RE: “Ask people who have had shingles how it compares with other pain they have had”
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I had gallbladder attacks — wowie! that was some pain! And even years after surgery that whole digestive area can still cause trouble due to stones forming in bile ducts or liver! I hear it is akin to kidney stone pain, which is really severe — “one of the worst pains” per physicians.
As for shingles, yep, had that too — more recently — almost three years ago now. Had a BAD case, suffered a lot for months — and now to this day I have post-herpetic neuralgia. Some people take Vicodin forever due to this unrelenting discomfort.
I have the ‘itch,’ not pain — so I scratch, and scratch and scratch. Sometimes I break the skin so that must heal. It’s an unbelievable scourage, this shingles. Everyone who is 60 and had chicken pox earlier on should run to get the vaccine to hopefully get some protection. I got the vaccine to try to prevent recurrence as this happens too.
These days I am not always in agony, but this is not likely to ever totally disappear. I take nothing for it anymore, dumping the Vicodin after a few months and forget Lyrica — blew up like a balloon on that one. People with the actual pain do usually need drugs — I can understand why they often get addicted. My best to you with your situation.
My pain went away after several months so I am OK
BUT my 83 year old sister in law has had pain for over 3 years now and can’t take pain killers as she becomes loopy
Sad after having 9 kids you would think you could spend your final years better than being in constant pain
They implanted a spinal stimulator that is supposed to work 2 weeks ago and my brother says it seems to have at least alleviated her pain —I hope it gets better as they adjust the electronics