We have had some posters on PN, years ago who had the
neuralgia from herpes zoster with no skin outbreak.

They did benefit from antiviral treatment. And so have I.

I had the mini attacks close to the time I had the shingles.
As time has passed (more than 10 yrs) I don't get them anymore.
I had my shingles down my right arm, and only had about 15
lesions. My husband had a bad attack following a bee sting, and his were around his thorax. He had one pain attack about a year later, but so far no more (this was about 6 yrs ago).

One thing that may activate the Zoster virus is a diet high in arginine. This amino acid stimulates the virus to replicate.
Taking lysine orally will help block this too.
http://www.globalherbalsupplies.com/...nformation.htm

In the nursing home provider context we often see this sequence. A patient with bed sores, is given a high arginine powdered food supplement, and then following that treatment they break out in shingles. Not every single patient, but I have seen the connection there too.

I think you are rather lucky...most doctors will not try antivirals without lesions. Good luck to you...I hope it works!