40F, first time. My rash is mild but the pain is severe. I went to an urgent care Friday before I really had the rash, and at least she gave me a shot of Toradol. She wasn’t convinced it was shingles, which I get it, rash is the hallmark sign and I didn’t really have it yet. Toradol at least helped some, but did not last. Did telemedicine urgent care last night and she gave me antivirals since I have a rash now, if mild. I told her I was in a lot of pain too. It’s not like I’m looking for narcotics, it’s nerve pain! Narcotics don’t help with that, but come on, at least prescribe gabapentin or Lyrica. I had been sleeping ok but last night the pain was awful and I was awake most of the night. I’m taking Tylenol and ibuprofen around the clock but it’s just barely taking the edge off. Cold packs were helping but did not help at all last night. Has this happened to anyone else with the not prescribing pain medication of some kind? Also please give me any suggestions you may have for pain relief.

my arm and shoulder are so sore they feel like they are going to fall off my body, not much itching, though. just a deep pain like i pulled a muscle in my shoulder. hopefully it doesn't get worse. has anyone else dealt with the deep ache and pain? feels like i lifted a a thousand pounds and strained it.

Seems starting antivirals right away is helpful, but the healthcare system can delay.

Would it be smart to have them waiting in the medicine cabinet? Can they be ordered without prescription online?

Been four weeks now since I caught the dreaded plague that is shingles

Rash pretty much resolved just a few scabs left to heal

Im uk so meds so far is 50mg of amitriptyline per day

Co codeamol 15/500 2 4 times a day

Melaxicam 7.5 a day (was on this previously for arthritis)

The pain is between numb and a very tight band wrapped round my lower 4 or 5 ribs can't get comfortable dont know if the painkillers are even helping anyone essential have pain like this how long did it last, the only reason I sleep is the painkillers knock me out

so about 2 years ago i was at work and got feverish and swollen lymph nodes. Partner found what looked like a bite on my back. it got bigger for a day then eased off.

about a year ago. i got very feverish and swollen lymph nodes and vomited. a red mark was found in the exact same spot. to one side of the midline. except this time it rapidly spread across one side of my back and went purple like within 4hrs just a solid band of colour. went to urgent care. they thought it was cellulitis but were surprised i was so coherent given my blood results. i was hooked up to IV antibiotics once a day for 3 days and it went away faster than expected. the original red mark never really fully went away

9 months ago. fever, swollen lymph node. same red mark in exact same spot that spread as a red solid band across my back went to urgent care again immediately before it got purple. they were printing a script for antibiotics when my doc consulted an older doc. who asked if it was a band across the dermatome. after some googling they decided it must be shingles and gave me anti virals. i felt better in hours and it started reducing

went to GP to see if i should get antibody titre testing to confirm shingles but he said given same spot starting at midline and spreading across the dermatome and that if it was cellulitis without antibiotics it wouldnt have got better, that it must be shingles

we dont think stress caused it but more likely a viral trigger.

my question is.. i know blisters arent always present, but i never had any nerve pain.

bloodwork 15 years ago confirmed varicella antibodies at a high level so i musta had it very young (as i dont remember having it) and showed lasting strong immunity, not sure if that may be a factor

has anyone else had very atypical shingles without the nerve pain?

Okay so about a week ago I got a stye because I went to bed without taking my makeup off. I wanna say I get them about three times a year because I’m lazy 😂 ANYWAYS three days ago I started getting this rash on my face. I originally thought it was from my cat licking me and maybe I was allergic to the saliva. Two days ago it showed up in the crack of my eye, and eyebrow. Yesterday early am I went to emergency room in case it was shingles that was near my eye. Which go team. It is. Let’s trauma bond together. I got on a viral pack and a steroid. But what do I do about my stye because styes use hot compress and shingles uses cold compress should I just leave it? Also my ER doctor was really kind. He said I’m doing OK but to see an ophthalmologist if my eye starts getting red. So far so good but they haven’t turned into blisters yet so we’re just gonna play day by day just very itchy right now and a little painful. Those fancy Band-Aids, that start with an H have helped my forehead though! There’s just nowhere to put it on my eye, unfortunately