hi,
I'm new to this site. I found it while looking for info on how to lessen pain after shingles. My husband got shingles on April 14th. The pain is terrible and he had very large rashes in both the front and back of the left side of his body. Todate, the rash has almost completely healed but the pain has not gone away. The doctor started him on Lyrica, 50mg/three times a day and after four days, he has had no relief whatsoever. I'd appreciate any help anybody can give me. He works as a construction worker so he goes up and down ladders, handles power tools, etc. every day. He has taken all the sick days he can without losing his job.

If the pain your husband had is neuropathic pain (which can affect people after shingles) then he is on a low dose of Lyrica at 150 mg a day. I have neuropathic pain and it was only when I was at 400mg a day that I got any pain relief. The max dose is 600 mg a day so maybe your husband should talk with his Dr about upping the dose until he finds a daily dosage which offers him pain relief.

welcome Josie

so sorry to hear that your husband is going through such pain. Shingles is a very very painful and debilitating experience. I wish him a speedy and complete recovery

You may also want to ask your husband's doctor about L-Lysine, an amino acid that is known to inhibit viral activity. It is really good at keeping the Herpes virus that causes shingles in dormancy

here is also some general shingles info that may be helpful to you
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/shingles.html

Just an aside...I suffered a whole bundle of illnesses after pesticide poisoning during the 90s, of which shingles was one. I had a holistic therapy program involving acupuncture, reflexology and some other treatments including natural supplements, like the L-Lysine, and the outbreaks stopped, the pain went away and the virus has never flared since.

Cheri

Hi Josie! I had shingles many yrs ago and even long after the rash disappeared, I had pain around my rib cage for months.

I discovered the shingles when my ribs felt like they were cracked, so I looked and lo and behold, there was a crusty rash developing. I so feel for your Hubby,. they are awful... take care....

Hi Cheri, my name is Randy. Saw your post and had a question on the Lysine you were taking. I too have gone through a pretty bad bout of shingles, left side of face, ear, below cheekbone toward collarbone, out to left rotator cuff, and shoulder blade. Hurt Hurt Hurt, now I'm going through the nerve pain. What dose of the Lysine were you taking, thanks Randy.

Randy,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Here are a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

Lidoderm Patches might help. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...ticlekey=44404

Hello Randy

I was initially on 1000mg a day for about 2 months I think, and was then reduced to 500mg a day "maintenance" dose for a year.

I have not had a recurrence, and I still take 1000mg once a week, which is hopefully what keeps the virus dormant