That was where shingles hit me. The pain started in my back on the right side under the shoulder blade. I thought I had torn my intercostal muscles back there as I had done in the front the year before.

"Intercostal muscles are several groups of muscles that run between the ribs, and help form and move the chest wall. The intercostal muscles are mainly involved in the mechanical aspect of breathing. These muscles help expand and shrink the size of the chest cavity when you breathe."

The pain eventually spread around to the front of my torso stopping right in the middle. I still thought I'd hit my intercostals. At some point in the process, I experienced flu-like symptoms that cleared up pretty quickly, but then the blisters appeared.

I should add I that I was 48 at the time. Shingles never even entered my mind. Now I know younger people can get them too.