Shingles

[30048]

I am now into my third week with Shingles and I am in constant pain. I have had all the appropiate medicines...anti viral and neurotin for pain and nothing has eased the symptoms. I stayed on 15 mg. of prednisone and just wondered if I should have raised that a bit. I did not want to have to reduce again. Has anyone had experience with this?

[Hidden]

Hi 30048,

Is the pain PMR pain or shingles pain?

If it's shingles pain then it's probably post herpetic neuralgia which won't respond to prednisolone. If neurontin isn't helping then ask your Dr for lignocaine patches, they are expensive but very effective.

If it's a PMR pain then you will need to see your Dr to see if an increase in prednisolone would help.

[30048 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. It is not PMR pain and the neurotic helps a little but not for long.

[Hidden in reply to 30048]

Post herpetic neuralgia can be difficult to treat. You may have to try a few painkillers before you find something that works. As I said Lignocaine patches can be very effective as can nerve blocks into the affected area. Hopefully you can find something that works for you.

[PMRandRA]

I had shingles on the right side of my head in 2009, long before PMR. I still get the odd shingle type twinges, but not enough to concern me. It takes a long time for the nerves to settle down and I found that a warm and then cold poultice helped a lot twice a day. I don't think that PMR can be attributed to shingles pain as shingles is nerve pain and stands alone, I hope you feel much better very soon and that first full night's sleep is a blessing.

[30048 in reply to PMRandRA]

thanks...i did not know if heat would help or hurt. i will try anything.

[jinasc]

I used a Tens machine and it helped. Shingles pain takes ages to subside.

[30048]

hate to appear ignorant but what is a tens machine? Thank you for your reply.

[PMRandRA in reply to 30048]

A Tens machine is rather like a small ECG machine which can be switched to different levels to give electric shocks. I have one but can't use it after my triple bypass,

link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans...

[30048 in reply to PMRandRA]

thanks...I did look it up and will be looking for one today. I appreciate your help.

[PMRandRA in reply to 30048]

If you live in the UK you can get them at Lloyds Pharmacy/s.

Good luck.

[30048 in reply to PMRandRA]

Thanks....I am in the U.S. But I will find one.

[PMRandRA in reply to 30048]

Any luck finding the machine yet? And how are you feeling generally now?

[30048]

Yes. I found one but have not used it yet because it said not to use if you have a rash. There were so many precautions that I was a bit intimidated. I may test it out on the tarpal tunnel problem. I still am in a lot of discomfort from the Shimgles. It is located on the left side abdomen and goes around my back. That close to the heart had me a bit worried. I am a WUS