Many different types of medications may be used for pain relief. If what you were prescribed is not helping, ask for something different.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-treatment-overview

Oh no, sorry to hear about this even though you got the vaccine, which I realize does not completely eliminate your risk. Can you maybe talk to your primary care doc or nurse practitioner/PA about some of the treatments mdln posted?

I had shingles around 5-6 years ago. It was extremely painful. It is only in this last year that I no longer notice the pain so it lasted around 4-5 years.

I've had shingles twice; once when I was 13 (unheard of in one so young) and again about 16 years ago. Did the doctor not offer you an anti-viral drug or did he feel it was too late for this? They make a HUGE difference, both in dealing with the pain now and with any neuropathy that continues after the shingles is gone. It typically is given within 48 hrs of the shingles first appearing.

Shingles hurts like hell. I doubt that pain relievers would even give one must relief unless given in VERY high doses. It's the kind of pain where one moans out loud.

It's a nasty disease but the good news is that it is a disease that will eventually disappear. One cannot get shingles unless one has had chicken pox and now that most children are vaccinated for chicken pox, fewer and fewer people will ever get shingles.

I hope your doctor gave you an anti-viral for these. If he didn't, shame on him.

Call your doctor. Let him know you are not getting any relief.

I had shingles two and a half years ago. It manifested differently than yours, I think, or maybe I was just distracted by the TMJ that set in on the same day. My doctor and dentist both told me that extreme stress can provoke those conditions, and boy was the day before a whopper. If your DH has ALZ then yes, you are under great stress.

Anyway, besides an antiviral my doctor had me get Capsaicin for the shingles pain. It worked pretty well. I've since found it useful for other issues.

Gabbipentin (neurontin) is sometimes prescribed for shingles pain.

I can't really offer any advice. I had my vaccination, but I understand they are not 100 percent effective and must be repeated. My mom had shingles on her face and thought it was poison ivy. Her case was not too bad.

Mostly I want to say how sorry I am that you are suffering. I can't even imagine the stress of caring for an ALZ patient. I watch out for my elderly mom whose worst problem is her short term memory. It can be so frustrating to have to constantly repeat myself, although I do it with patience. ALZ would be a thousand times worse. Anyway, I am sending virtual hugs (but not too tight) to you. Hope it passes quickly.

Oh boy, I'm so sorry. My mother had shingles and like bpathome's mother it was not as serious as some but it was still pretty bad.

I don't know if shingles would be something a Pain Management clinic can help with but you may want to reach out to one and inquire. Many doctors I know will refer their patients to a pain management clinic to either help them learn some other helpful pain control options or to actually get the prescriptions they need.

" I understand their thoughts but it is certainly a disservice to those who do not abuse pain meds and truly need something.

This could not be more true. You would not believe the hoops my husband and I have to jump through to ensure he gets his pain medications. The abusers have made it literally a nightmare for cancer patients and other people diagnosed with chronic and painful illness to get the care they truly need. SO frustrating.

http://www.pharmacytimes.com/contributor/jennifer-gershman-pharmd-cph/2016/09/more-effective-shingles-vaccine-could-be-coming-soon

More Effective Shingles Vaccine Could Be Coming Soon

About 1 in 3 in the US will develop shingles in their lifetime.

CDC recommends zoster vaccine for those 60 yrs and older, although FDA-approved for those 50 yrs and older. Even those who previously had shingles should receive the vaccine to prevent future occurrences.

Studies demonstrated Zostavax reduced incidence of shingles by 51% and postherpetic neuralgia by 67% among individuals 60 yrs or older, though efficacy was only about 38% for those older than 70 yrs.

Shingrix is an investigational shingles vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline, which plans to file for the vaccine’s FDA approval sometime this year. The vaccine was 97% effective against shingles in those 50 years and older, and it was 89.8% effective for those 70 years and older. Analysis showed Shingrix was 89% effective in preventing PHN in those 70 yrs and older and 91% effective in those 50 yrs and older.

What Anglo said. You should be on an antiviral, the sooner the better. My dad had shingles last year and thank goodness, for some reason, he had an idea that's what he might have. His doctor saw him the same day and he was started on the antiviral - less than 24 hours after rash started. I think it made a huge difference. My MIL, on the other hand, had INTERNAL shingles and she was first diagnosed with thrush, then finally ended up in the hospital for several days. She lost 13 lbs in 3-4 days.

I am over 50 and my insurance did actually cover the vaccine. I was going to use my flex account if it did not. So, if you haven't had it, try to get it.

I've heard the pain can be one of the worst types of pain ever. A primary care doctor, in many cases, should be able to treat this, but.... a pain clinic/specialist will definitely treat postherpetic neuralgia (pain from/after shingles.) Lyrica is indicated to treat that condition.... it is non-narcotic. (Lyrica and Neurontin are in the same class of drugs. Lyrica has some benefits over Neurontin, but coverage/cost will depend on your insurance.)

My cousin swears by medical marijuana for her chronic pain. For shingles, watching a friend suffer terribly, I'd give of a try for sure. Best wishes...so sorry!

I've never know ANYONE whose shingles did not cause extreme pain!!!

Yes, shingles are usually very painful & not fun to deal with.....some people have to use narcotics to get some relief.

My mother had shingles while we were on an England trip, and it was agonizing for her. She did get on Gabapentin and the Lidocaine patch as soon as possible, but full recovery took quite some time.

Shingles do not afflict only the elderly. I know a teenager and a young man in his 30s who contracted the illness. I really hate that the vaccine is so hard to get unless you're older. My insurance will pay for it once I reach the age of 60, but before then it would be strictly out of pocket.

acdc, I am so very sorry that you're suffering. I think being told to rid yourself of stress when you are a caregiver is one of the most unrealistic things your doctor could have possibly said!

I have had recurrent shingles since I was thirty. Now I know by sensation and pain in right midriff area that it will happen before the rash. Because of this they put me instantly on antiviral( acyclovir) and steroids and I have a much shorter viral time and can even avoid the rash. I was able to get the vacinne covered this year six month after my last bout. If you have a history the shot is always perscribed just not always covered fully be insurance if you are young.

The vaccine isn't hard to get, you can get it at many pharmacists. Our doc will give a prescript, but many insurances don't cover it until age 60. I believe it's one of those things worth paying out-of-pocket for. And yes, I've known a few college students to get shingles and other young adults. Roarah, recurrent shingles? That's awful. My MIL had the vaccine 6 months after she had shingles also. That's the waiting period. Although why she didn't have the vaccine, I don't know. She was over 60. I think our internist routinely prescribes the vaccine - even under age 60. There's several vaccines that adults don't think about that we should get/update.

IIRC, the vaccine out-of-pocket was around $250. I haven't gotten it yet (I just got done with a whole round of shots for Panama), but will very likely do so in the near future. It's one of those things that one doesn't give much thought to, until discussions like this come up.

Where do you have shingles? I had it around the waist area. DH had shingles before I got mine, so I knew as soon as I saw the red marks that I had shingles. Immediate treatment helped, but it was too painful to have anything touch the area. I couldn't wear clothes, so I had to miss several days of work. (They wouldn't have understood if I came in nude.) DH didn't get treated for several days, and the best he could get was a tranquilizer. You have my sympathy.

Suero, mine is on my upper torso from midpoint front to middle back. The pain is incredible. Like you, I can't stand to have clothing touch it. Mine was originally misdiagnosed in the ER so I was delayed with getting an antiviral medication. Every night when I go to bed I pray that the morning will be better.

Mine was also around the right side of the midsection. My uncle had it on the face, close to the eye. That would be scary!

I had shingles 9 years ago (I was 55) after spending 9 weeks with my daughter and her family after she had twins. (Yes, stressful.) I noticed the rash the day I was getting ready to fly home, and went to the doctor the next day and got an antiviral. The best description of the pain that I could come up with at the time was that it was like being simultaneously tasered and stabbed. (Or what I assume that feels like.) Gabapentin helped me a lot, with the extra benefit of helping me sleep, which was totally not happening for awhile.

acdc-I hope you can get some relief. I agree-ask your doc to prescribe something different.

DH broke out about a week before you. He started complaining that his arm and shoulder were sore, but he didn't remember anything that would have ccaued a pulled muscle. That was Friday. Saturday he said he noticed some other sensations and then the rash appeared. He didn't sayy anything and I didnt see it until he wass in the shower Sunday morning (Mother's Day). He said he didn't want to ruin my day. I tried to get him to go in for urgent care, but he waited until Monday. Until then, we used an aloe with lidocaine (sold for sunburn) that I keep in the fridge and motrin. He got an antiviral and a prescription for Lyrica (very expensive). He was starting to have thhe deeper pai by then and it got worse Monday and Tuesday, but the drugs started kicking in Tuesday to Wednesday. We were traveling Thursday and he did fine.

If you go the antiviral but are still having so much pain, I would ask your doctor about an antidepressant for pain (because it is a deep nerve pain, not because it's in your head). I had one prescribed once and it made me feel awful, so I didn't continue taking it and can't really say how it addressed pain because it has to work into your system a bit before you really know, but it seems to have helped DH a good bit. Now the question is when he can stop taking it.

I hope your doctor told you that the vacccine makes the chances of having long term pain or problems from shingles about 90% less. That is the main reason the vaccine is so widely recommended. It is only about 50% effectiive at preventing shingles. So see if you can get something to help the pain (not the typical pain meds they would have given you in the ER), try taking Motrin or Aleve along with that at least until it kicks in (anti-inflamatory- NSAIDS), and then breathe, trry to be more confident that you won't have those long term issues you are worriee about and try to calmly roll with the day to day with DH.

My mom and MIL both had Alzheimer's. I get it. Just don't forget that the person you love is still there and wanting to connect with you -- the pathways just don't work most of the time -- or they can't communicate when they do. But they are there and still a loving person. I always saw my mom as still there while me dad seemed to see what was gone. It was also the time when I made a practice of making sure I counted my blessings each night (or whenever) -- saying thanks for the things that were good in the day and asking for guidance with those that were difficult. It made a huge difference in how her disease impacted us and how we were able to connect with her (I was with her at the end and he was in the hospital with pneumonia and congestive heart failure). Stay positive and take care of yourself.

I came down with shingles the week before Easter and am just now not experiencing pain. My case is a bit odd - down the back of my left leg, across the instep of my foot and behind my toes. I thought that my boots were causing my leg to hurt, but in hindsight it was the beginning stages of shingles. The blisters appeared on Easter and the pain shooting out of my toes was crazy. The nurse practitioner that saw me at the express clinic put me on an antiviral and suggested I use extra strength Tylenol for pain and Benadryl at night to help me sleep. I'm still waiting for the scarring to fade, but it's a small price to pay - could have been much worse.

B12 shots can help stop nerve damage during Shingles. The anti viral needs to be given as soon as possible. The pain is awful. Please everyone get a shot to protect yourself.

Glad you are feeling better. I think that misdiagnosis cost you some important time in getting the antiviral. I think DH wished he had gone into an urgent care clinic when the pain got worse before it got better. DH had a little pain this morning, but motrin took care of it. Other than that, I think he has been pretty much pain free the past week except for the blisters that are still healing. Since you are a week behind him, that should be good news for you. He looks a lot better too.

I do plan to as my dr about the vaccine again. Since DH has had it now, I think both of us might feel different about paying out of pocket for it rather than taking a chance on waiting too long to get it. I did see a news report that they may be coming out with a new shingles vaccine. I wonder if that would be an in addition to or instead of.

Acdc, glad you are recovering. It almost hurt to read about your shingles. I did not realize you had the vaccine. That's scary. I thought I was protected, although I know the protection doesn't last forever.

A new shingles vaccine is in the works, and it looks promising, especially for older adults. Yeah!

Dedtired, the vaccine is only 50% effective at preventing shingles (which, as bad as it can be might still be worth it), but it is 90% effectiive at making any shingles that does occur a lighter, shorter case. It may not sound like a lighter case, but the pain can be permanent, and if it occurs on or in your head or internally, it can lead to severre complications. It is nastsy stuff.