1. < Brain & Nervous System

Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia and Pain

Posted by tikigod18 @tikigod18, Jan 13, 2019

Has anyone suffered from LONG lasting neuropathic pain as a result of Shingles, and what treatment do you use for the pain? My daughter had shingles at 21, a spinal cord stimulator inserted and removed, many trigger point injections, all of which may have contributed to the thoracic pain she has. She is now 34, and teaches yoga, but is still on a compound prescribed by a pain management Dr. in NYC what is basically Oxy. I am paying for this, since neither she nor her husband can afford it at around $500 a month. She could not find a physician in Fl. I know who would prescribe this medication after 10 years, thus the use of an out of state physician. I do not want to see her suffer, nor can I discuss much with her since we barely speak, but this expense, coupled with paying for asthma inhalers that are expensive is becoming more and more of a strain. Any thoughts for alternatives are appreciated.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Oct 21, 2020
In reply to @jerid "There is a self timer of 5 minutes. I did the treatment 2x a day until..." + (show)
@jerid

There is a self timer of 5 minutes. I did the treatment 2x a day until the pain subsided dramatically. I am happy to say I am now doing it only once a day and still getting good results. Some days I actually forget to do the treatment because I simply have had no pain or very little like a very slight burning feeling. Honestly I am soooooooooooooooooo much better. Read the instructions and it will tell you. Once you start though I would do your best not to miss a day. Good luck.

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So glad to hear of your good results, @jerid. Keep posting. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your progress.

REPLY
Hank | @jesfactsmon | Oct 23, 2020

@bunnyp @jerid
Hi, my wife started the laser treatment 2 days ago. We did 3 places on each foot, 5 minutes for each place (so 30 minutes total) , twice a day. So far her pain has worsened. We think maybe that can happen because the nerves are getting oxygen to them again (hopefully) and maybe are changing somehow. Not sure. Just wondering, did either of you have any worsening pain at first? She is going to keep going with it, hopefully for at least 3 weeks before deciding whether it has helped at all. Best, Hank

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1 reply
jerid | @jerid | Oct 23, 2020

Hi Hank, I think I mentioned in one of my post how my pain also increased the first few days of my laser treatment, but I kept with it and by the end of the first week I had improvement. The second week there was major improvement. The third week with the sensitivity increased to level 3 it was too sensitive for me so I have continued on Level 2 of the laser and it seems to keep the pain at bay. Again not 100% gone, but so much better than it was. I can at least live at this level. I did mention some mornings I get up and have no pain and go a day with out any laser, but I do continue with it on pretty much a daily treatment unless I forget. I so hope this helps your wife. This type of pain in unbearable to live with constantly. I know we all have different kinds of pain that is hard to live with, but this is the pain I do not want to ever live with again. Prayers for your wife and you. Jeri

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2 replies
Hank | @jesfactsmon | Oct 24, 2020
In reply to @jerid "Hi Hank, I think I mentioned in one of my post how my pain also increased..." + (show)
@jerid

Hi Hank, I think I mentioned in one of my post how my pain also increased the first few days of my laser treatment, but I kept with it and by the end of the first week I had improvement. The second week there was major improvement. The third week with the sensitivity increased to level 3 it was too sensitive for me so I have continued on Level 2 of the laser and it seems to keep the pain at bay. Again not 100% gone, but so much better than it was. I can at least live at this level. I did mention some mornings I get up and have no pain and go a day with out any laser, but I do continue with it on pretty much a daily treatment unless I forget. I so hope this helps your wife. This type of pain in unbearable to live with constantly. I know we all have different kinds of pain that is hard to live with, but this is the pain I do not want to ever live with again. Prayers for your wife and you. Jeri

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@jerid
Thanks, that is heartening information Jeri. We will hope for good results.

Yes, I agree that all pain is awful, but I do know that shingles pain (and the post herpetic neuralgia that follows the initial outbreak) has a level of stinging burning pain that is way up there on the pain meter. Crazy bad from the way I have heard others describe it, including my sister. I am so glad you are getting some benefit from the LaserX. Best, Hank

REPLY
1 reply
bunnyp | @bunnyp | Oct 24, 2020
In reply to @jesfactsmon "@jerid Thanks, that is heartening information Jeri. We will hope for good results. Yes, I agree..." + (show)
@jesfactsmon

@jerid
Thanks, that is heartening information Jeri. We will hope for good results.

Yes, I agree that all pain is awful, but I do know that shingles pain (and the post herpetic neuralgia that follows the initial outbreak) has a level of stinging burning pain that is way up there on the pain meter. Crazy bad from the way I have heard others describe it, including my sister. I am so glad you are getting some benefit from the LaserX. Best, Hank

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Hi Hank, I have been using the Laser TRX for a little over a week now and I was somewhat encouraged after 4-5 days but now the pain is bad again and of course very concerning😔 I’m now at level 2 and decided to keep doing the treatment for a while longer to just not give up and give it more time. Shingles pain is the absolute worst, like a deep electric shock, piercing deep sting and like someone is stabbing you in the back with a butcher knife, just unbearable and it is every single day of my life for 2 1/2 years now! I have not been able to take any meds or drugs to help because I always have a problem or allergic reaction to meds/drugs😳 Anyway, I will keep trying this Laser TRX and praying that it will give me some relief like Jerid🙏 Have you started it yet? So hope you will have good results and pain relief!

REPLY
1 reply
Hank | @jesfactsmon | Oct 24, 2020
In reply to @bunnyp "Hi Hank, I have been using the Laser TRX for a little over a week now..." + (show)
@bunnyp

Hi Hank, I have been using the Laser TRX for a little over a week now and I was somewhat encouraged after 4-5 days but now the pain is bad again and of course very concerning😔 I’m now at level 2 and decided to keep doing the treatment for a while longer to just not give up and give it more time. Shingles pain is the absolute worst, like a deep electric shock, piercing deep sting and like someone is stabbing you in the back with a butcher knife, just unbearable and it is every single day of my life for 2 1/2 years now! I have not been able to take any meds or drugs to help because I always have a problem or allergic reaction to meds/drugs😳 Anyway, I will keep trying this Laser TRX and praying that it will give me some relief like Jerid🙏 Have you started it yet? So hope you will have good results and pain relief!

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@bunnyp
Yes, I did say earlier that my wife started using it on Wednesday. Too early to make any judgement whatsoever yet of course. Will keep doing it, hopefully a full 3 weeks. If zero relief by then we will return it. My wife also does not take any drugs whatsoever (does not want them but also can not tolerate them at all) but does take close to 30 different supplements. Best to you bunnyp, hope you end up getting good results. Hank

REPLY
1 reply
bunnyp | @bunnyp | Oct 24, 2020
In reply to @jesfactsmon "@bunnyp Yes, I did say earlier that my wife started using it on Wednesday. Too early..." + (show)
@jesfactsmon

@bunnyp
Yes, I did say earlier that my wife started using it on Wednesday. Too early to make any judgement whatsoever yet of course. Will keep doing it, hopefully a full 3 weeks. If zero relief by then we will return it. My wife also does not take any drugs whatsoever (does not want them but also can not tolerate them at all) but does take close to 30 different supplements. Best to you bunnyp, hope you end up getting good results. Hank

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Thanks so much and I am praying for good relief for your wife as it is truly life changing to be in such pain🙏❤️

REPLY
lorirenee1 | @lorirenee1 | Oct 24, 2020
In reply to @jesfactsmon "@bunnyp @jerid Hi, my wife started the laser treatment 2 days ago. We did 3 places..." + (show)
@jesfactsmon

@bunnyp @jerid
Hi, my wife started the laser treatment 2 days ago. We did 3 places on each foot, 5 minutes for each place (so 30 minutes total) , twice a day. So far her pain has worsened. We think maybe that can happen because the nerves are getting oxygen to them again (hopefully) and maybe are changing somehow. Not sure. Just wondering, did either of you have any worsening pain at first? She is going to keep going with it, hopefully for at least 3 weeks before deciding whether it has helped at all. Best, Hank

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@jesfactsmon I hope to God it helps, Hank! Keep it up and know for sure! Keep up the damn fight!!!! Lori

REPLY
bunnyp | @bunnyp | Oct 24, 2020
In reply to @jerid "Mine took until the middle to end of the first week to notice any difference. As..." + (show)
@jerid

Mine took until the middle to end of the first week to notice any difference. As a matter of fact the first few treatments seemed to rile the nerves, but I kept with it. My timer is 5 minutes. It does seem to go fast, but I've timed it with the clock and it was 5 minutes.

Jump to this post

My timer is only 3 mins and don’t know how to change it! Maybe I will do 3 times to
make it 9 mins. No idea why mine would be at a different time set?

REPLY
1 reply
Hank | @jesfactsmon | Oct 25, 2020
In reply to @bunnyp "My timer is only 3 mins and don’t know how to change it! Maybe I will..." + (show)
@bunnyp

My timer is only 3 mins and don’t know how to change it! Maybe I will do 3 times to
make it 9 mins. No idea why mine would be at a different time set?

Jump to this post

@bunnyp
I have not actually timed it. It seems like 5 minute to me. I just read the instruction booklet and I see no mention of duration. It's probably doing what it is supposed to do I imagine. @jerid had mentioned the period being 5 minutes and it seems more like 5 than 3 to me. I will time it tomorrow. Hank

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