Posted on 03/25/2016 4:20:04 PM PDT by Hostage
A very close friend of mine has had a bout of Shingles for several weeks and finally went to the VA Hospital to get help.
Shingles is a reactivation of the Chicken Pox that one might have had as a kid. It is the Herpes Zoster virus and it can damage nerves causing severe pain.
He is 61 years old and he told me November last year that a visit to the VA for shoulder pain had him diagnosed for tendonitis. So he followed steps for gently exercising to restore his movement and he took Ibuprofen for the pain.
He said that while at the clinic late last year, he was told he should have a Shingles vaccination but he declined as he did not know what it was and he was skeptical of vaccines in general. He said he was going to read up on it but got so busy that he forgot about it.
I drove him to the VA Hospital week before last because his pain was so severe and he hadn't been able to sleep for a week. I walked with him into the ER and he was nonstop apologizing to the staff that he didn't follow the advice to get a Shingles vaccination. A Nurse Practitioner saw him in the exam room and told him it was Ok that he skipped the Shingles Vaccination because it didn't always 'hit' anyways. He also said that likely his tendonitis was likely the Herpes Zoster virus emerging and not tendonitis. So it wouldn't have mattered whether he got a Shingles vaccine or not.
I thought the Nurse Practitioner did a great job calming him down. He was prescribed a 7-day course of Valtrez (an anti-viral) and Oxycodone. He took the Valtrex immediately while in the hospital but wouldn't take the Oxy because another vet who was waiting in the lobby had told him they were habit forming (which as a narcotic pain killer they are).
The NP told him to follow up with his primary in a week if the pain persisted. The appointment with the primary was more than a month out (talking VA here) so the NP suggested he do a walk-in to the primary clinic and tell them he was in pain.
Walking with him down to the hospital pharmacy, he seemed calmer. He said he had always been tough as an Ox and was never one to rush for medical help. He said he did not want to take the Oxy but he was so deprived of sleep he might have to. At the pharmacy dispensary, the pharmacy assistant assured him that the Oxy was only for one week and there was no danger of it becoming habit forming. She said it would take about a month before habit forming tolerance would be seen. He told her he would only take them if he could not get to sleep.
So I drove him home. The next day he told me he had taken the Oxy and it worked like a charm, barely felt any pain but he would continue with the Valtrex as his rash breakout had been worsening. He vowed to not take any more Oxy but he did. He told me several days later that after stopping the Oxy, the pain came back with a vengeance and so he took the Oxy again along with Ibuprofen.
Now he said he was deeply concerned that he was going to fall into the category of being addicted to painkillers and that distressed him greatly.
After one week he was finished with his Valtrex and his Oxy but was still having a lot of pain. I drove him back to the hospital and dropped him off. He wasn't supposed to drive while on Oxy and he had just taken his last pill a few hours before. He said he was sure the pain would return and that he best get to the clinic.
He called me after returning home and was relieved that he had been prescribed a non-habit forming painkiller called Gabapentin. Last week he told me that the Gabapentin was working but not always. One day he would be relatively painfree and the next day in a lot of pain.
I had shingles and the blisters were ugly, but maybe I have high pain threshold because I took nothing for the pain. My mom has had shingles twice. She didn’t complain that much.
Risk increases with age, but it's not strictly an age-related thing. Stress can bring it on. I came down with it in my mid-forties, the Christmas after my dad passed away.
Oxo is constipatory.
MMJ works for many old age pains. It’s better than the evil opiads.
Just got over a bout 4 weeks ago. I had the vaccine a few yrs. ago.
Started similar to lower back pain but couldn’t get in any position that would relieve the pain.Went to the Dr. and was diagnosed as Shingles, no rash.
Pain was severe with waves of excruciating.
Took anti-viral and oxy for a week. Tried hydrocodone first, didn’t touch the pain.
Oxy relieved the pain pretty well but it slows down your metabolism
to the point that constipation becomes another problem.
Severe symptoms lasted about 3 weeks, minor pains for another few weeks.
The vaccine is supposed to lessen the symptoms.
Can’t imagine the pain being worse. Had me in tears.
PS I sent you a private response also. However, needed to correct my post. It is American Biotech Labs.
Shingles pain can hang around!
He did not disclose any information that would identify his friend.
Some use apple cider vinegar on their skin for shingles. Saw it on thread here years ago and it’s worked for me.
Here is my experience. I am 70 years old and about three years ago I got hit by the shingles. It presented on the right half of my face. I first thought I had a tooth problem. I sat on the pain and did not go to the dentist immediately since it was not too severe. Finally set up an appointment and the dentist said I had no tooth problem. Then I knew I was in trouble because the pain was getting more severe by the day. When small pustules appeared along side my nose, my wife said she thought I might have shingles. I went to the doctor, he confirmed I had shingles and he said it was too late to expect any meaningful relief. Nonetheless, he put me on an antiviral regime but it was of no help. The pain got increasing severe resembling a blow torch on the right side of my face. Basically, my nerves were being attacked by the virus and they were on fire. This went on for maybe three weeks and the pain slowly subsided. Then I was left with a numb right side of my face. It is three plus years later and I still have numbness across my right face from the top of my head down to my lower jaw. The nerves act up at times by becoming extremely itchy causing me to rub them until it hurts. I may be stuck with with neuralgia situation until I die. Not a pleasant situation at all. I have been told to get the herpes zoster shot because I could still get a reoccurrence at some other place on my body. So far I have not done so because I am fearful that the live virus shot may cause another outbreak, which scares the hell out of me. My wife got the shot and she had a mild outbreak on her stomach but no lasting effects.
I’m sorry that you got the impression I was talking about the vaccine which would be a little late after the outbreak occurs. I had it when I was 24, most expensive prescription I’ve ever had, and probably the worst pain in my life.
I have hesitated due to the cost but, my husband had shingles a couple of times. Every so often, possibly due to getting the vaccine, he will feel what seems to be an outbreak but it goes away. The torture he went through when he had them was horrible. We tried capcasin (I used gloves) and other topicals. I would never wish it on anyone, well, except terrorists and a few others I would not name in public!
“Shingles pain can hang around!”
About 10% of shingles patients end up with post herpetic neuralgia - long term neurological pain.
The problem with neurological drugs such as Lyrica, Gabapentin, and Cymbolta used to treat shingles and post herpetic neuralgia is they cannot target the specific area where the pain is located. They effect the entire nervous system turning some patients into zombies and making others suicidal. They can also have some significant side effects including long term hearing loss.
If prescribed these drugs be acutely aware of the side effects and see your doctor immediately about getting off if you begin to experience problems.
This is good info from everyone. Thanks for posting the topic. I hope to get in soon for my vaccination.
OK Believe it or not.
When I was 15 my mother thought I had chicken pox. We went to the doctor in Pomona CA. Dr. says, you have chicken pox. My mother said, he had them when he was younger about age 4.
Dr. says, that’s impossible. You only have them once. Dr. calls my retired country Dr in Logan County WV. Logan Dr says, yes, I remember he had them when he was 4. I’m sure of it.
My dad was in the big one WWII. He was shot and was a “scout.” spending days by himself. He was a tough coal miner from WV and had a high tolerance for pain. When he was 85 he had shingles and was in a lot of pain. More than I’d ever seen him. Took weeks to get fully over it.
At age 60, my Dr says do you want a shingles vaccination. I jumped at it. Compared to my dad I’m a big sissy and would do whatever I can to avoid it.
My Dr asked me if I wanted the shot during regular physical. He had a supply in his office. I got it for no charge. FYI.
I had a small case of Shingles last year. Valtrex pills and cream worked just fine. Kept the outbreak small. No pain pills. Take the pills and use the cream early in the outbreak and the outbreak is kept to a dull roar. Wait a few days or weeks and may the Lord have mercy.
L Lysine is so important. Natural amino acid which protects against viral’s and shortens events like herpies and shingles when they flair up. Over the counter purchase that protects and shortens recovery. Take generously..
L Lysine is so important. Natural amino acid which protects against viral’s and shortens events like herpies and shingles when they flair up. Over the counter purchase that protects and shortens recovery. Take generously..
I feel for your friend. I had a relatively mild bout of shingles last year and the pain was excruciating.
Can’t really offer much in the way of remedies. I took 3 weeks of anti-virals and swallowed a fair share of percocets, but time is really the only cure.
Just tell your friend, that, yes, the pain will end, even when it seems like it will go on forever. Took me about 2 months to feel completely better.
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