[januarybabe]

I have Dx of PN. I am currently on 1800 mg gabapentin per day. Next time I go to pain PA I want to ask for high dosage as this is not quite doing the job.

Any way, does anyone have pain worse on left side of body? I have pain going from under my left arm down to my upper thigh. A lot of the pain is on the side of my waist.

I do have some pain on other side of body. Just wondering if this is significant.

[mrsD]

That location is similar to the most common presentation of Shingles
(Herpes Zoster).

Mine however, in down my right arm.

Hubby's is in that other area of the left side of the spine in the trunk.

[januarybabe]

Originally Posted by mrsD

That location is similar to the most common presentation of Shingles
(Herpes Zoster).

Mine however, in down my right arm.

Hubby's is in that other area of the left side of the spine in the trunk.

I have had shingles twice. Once years ago like 8 years and one last year
2010. Both times were very mild cases. Drs have asked me about shingles. No one has come out and said this pain is caused by PHN. In a way, I was almost hoping it was because I thought PHN works it way out of body. My pain has been going on for little over a year.

[mrsD]

I'd try some lysine for this.... 2 grams a day. Start at 500mg and increase to 2 grams over several days to see if it works.

Another intervention is ice packs along the spine. This will put the Zoster into remission.

You can have blood work done to see if you have high Zoster titres. My unique location has made it easier to identify my own pain attacks due to it. I had some problems with it on vacation this summer! And one vesicle too this time-- usually I don't get the lesions anymore, just the pain.