep in mind this is NOT just for PHN it is for most kinds of pain. Not advisable for cancer.

Seriously check into the Cold Red Light Therapy. I have only been using it for 5 days now, so I can not say yay or nay and I don't want to mislead anyone. Check out a near by massage therapist, chiropractor or order you own online. We have chosen the Laser LRX red light. My husband diligently studied all the cold lasers that are offered. It ran about $1,000.00 and I know for some that may be way out of your price range, but then think about all the $'s being spent on Dr. visits and meds if your insurance is not covering them. It was a bite for us also, but my husband is so caring and sees my suffering and wants me well as much as I do. It is made in Israel and is the latest technology of this device on the market today. I hope this will help at least one person.

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5 days ago · Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself in Chronic Pain

After my unsuccessful nerve blazing treatment I am now trying Cold Laser Red Light Therapy. I refuse to use drugs. I will keep everyone up to date.

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Thu, Sep 24 2:32pm · Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia and Pain in Brain & Nervous System

No I have not. The Hartford Medical Center is using the Red Light Therapy and having good results with it.

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Thu, Sep 24 11:23am · Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia and Pain in Brain & Nervous System

No I will have to look this one up. The Hartford Medical Center uses the Red Light or HILT High Intensity Light Therapy with amazing results. Please google.

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Thu, Sep 24 9:30am · Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia and Pain in Brain & Nervous System

Has anyone tried Red Light Therapy? It is something new that I just found out about and it is safe to use any where on the body. I am checking into it as of right now.

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Thu, Sep 17 4:53pm · Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia and Pain in Brain & Nervous System

The first signs of my Shingles started with inner left eye pain deep inside the eye. At first I never gave it much attention, but when it wouldn't go away even with Tylenol I went to my chiropractor and with a few adjustments it relaxed for about maybe half a day, but returned. He was closed the next day so I went to a different chiro and his adjustment did nothing. Then I noticed like a dry patch of raised skin just to the right of my eyebrow and the hair line tingled. I got on the internet right away and looked these symptoms up and it said Shingles. I thought "I couldn't have Shingles", why I didn't think I could was beyond me. It was a busy day in our small town… football homecoming parade, 50 yr class reunion for a few friends who had asked my husband to take pictures of them on their float. I brushed it off. The tingling and pain continued and actually got worse before the blisters started. The pain was like a bolt of a lighting shiver that went through my entire body. I either had to scream or literally hit a wall with my fist. Whenever I would feel it coming on I would try to psych my self out with mind over matter to try to make it not happen. It didn't work. Then came the blisters. I went to an alternative medical lady in town and she did some hocus pocus stuff on me, that didn't work. I read on the internet where potato skins help to relieve pain so I sat up one night trying that. i also warmed a damp cloth in the microwave just enough to heat it like a heating pad and wrapped it around my neck because by that time the pain was there as well. That worked as long as it was warm, which ended up being yet another all night trial treatment for myself. Finally the blisters got to the point I had to go to the doctor and he thought it might have been a 2nd degree burn from a heating pad I had used a day or two prior seeing him. NOT! That was in the middle of the week and on Sunday I was had. I took a shower and couldn't even get dressed. I wrapped in a towel and told my husband I had to go to the doctor. A different doctor. We went to the emergency room and had to wait about 30 minutes for the on call doctor to arrive and I told him everything, even including the burn theory. He said no way was it a burn. It was Shingles. My left eye was completely swollen shut from the blisters and my forehead was a mess. He wanted me to take an ambulance to a Nebraska hospital where he was told that a eye specialist would be there to examine my eye. My husband took me up and there was no eye Ophthalmologist there for 2 days. It would not have mattered any way there was no way he was going to get that eye lid to open. Long story short they took care of me. Put me on pain IV's and valacyclovir and steroids. I went home after 4 days, but a few days later I returned due to the severe pain I was in. The night before returning I woke up with a scream and tears due to the pain. Another 3 days. I was on Valacyclovir for months because everyone was so afraid of it returning. I had one recurrence of the Shingles about a year later, but I was right on it and my official doctor took care of me that time, which I wish I had gone to him in the first place. I have no idea why I did not. I took the original vaccine about 4 months later and then the new vaccine came out about 8 months after that (that I knew of) and my doctor put me on a priority list for the vaccine. People told me it was a piece of cake to take. Let me tell you I was so sick from the first part of the vaccine. Later I was told the more reaction to the shot the better it was for you to prevent a recurrence of Shingles. The second shot would have been just as bad, but my pharmacist told me to take a couple of Tylenol prior to the shot and it should help me. It did. I still got sick but not as sick. Today I find cold water, ice packs at night or whenever needed helps. Also I found at Walmart a topical called "Pain Away" and it helps from time to time and also Peppermint works, just don't get it in your eye. I think I mentioned before that I swim a lot in the summer and the cool water works great. So I took of swimming a mile everyday during the summer to get me through. It's a long journey. 4 years later and I am still suffering. In July I did a radio frequency treatment to burn the nerve. It worked for 2 weeks and I am back to misery. I am 65 and my Medicare will only cover 2 treatments a year 6 months apart. I only have 4 more months to go. Ugh. If you can find the "Pain Away" topical I really suggest it. If you can't find it at your local Walmart look online. My heart goes out to all who are suffering from PHN. Maybe one day a remedy without drugs will be found for this horrible suffering. God bless all of you.

P.S. The pain is everyone of those you mentioned. I get such sharp pin and needle pain it makes me stop and actually stop what I am doing to try to relieve it. I actually get what I call electrical sharp pain. Sensitive to light. I have grown to like the darkness when needed. Dinners are done by candle light. Special blue light computer glasses are required. My left eyeball swells and is dry. I constantly use eye drops. The variety of sensations or pain are endless. 🙁

Yes, I am so far happy with the results. The leathery like forehead is mostly back to normal with little to no inflammation. My electrical shock like pain has greatly reduced. My husband told me last night it is nice to not see me going around with such pain in my eyes and expression. That is huge to me. My left eye was also effected and it was always swollen and is back to normal size. I am not out of the woods yet, but a whole heck of a lot better. I will get the name and number to the chiropractor in LVegas who used a pen like cold laser and the cost is much less and he is having good results with his patients. Actually I have it. His name is Steve and his # is 702-768-1804. Go to Energy Healing or google his phone number and it will take you right to his website with a video and his information. His cold laser is around $2-300. Good Luck.

These are most of my post reposted. I hope and pray this helps you and all others. Like I said I am in the beginning stages of treatment, but I feel so much better.

Neuropathy is what my hubby has in his feet and hands. I have in fingers because of my carpal tunnel but unfortunately that it not what I have in my feet, back, legs and arms.
CRPS causes what it is called windup. The pain - nerve in nature- begins in my feet or back. My feet feel like they are on fire. Have you ever burned your finger? Had a severe case of case of sunburn? Felt that deep burn when you put ice cold feet in burning hot water? That’s what I’m about except it doesn’t go away. Add tingling like you’re slapping a foot that’s waking up after it’s been frozen for a long time. Then pile on sciatic pain slicing down the back into the heel into the toes along the outside of the foot.
Repeat this in the other side in a quarter measure and in the back at half measure. The right shoulder only acts up if it’s been maneuvering heavy heavy objects since I can’t use my back or Legs to lift anything mainly because I have a torn labrum from my two manipulations to release the frozen shoulder five years ago.
I refuse to let anyone touch it.
Do I want help?
The truth? No I want action. I want to see results. But then again that’s my problem.

@faithwalker007
Wow, that is an amazing description of your pain Renee. I have a much clearer picture of, if not WHAT you are experiencing (I'd have to feel it to do that), but actually where it occurs and how it moves and develops in your body. I can feel your frustration and impatience at what this is doing to you and even the fact that it's happening and you are pretty much at the end of your tether over it.

A few minutes ago I was reading the account by @jerid of her case of shingles and the unbelievable and virtually indescribable intensity of pain that occurs with that illness. I think that is part of the frustration of pain sufferers, that they can not communicate to others exactly how terrible experiencing their pain actually is. It's impossible. My guess is that if EVERY person on earth (including all doctors and researchers) were forced to experience pain like she (and you) are trying to convey for at least 30 minutes each and every day, there would be a whole array of effective and safe pain treatments available to all within a remarkably short period of time. Think about it. If everyone knew the level of misery that it is possible for a human being to feel, a whole new level of motivation to find answers would magically open up.

Just a thought. Hank

@jesfactsmon I so totally agree with you! I have been in so much pain the last week! But how do I really convey the feeling and degree.? I have no pain medication that helps. I have tramadol which does nothing, I have naproxen and Motrin which do zero, and I am on 1800mg of gabapentin daily to no avail! So I continue to suffer and try to go about my day. I teach kindergarten 3 days a week so those days I really have to suck it up. When I get in the car to drive home I literally collapse before turning on the ignition. At home I drag myself into the house. My husband feels if I can go to work for 4 hours three days a week my pain can't be that bad. But it is I just don't want to sit at home and dwell on it. I did that for 6 months during the COVID quarrintine! But no one will give me give me something that works! Heaven forbid I could have less pain while I teach. So I take bits of THC gummies which are hard to regulate my dose and being ultra sensitive to it makes me a bit dizzy sometimes. Because of my reaction I hesitate to use the gummies.If a doctor really cared they would sit and listen and show care and concern. I have yet to find someone. Needless to say I sit and cry a lot. Sorry I had to vent about this neurological pain!

I understand your pain. Have you talked to any pain management doctors? You have to force doctors to listen by saying "I need you to really listen to me"!

@cb772 does that really work? I meet for the first time with a new pain mgt dr tomorrow and I just want what has worked for me, maybe a slightly higher dose so I can work out a little, not to through all the Celebrex, gabapentin,etc again. Thanks