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Post by quinlove on Aug 24, 2014 16:51:30 GMT
A co worker is still suffering pain from shingles she had in November. She said that all the scabs are long gone, but she is in alot of pain. She has even changed doctors hoping to find relief.
My suggestion was coconut oil and I told her I would bring her some on Monday. Now I'm thinking that might have been making light of the situation. She probably needs something much stronger than coconut oil.
Does anyone know of anything that could help her ? She said most of her shingles were on her mid section/ breast area. Thanks so much.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 10, 2024 12:20:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2014 16:56:51 GMT
Has she talked to her doc about the ongoing pain? Unfortunately there are some people who will experience pain for years after the original episode because it damages the nerves.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 10, 2024 12:20:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2014 16:58:08 GMT
Nerve pain after shingles is a pretty common problem. My mom has had shingles twice and occasionally still has pain -- and the first time she had shingles was about 8 years ago. She has a friend who had shingles in his ocular nerve, and still has pain to this day, and he had shingles about 10 years ago.  I also can't imagine how coconut oil would help. The pain is from the nerve, where the shingles virus infected/lives. |
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Post by mcscrapper on Aug 24, 2014 17:07:48 GMT
I had shingles in February and went to the doc immediately upon noticing the rash. Looking back, I had the pain 2 days prior to my rash outbreak. I had a very mild case of the shingles but can tell you that it was the most annoying and frustrating pain I have ever experienced.
Regular pain medications only dull the pain a mild amount. Most people really need some medication for nerve pain whereas the opiates are more for musculoskeletal. Some patients are prescribed Neurontin or Lyrica for the nerve pain. The caveat to those meds is that they can take days to work and can be addicting just like the opiate drugs.
Even though I had such a mild case, I just could not get comfortable. I also had some referred itching on the opposite side of my body from where my shingles rash was. I didn't want to wear clothing on top but then I was freezing because it is still a virus and I had a low grade fever. While it wasn't debilitating for me, it sure was uncomfortable and I wasn't sleeping so I was so cranky!
Basically, shingles SUCKS. Period.
meredith
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Post by mcscrapper on Aug 24, 2014 17:08:30 GMT
Oh, and I should mention that I still have some pain at the rash site. I tend to notice it more when I'm more stressed which is what brings on the shingles in the first place.
I can't win.
m
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Aug 24, 2014 17:11:16 GMT
I had it for a year after my shingles. She should ask for neurontin.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by quinlove on Aug 24, 2014 17:34:05 GMT
Thank you Thank you !!! I just called her and she had not heard of those meds. She wanted me to text the names to her so I texted Neurontin and Lyrica.
Kinda scary that two doctors wouldn't prescribe these but who knows. I'm glad I could have something helpful to suggest besides CO !!! Geesh
Thanks again.
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Post by miss_lizzie on Aug 24, 2014 17:50:35 GMT
My doctor said that some insurance companies are now covering the shingles vaccine at age 50, instead of starting at age 60. I want to get one when I'm elligible.
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Post by femalebusiness on Aug 24, 2014 18:01:23 GMT
I have known several people who have had Shingles and still have pain years later. I have heard that if you get to the Dr. fast, like 24 - 48 hours after the first symptoms there is some medication that will help but after that it just has to run its course. After my last friend got shingles I took myself to the Dr and got the Shingles vaccine. No way do I ever want to have Shingles. I don't think there is much that you can do once you have it.
Anyone who has had Chicken Pox can get it.
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suzastampin
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,587 
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Post by suzastampin on Aug 24, 2014 19:03:41 GMT
My mom had them 35 years ago. It was before the antiviral meds. A new dermatologist in town put something on them and peeled all the skin off, thus making them more painful. She suffered the last 5 years of her life and tried lots of things. She used a tens machine, put a bottle of aloe vera in the fridge and would put it on, she took Elavil ( I take the same thing for my migraines), she also found that putting pressure on it helped. The only trouble was they went all around her midrif and back. She would get tube tops and take them in so that they were tighter and she wore that all the time.
The pain was excruciating. She had other health issues, but we know that they contributed to her death as she told my husband she just couldn't take them anymore.
Best wishes to your co worker. I hope she finds relief from them.
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Post by mcscrapper on Aug 24, 2014 19:22:15 GMT
My doctor said that some insurance companies are now covering the shingles vaccine at age 50, instead of starting at age 60. I want to get one when I'm elligible. It really needs to be covered for anyone! I had them one month prior to my 43rd birthday and I've seen younger patients in the ER with shingles too. Had a 23 yo patient a few months ago!! Pt thought it was bed bugs but I was like, "Ummmm, hate to break it to you but that is actually shingles and worse than the BBs!" Poor kid! m |
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