I'm sorry you are suffering this, I see other people have posted you can have shingles and no rash appear. That's what happened with me, I had terrible pain and my GP had to explain to me shingles can occur without the rash. I had it from my right no9 rib spreading around to my spine and up to about T3. I couldn't bear touch and was unable to wear a bra for some conserable time. She gave me medication and a friend of mine got the little tubes of Zovirax and got my husband to gently spread it over my skin in the most affected area every morning. I see now there are cheaper versions of Zovirax which will give the same relief and less cost. I truly believe the Zovirax got me through, it combined with valtrex - go figure in the midst of it all, no doubt due to the stress I had a herpes outbreak. I'm lucky I don't get them often unlike some poor souls who suffer year in /out. Someone else told me to try listening to calming meditation chant/music he said the more I could calm my mind the quicker the episode would pass. I'm not sure if it's true but I gave everything a shot, when you're in that much pain you'll try anything. I can truly empathise with where you are right now. Oh and someone else told me vitamin D, get some sunshine on the effected area.... all the best, it will eventually pass, stay strong

The period before the rash appears, for me, is the most dreadful. I have horrible pain and all of my osteoarthritic sites (fingers, neck, shoulder, knees, feet) hurt as well. I really feel dreadfully ill.

It is not until the cold sore clusters appear that I realize what I'm dealing with is Herpes, and only Simplex at that!

I have had clusters on my mouth, cheek bones, and once on my back.

I'm pretty sure what I experience is not true Shingles.

Once the blisters appear, the worst is over. The attacks are far enough apart that I never even think about Herpes, only that I feel terribly ill.

I even had the Shingles Vaccine (because I indeed had chicken pox as a child). Later I have been told that was a terrible thing to do since I also have Primary Immune Deficiency Disorder. But I had the vaccine before I knew of my PIDD status.

The only illness that has 'broken through' my Immune System since I began have IVIG every 4 weeks for the past four years, is Herpes. Herpes is truly evil, lies in wait and is relentless.

I have a friend with Immune Deficiency who suffer from internal as well as external Shingles. She takes medication to keep the shingles at bay, which isn't always effective, and has its own terrible side effects.

Those who live outside the world of Neuropathy, and Shingles, are blessed and have no idea what life is like for those who live with Nerve pain, nerve damage.

Regards, Elaine