I have heard that too, and I think there is something to it. My son also has a rare recurring form of shingles which first struck him when he was only ten years old. It affects the nerve that goes from outside corner of his eye to his ear and he gets blisters on top of his ear. It is extremely painful but responds to famvir and Gabapentin. Outbreaks seem related to stress, which he handles poorly.
I hope that you get some answers soon, and that they take your pain seriously and work on finding relief.