Post Shingles Break Out Pain - any idea?

I am on week 4 of Shingles with that lovely residual pain. I have tried the meds the dr gave me and they don't help at all!!! Can't stand to have anything touch the skin in that area and this just plain s*cks. Anyone else been thru this and have any helpful suggestions? Truff was kind enough to give me her daughter (the nurse) phone number but any other help would be sooooooo welcome.

And, if you have not gotten a shingles vaccine and you are 'old enough' for it please get one!!!

I can't offer advice but will give hugs without touching you.
I am so sorry for your pain- it's been going on too long.

Do they have any prescription topical thugns with high concentrations of lidocaine?

I didn't knwo of a shingles vaccine.....anyoen had it?

Corky, have you been to this website?

It has lots of info on shingles and treatment of it. They say your age may have a lot with you developing "PHN" which is nerve damage from the shingles. I pray this is not the case for you as they say the pain can go on for years.

Please take care of yourself. Continued prayers and good thoughts going your way - Oh, and {{air hugs}}.

Have you tried ice to numb the area? That works for my hives.

Tigg, great website - Thanks. Unfortunately I do have PHN and it is such a pain in the rear!! The oral meds aren't working and I don't think I can tolerate the side affects of increasing them any higher. A BOL friend has helped with a contact that maybe able to get me a medicated topical cream with my dr's permission. I sure hope so!!

Walden, I do ice every nite and it helps for awhile.

I had shingles 3 years ago - so I feel your pain. My pain lasted 6 weeks before it started to subside. I took vicodin when at home. However, I couldn't function at work will taking pain meds. I'll be praying for you that this is over with soon.

I'm so sorry Corky! I had a friend that lasted for well over a month...I just spoke with her and she said the neurologist gave her Lyrica and Litoderm Pain Patches and that really helped. Her sister told me she thought you could get "over the counter" pain patches at WalMart...but I'm not really sure on that one.....

I pray you are better real soon...it breaks my heart to hear you are in so much pain!!!!!

Corky, Sorry to hear you have this.

Try a nice oatmeal bath if you can...

Dittos....sorry Corky....hope you get past all the pain soon. I haven't had them, but watched my dad have them for several weeks.

Sorry to hear about your pain. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

One of my co-workers did really well with silk undergarments. She even found a pair she could wear under her slacks (she had nerve pain in her thighs as well)

I had shingles when I was ten, and then again last year. Just a note to whoever would hug you without touching you. Shingles is only contagious to those who have not had chicken pox. Hope you feel better soon.

But you wouldn't get shingles if exposed to someone who has them...you'd get chicken pox. Shingles comes from the dormant cicken pox virus that's already in your body, not from exposure to someone who has it.

Brought on by stress or a weak immune system. I had my first outbreak in April and another since and the band where it is breaking out is already a sensitive area.

Oh kms, I'm so sorry that we share this - - it's a b!tch for sure.

Still have my pain but getting a tad bit better with a new ointment that is suppose to allow the necessary meds to get to the nerves under the skin through the skin. Stress in my life???!!! Gees, we work in banking for goodness sake. Just hoping the added stress of my husbands neck/spinal surgery doesn't bring on another one. Need to get well enough to get the vaccine.

Have you tried peppermint oil. My 88 year old Grandfather had extreme pain with postherpetic neuralgia for months. Nothing the doctor gave him worked. I did a little research and found a case where an elderly woman had great success with peppermint oil. My grandfather started using it 4 weeks ago and after the second day of use has had no pain since. Search the web for "shingles and peppermint oil" and you will find several sites that have the information about the elderly woman who found relief from the pain with peppermint oil as well as information on how to apply and what strength to use.

Kori, ask your doctor for an anti-viral. Will cut down on the severity and time of outbreak. Won't do much for the pain, but the meds will knock you out so you won't care.

I took the anti-viral meds when the shingles first appeared but it was already to late.

After nearly 8 months I am much better, it's not all gone - still have some pretty itchy days but it's sooooo much better. And since I haven't said it lately, Get Your Shingles Shot if you can

KMS, hope you are better now.

I asked my doc about the shingles shot when I was there in March. She won't give it to me until I'm 60 . Hopefully I won't get shingles before then.

I am doing great, I keep the anti-viral handy so that if i feel an outbreak coming on(haven't in months) i can start it right away. I am continually on pain meds for my back but it is weird that they only really work for my back. I still get headaches and other pain that it doesn't touch, to include the shingles. I am keeping stress out of my life as much as possible and that seems to help the most. Not sweating the small stuff any longer!