hi- I’m on day 6 of aciclovir for shingles. I cannot believe how bad I feel. The electric shock like pains up the side of my head 😱. And the general aches. Any advice? I’m down to 4 mg pred and was doing ok after the initial fatigue when I dropped down . Should I stay in bed? I really can’t believe how painful it is ….. any advice welcome.
Alison xx
Poor you, it can be horrendous. Were you offered Amitriptyline? It’s often used for jangling nerve pain. It’s worth trying your surgery or 111. As for going to bed, do what you feel you need to do. Sometimes pottering (gentle!) helps prevent going mad with it but rest as much as you can.
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I’m still on 10 Mg paroxetine- which I’m desperately trying to get off- seemingly amyltriptiline can interact with it so Doc wasn’t keen. Not sure I want to go down the gabapentin route tho…. Patience is certainly a virtue which I don’t possess.
I keep trying to get healthy to get off meds and I just keep getting more.
Probably worth calling in the Sick Day Rules (links in FAQs) and doubling your pred dose while you are feeling so ill to mimic what your body would do normally but can't because of adrenal suppression. And more pred MIGHT help with the pain, it is sometimes used in shingles.
Up to you whether you stay in bed or not - what is least uncomfortable? Can you be bothered to do anything?
hmmm - doc didn’t say anything re sick days. So if I doubled to 8 can I go back to 4 sooner than tapering minthly
Poor you it is very painful. I took Amitriptyline and it helped enormously, and definitely kept moving around the house as my PMR and stiffness would have increased. Have patience it take a couple of weeks to feel better.
I'm so sorry....I feel them!! My advice is just do only what you feel like...they are tough. When I had them my doctor gave me some Lidocaine lotion which really helped. I had them on the right side of my face, head, in the nose and mouth. The Lidocaine numbed me where ever I put it. !!😥😥💞💞
I feel your pain, I had shingles many years ago and was told by the doctor that once the rash appears there is very little they can do. It just has to run its course. I was then advised by my pharmacist to use a topical anaesthetic in the form of Lidocaine.
Just edited the post as I noticed Grammy80 said the same thing.
It was available in a 5% strength ointment over the counter. That really saved my sanity. Mine was around my stomach and I couldn't even bare the bedclothes touching me. From memory I had to re-apply it regularly but it did work. Check before going down that route as I did not have PMR at the time. Worth looking into though.
Things have changed - a course of antiviral medication can help a lot but must be initiated quickly.
I had shingles just over a year ago (on 5 mgms prednisone ) and was treated with Famciclovir and Gabapentin. I had had the Zostavax vaccine in 2014.( rarely used now in Canada and withdrawn in the US ). As a result it was very unpleasant but relatively mild and I was left with no post herpetic pain. I have just had the first of 2 Shingrix injections and will have the second in 6 months. I don't want to get it again or in a more painful place! Mine was just under my ribcage. Hope this is useful info and send my sympathy to Fiddlemum.
god yes stay in bed. Drink plenty though. Take care xx
I have read a warning not to have the shingles vaccine while taking prednisone. My thoughts are with you. I know that I should have the vaccine, but plan to wait. 😘
It is the live Zostavax vaccine which should not be used for patients on any immunosuppressive medication. Shingrix is not live so is approved for us in the UK and is the only one available in the USA.
Thank You for the Shingrix information. I will discuss this with my rheumatologist.
see this from FAQs - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
I got so many pains with shingles. But yes I would say I got muscle pain in the arm I had the rash on. The worst was the head zaps tho. Eventually got pregabalin pain killer which helped a bit. The whole thing took ages to go away. Friends told me this but I was rather impatient . Try and rest and make sure you get decent pain killers. I found ice packs helped the pain more than heat. Thankfully it s gone . Ghastly- hope you are ok?
it seemed like ages a probably a couple of months before the pain really went away- I can only think the PMR played a part in how long it took.
have you had anti virals? I hope so!
Would be very unusual to see shinges on your leg.
have they sent a swab away to be tested? That looks v sore. Surely you need to see a dermatologist at the very least.
I think you need to pester them to be referred.
PMR/GCA and the Shingles Vaccine
PMR now totally confused!!
Not sure if it is PMR now
Started with PMR now fibromyalgia 
