... is experiencing all over pain that is very intense along with very bad itching. We are going to the ER in a little bit but is there anything I can do for him now?
Persisting Pain -- Shingles - My husband had shingles now the rash is gone and just left scars. He?
Question posted by worried about my husband on 7 Oct 2009
Last updated on 14 May 2012
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
6 Answers
jaydee1958
25 Aug 2011
i have had shingles for 2 weeks with the usual pain, tingling and itching. it is the itching that is the worst at this time. i used a cream i brought in the middle east called sudocrem. it is a antiseptic healing cream. it stopped the itching and stinging the second i put it on. i think walgreens has it and it also can be brought on line. it truly stops the itching and when it wears off, i just reapply. i was scratching so that i draw blood. it is truly a miracle cream
Liz12
14 May 2012
Yes we in the UK use Sudocrem alot we start by using it for nappy rash and its alway in and out of the first aid box my eldest is now 22 and has just used it for sunburn its a household and family must.
subzero58
25 March 2010
i was told by someone with shingels that it feels like when your hands or feet get frozen in the winter and you run them under warm water. that stinging when the water is hot. but its allover where the rash has been. is this true?
lilred68107
26 March 2010
I broke out in July, and my pain is still isolated to where the rash was... where it was the most deep rash is where most of the pain is. The feeling of the pain is soooo hard to describe. I say it is like pins and needles being stuck in the skin surface.
It took almost three weeks for the rash to dry up. I was off of work for two weeks because I work in Senior Health and couldn't expose them, but even with the note saying I was cleared to return, I was still very sick for another month. But I had to work.
I have had major surgery that was easier and faster to recover from!
amphiphile
11 June 2010
What Is Shingles?
Each year, an estimated 1 million Americans will develop herpes zoster1, a painful viral infection more commonly known as shingles. Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus.
amphiphile
11 June 2010
What Is After-Shingles Pain?
Once the shingles rash has healed, you may experience severe pain in the area of the rash as well as beyond that area.This pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), or after-shingles pain. Out of the 1 million people who develop shingles2, about one in five people will go on to develop PHN.
PHN pain results from nerve damage caused by the shingles virus. The pain usually appears in the area of the shingles rash, but the size of the PHN pain region can vary considerably4. In some people, PHN pain can last for months or even years.
After having shingles, your chances of developing PHN increase with age. For example, if you are age 50 or older, you have a more than 50 percent chance of developing PHN. If you are age 80 or older, you have an 80 percent chance of developing PHN.
Others at higher risk include those who:
Have severe acute pain
Have felt a pain or something else out of the ordinary before the shingles rash appeared
Have had a severe rash within three days of shingles infection
amphiphile
11 June 2010
Signs & Symptoms
The early symptoms of shingles can easily be mistaken for another illness. Symptoms may begin with a feeling of burning or shooting pain, numbness, tingling or itching in one area of the body or face. Others may feel mild, flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, chills and nausea. One day to two weeks after the pain begins, a rash or cluster of blisters appears on the skin. If you or your loved ones notice any of these early signs, you should see your healthcare professional immediately, because early treatment of shingles can decrease the amount of time you suffer from the painful condition.
Though a rash and blisters are symptomatic of shingles, an outbreak may begin without them, so it is important to recognize the other signs and symptoms that accompany the rash. Sometimes, though uncommon, shingles will occur without a rash, which is called zoster sine herpete. In rare cases, a shingles infection can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation or death.
amphiphile
11 June 2010
(PHN) or after-shingles pain Signs & Symptoms:
After the shingles rash has healed, if you feel severe pain in the same area where the rash was, you may have postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) or after-shingles pain. People usually describe PHN pain as burning, aching, itching and sharp and the pain can be constant or it can come and go. The size of the area where you feel the pain may be larger or smaller than the area of the actual shingles rash.
For many PHN sufferers, the most disabling part of the pain is the severe skin sensitivity, which is called allodynia. The skin may be unusually sensitive to even the lightest touch, smallest draft or slightest change in temperature. For example, a gentle breeze or the feel of clothing may cause extreme pain for some PHN patients.
Some rare symptoms of PHN can include:
Abnormal skin temperature and color
Sweating in the PHN area
Loss of muscle tone
amphiphile
11 June 2010
Shingles & after-shingles pain Impact:
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) or after-shingles pain can greatly impact your quality of life and may make you feel isolated and alone. But you aren’t alone, because 120,000 to 200,000 people in the U.S. suffer from PHN pain each year.
For some PHN sufferers, normal activity may come to a stop for months or longer. Your skin may become sensitive to a slight change in temperature or the feeling of clothing can even be painful. Daily tasks, such as taking a shower, getting dressed in the morning and brushing your hair may become excruciating. PHN can even limit pleasurable activities, like shopping, cooking, traveling and sports due to the pain.
It is common for PHN patients to become depressed because of the severe pain. In fact, PHN is one of the most common causes of pain-related suicide in older adults5. The impact is not just on the patient either. Family members and caregivers also suffer when they see their loved ones suffer.
amphiphile
11 June 2010
Shingles Treatment Options:
If you think you may have shingles, you should talk to your healthcare professional. Receiving medical treatment for shingles as soon as possible can lessen the time you have shingles and lower your risk for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) or after-shingles pain. Your healthcare professional may prescribe an antiviral medication to treat shingles. Early shingles treatment – ideally within 72 hours of the rash appearing – can decrease both the length and intensity of the shingles outbreak.
In 2006, a shingles vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is currently recommended by the CDC for adults ages 60 and older in the U.S. A vaccine for preventing infection of the varicella zoster virus (VZV infection), which causes chickenpox, has been available in the United States since 1995.
amphiphile
11 June 2010
PHN Treatment Options:
Currently, there is no cure for PHN, and it cannot be prevented in all patients. Because the virus is no longer present after the blisters dry up, the antiviral drugs used to treat shingles are not useful in patients with PHN. For some people, PHN may improve over time without treatment, although not common. However, there are several treatment options approved by the FDA for PHN and PHN pain.
You can take some of these medications by mouth in the form of a pill. There is also one topical option, a lidocaine patch, that you can apply directly to the skin where you feel the PHN pain. It is important to realize that every PHN patient responds differently to these different treatment options.
Currently Available FDA-Approved Treatment Options:
You might prefer a topical treatment, taking a pill, or both. It is important to talk with your healthcare professional about your pain treatment options and together you can create a customized treatment plan that is best for you.
Treatments How it Works (Mode of Action)
Topical Lidocaine patch 5% Local Provides pain relief directly at the site of PHN pain
Oral
Anticonvulsants
Gabapentin
Pregabalin Provides PHN pain relief by being taken by mouth and travelling through the body to reach the site of action within the central nervous system.
amphiphile
11 June 2010
Additional treatment options:
In addition to oral and topical medications, these other approaches may help you manage your pain. Some options that have been successful in some cases include:
Biofeedback
Relaxation therapy
Spinal cord stimulators
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Capsaicin cream
Ice or cold compresses
Acupuncture
Be sure to discuss all treatment options with your healthcare professional to determine what works best for you.
lilred68107
24 March 2010
It sure sounds like the shingles that I had last summer. I was given an anti-viral medication to take orally, to hopefully prevent it from returning. I suggest a visit to his doctor and a discussion about "pain management". My outbreak was in early June, and I am still feeling "pins and needles" throughout the area that I broke out in.
I am finding that the weather, and types of fabric affect this as well. I just hope and pray that it NEVER returns! I advise EVERYONE who has had Chicken Pox to run as fast as they can, to their Dr. to get the Shingles Vaccine... once you get Shingles, the vaccine doesn't work.
The good news is that today most children get immunized against Chicken Pox... because if you have had them, you are at risk to acquire Shingles. And if you have Shingles, you can pass on Chicken Pox to those who are not immunized. That is the info that I learned from my doctor. Good Luck and Speedy Recovery!
Inactive
7 Oct 2009
you could try vagilsil maximum strength. Sometimes it burns a little bit right before it starts numbing.
kimmie1
7 Oct 2009
I thought I sent you a response. I don't even know when you asked this question. Try benedryl (sp).
kimmie1
7 Oct 2009
You might try benedryl (sp). It will help with the itching. My husband had something similar and it lasted for months. Not to add to your despair but I don't think his was shingles but it sure looked and acted like it. God Bless
Related topics
pain, pruritus, persisting pain, shingles, herpes zoster, skin rash
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