PN or Shingles
 

Hello all. I'm experiencing back pain that also comes around the side. It is at my lower rib height. I'm having severe pain and numbness in this area. It is definitely nerve pain. The pain started 6 days ago and I do not have a rash. I feel terrible and I am running a low grade fever. Pain meds will not touch this pain. My PCP thinks I have shingles. He said it was either shingles or neuropathy. He said the pain would start a week or so before I got the rash. Has this happened to anyone else? Also. If it is shingles, does anyone know something I can do to get the rash to break out sooner so I will heal sooner. I've just felt like staying in bed since last Thursday. Thank you ahead of time. By the way, my MRI was normal. KATO

If doctor's think you have an unusual presentation of shingles, you should then get an antiviral drug to block them. Valtrex is the usually prescribed one. You can only have shingles if you had chicken pox in the past. Waiting to give it can diminish Valtrex's
efficacy.

That kind of pain can also come from a kidney infection.

Mrs. D, I gave a urine sample. No infection. I don't have the rash yet. If and when it comes, he said to call him to get the meds for the shingles.

Before I got the rash, I had deep muscle/nerve pain that was located in the right side of my back over my ribs. The other tell-tale sign I had was flu-like symptoms that subsided about the time the rash appeared.

And incidentally, I had no clue what was going on and ended up driving up to Canada to meet and visit relatives. Also golfed through the whole episode in misery. Stupid is as stupid does.

Shingles without Rash | MD-Health.com

Please read this link that explains shingles.
If a person has had chicken pox the zoster virus remains
In spinal cord and brain for life.

When it activates it causes pain and sometimes the rash does
Not come out. The link explains this.

MrsD,

Maybe you know something about this...

When I first had my neuro work-up back in 2014 and nothing was found, my neuro wanted me to go to this doctor about 80 miles away to check for a "viral cause." Long story, but this doctor was all but inaccessible. My neuro was specifically thinking about herpes zoster or Epstein-Barr

I always wondered if a blood test couldn't have shown an increased viral load so there would have been more of a reason to pursue that?

When I had my shingles (about 20 yrs ago), I went to an urgent care who gave me the Zovirax. I then went to my own doctor as I worsened, developing a cellulitis and pneumonitis. I ended up on antibiotics in addition to the Zovirax.. I was working midnights then. My doctor suggested to change my job to days, which I did. Because my small rash was on my arm, which is an unusual site, my doctor ran a Herpes titre blood test to confirm the shingles. It came back with negligible simplex but sky high zoster (shingles). My husband's shingles was so severe he didn't need the blood work. His presentation was the typical one on the trunk over the ribs.

So yes, blood work can be done.

[QUOTE=mrsD;1241563]Shingles without Rash | MD-Health.com

Please read this link that explains shingles.
If a person has had chicken pox the zoster virus remains
In spinal cord and brain for life.

When it activates it causes pain and sometimes the rash does


Not come out. The link explains this.[/QUOTE
Thank you for the link. I've been reading about a lot lately. I have the symptoms. On my right side, I have numbness from the center of my spine around my side on my rib cage to the center of my belly. It's splits my belly right through the middle you can almost draw a line but what I can feel and what I can't. I have a lot of stabbing pain my hair even touching my back hurts so bad I can't stand it my clothes hurts so bad it hurts I just want to run around it which is not good for anyone. Thank you so much for the link again. Now I'm running a fever I've called my doctor I've told him what was going on. I'll end you were right about the kidney infection when the doctor did the pulmonary urine dipstick it was negative but then they sent it off and did a culture and it did grow bacteria. I have been on antibiotics for 6 days now period I can tell but the kidney infection is better because I don't feel sick period but I still have this terrible pain from the center of my back around to my stomach up under my breast and down to just below my rib cage. There isn't a spot on my body anywhere I look every time I go to the bathroom. I just don't know and my one of the lucky ones that don't have the rash. That's being sarcastic by the way. Again thank you and hopefully I will hear from my doctor today. Thank you all

I had shingles, new here
 

Sorry I'm a few months late. I found this forum after googling Ted's Pain Cream which I'm not using for PHN which is Post Herpetic Neuralgia, meaning nerve damage after shingles. I didn't realized this support group is for PN, NOT PHN, but while searching her for shingles/PHN info, I found this thread.

Unfortunately, between working in healthcare and dealing with shingles/PHN for the last year I know a lot more than I'd like to about the condition. Shingles doesn't have to present at all with the rash you see in adds, there can be no rash or such a slight rash (as in my case) it's missed and anti-virals aren't given. I hope by now you're doing better, as I wouldn't wish this one anyone at all.

I had hoped to be an active member here, but it seems I'll have to go back to Patient as I don't really find others in my situation. Technically, I guess mine is not a neuro problem, yet fMRI's done on people with PHN will show changes.

Welcome, Babsy,

Sorry to hear about the PHN. An acquaintance of mine had/has it, and was miserable with horrid pain down her arm. I assume she's still having problems with it, but haven't talked to her for awhile. I know she was taking Lyrica at one point.

I avoided the PHN, but have a mild case of Post Herpetic Itch in the affected nerve bundle around my ribs. Thankfully it's not too bad.

Janie

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 :hug:

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