Shingles

[Azonic]

Who's had shingles before? I'm in the PHN phase now and the pain attacks are almost impossible to live with. Itching like crazy but the pain is the worst. Got it on the back of my head, right hand side.

If anyone has gone through PHN, how long did it last and was there any meds that helped?

[Capricorn]

normal pain meds or anti inflamamtories. There are anti viral treatments for Herpes Zoster, which is what shingles is. Have you had chicken pox in the past? I ask because shingles is the immune response to chicken pox without actually having chicken pox. Normally happens if you immuno compromised. blisters last about 2 -4 weeks or so before healing, otherwise, hang tough dude. Note: some individuals can suffer continued nerve pain for months afterward

funnily enough, shingles occurs in rather healthy individuals, and there seems to be a link between shingles in healthy folks and stress levels. interesting..

Edited December 25, 2010 by Capricorn

[Azonic]

You can only get shingles if you had chicken pox. Had a course of anti virals and now on pain killers. But when that pain attack takes you for a ride... The pain meds feels like you took a disprin if you lost your leg. Does f-kall.

[Azonic]

Taking the equivalent of 8 Myprodols a day along with an anti epileptic drug.

[Capricorn]

lol. try some schedule 5 stuff like Synape Forte. Very trippy! but speak to Eyecandy. She really knows her drugs

[Mackie]

Luckilly for me I am unhealthy, so should be ok.

But seriously, hope you get through ok, I have a mate who had it, all he said was that it is character building.

[MtbO]

@Azonic You are quite lucky that you didn't have a bigger dermatome. Something like the arm must hurt like hell (because the dermatomes are huge). I heard that antivirals and things they have to give you only work in the first stages. (at least at the clinic where I volunteer)

[Azonic]

Two pain attacks since last night. They are almost manifesting as muscle spasms now. The two muscles that run up the back of your neck, the one just developes a killer pain that lasts about a minute, and it goes up the back of your head. Beslis character building.

[Capricorn]

nerve pain dude. hang tough..

[HeidiB]

Starting to sound like the old age home forum, no seriously, this is not a nice thing to get. I had it on left side of head, got it while going through some hectic stress... young healthy people also get it. Plenty rest, good painkillers way to go and you will soon be better. Good luck!

[Riding in Africa]

Hello,

 

Also suffer with shingles on the left side of my head, What i have learnt over the years and i used to have a break out every 3 months that the very expensive pills for the Zoster only work if taken very early thing is that by the time you realize that you are having a out break it is to late to work. Only thing i have found to work is Asprin and rub on the crean sold for those blisters that come up on your lips every thing else is a waste of money.Also go get a vit B shot and take Vit B every day

 

It is related to Chickin Pox that in some people never leaves the system and sits in the nerve endings, waiting for you to suffer from stress and your body is at its lowest.

 

If it is on your head you must watch out for eye pain as it can cause problems also keep a eye out ( no pun intended)for ear pain as the same virus causes the nerves of the face to be effected which then causes a Bells Pailsy and you will look like you have had a stroke.

 

 

I know the above sounds bad but i have put up with it for 10 years and the time between out breaks has grown wider in fact i have not had a out break for over a year.

[montyzuma]

Get your doctor to prescribe you Lyrica and try Trepiline at night.

[Azonic]

I had a bit of far and eye pain earlier on but now not so much. The spot that was the sorest was at the back of my pip on the right hand side roughly form the crown down to where the hair starts in your neck. There wasn't ever a huge rash, wife says a few small acne like "zits" here and there. There was also a small 1x2cm proper shingles looking rash on my throat. All the visible rashes have gone now, but now getting these pain attacks that seem to originate from where the right neck muscle goes into the scalp at the back. You got about 3 seconds before the pain puts you on the floor. I'm taking lots of Vitamin B, along with a few Herbal anti shingles ointments and supplements, along with the stack of pain meds. I'm hoping the pain attacks goes away quick as I can't do any exercise cause you don't know when its going to strike. You don't want to be going 74km/h down a hill and then have 2-3 secs to get off the bike.

[Azonic]

Monty, my medical aid doesn't cover Lyrica and its VERY expensive. I got some Trepiline last night, popped one and got 2 attacks through the night. Fail.

[wisecrack]

Hectic! Wanted to say I have not seen you around lately hope you recover soon....

[Azonic]

Thanks Wise. Just when fitness seems to get somewhere, something like this happens.