shingles pain.

[195536]

Hi, I have just got shingles. I managed to get some antiviral tablets from an emergency doctor. Have been taking them for three days but the course is for seven. I have the rash from my spine round my left hip and into my groin. The pain is really bad even while taking paracetamol and ibuprofen every four hours. I am on 3.5mg of pred, and wondered if I should increase this while I'm recovering?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You possibly should discuss the Sick Day Rules for pred when ill with your GP - you are very firmly in potential adrenal insufficiency territory. Pred is sometimes used for pain relief in shingles - again something to discuss with your GP if the paracetamol and ibuprofen isn't cutting it.

[SnazzyD]

Perhaps the GP will prescribe something like Amitriptyline, Gabapentin or codeine based and you need to discuss increasing your Pred, not least because your unrelenting pain might require more adrenal activity than you can muster.

[195536 in reply to SnazzyD]

thankyou for your suggestions, I hope to get things sorted soon, these things always seem to happen on a bank holiday!

[SnazzyD in reply to 195536]

Naturally

[MrsNails]

We seem to have had a lot of the Forum suffer from Shingles recently & as SnazzyD says Amitriptyline & Gabapentin could well be of benefit to you as the pain never seems to settle and you can take these alongside Paracetamol & ibuprofen (if it suits you) I do hope you feel better soon.

Kind Regards, All The Best for 2022

Get Well Soon 🙏🏼

MrsN

[195536 in reply to MrsNails]

thankyou so much for your kind reply,I will try to get things sorted soon. happy new year to you, lets hope it's a healthy one to.

[MrsNails]

Thank You - you do need some extra help & Amitriptyline & Gabapentin work on Nerve Pain which is the most painful part of Shingles.