Doing the neuropathy decathlon
 

On Saturday a rash appeared on my rib cage where intense pain has been taking place. It took my primary 30 seconds to diagnose shingles and off I went with a pair of scripts.

I am confused as to how this patch freed up the prescription pad. Two visits ago we had it out over further testing and/or better(stronger) meds. I get the reservations on prescribing opiates, but I didn't even broach the subject and it was being written.

I must say- very helpful. Not an absolute solution, but it makes everything a bit more bearable.

I am hoping that the week without treatment doesn't lend itself to permanent damage. I have enough neuropathy already, seriously.

I can't determine whether it is worse than my diabetic pn, though being a new spot changes the field, so to speak. I do feel that if they remake Return of the Jedi I could pull off Luke writhing under the assault of force lightning from the Emporer.

I hope it doesn't get too much worse, though I am bracing for it.

Any suggestions welcome.

Jon

Is the rash major (heavy) or light relatively?

My husband's shingles were ghastly... all over his side and abdomen on the left, plus his ear canal.

He had some pain for 2 yrs after, in spurts, but nothing really lasting.

I on the other hand had only a few lesions down my right arm.
That side of my shoulder and neck have had many flares as the years have gone by. (no rash, but intense pain).

I think many PNers have had mild shingles, didn't get enough antiviral, and/or for some other reason, just get flares of pain.
It is called postherpetic neuralgia. The virus lives in the dorsal roots along the spine, forever.

You can bring it out with a diet high in arginine, or by taking arginine supplements. Using some l-lysine, 1 to 2 grams a day can put it also into a sleeping remission state.

Here is a food list of arginine/lysine food ratios:
http://www.herpes.com/Nutrition.shtml

If arginine gets dominant then that feeds the virus and signals replication, which then activates.

Because my shingles were an odd unusual presentation, I had blood work to measure the titres of antibodies present. And my Zoster was off the scale. My simplex, very very low.

Now that you have a diagnosis of shingles, your insurance will approve Lidoderm patches...which is a good thing. You might want to try them on your PN spots. (I've used them on the tops of my feet at times, and behind my right knee. They can really stop severe pain, if placed over nerve paths involving the pain.

So far it is a band of pain on my right side with a two inch or so lesion, however my physician believes that I will be developing the rash around. I called him and left a message about lidoderm last night- I had some at home, but they were expired.

It certainly is not fun, I'd say it is currently mild to moderate. When medicated things are bearable. I hope not to delve much further in the undermedicated waters. I felt like I was being stabbed through the ribs.

Thanks Mrs. D.

Jon

Shingles are very painful!! I pray they do not travel to your other side. I hope you are staying as comfortable as possible and recover quickly.

My hubby's were over 12 inches long down his abdomen, and around his back, and were horrible to look at! Angry red, and some even black. You have to keep that area clean with hydrogen peroxide daily to keep secondary infection down... so take good care of YOUR rash.

I had just gone upNorth with our son, for the summer. Hubby was to follow in 2 wks, after we got the house open and working.
He sent a message (this was before cell phones) to the marina, and said he was ill. His pain was odd, so he thought he had the flu. I got the message, and called him on a payphone, and immediately realized he had a big problem. I made him promise to go to my doctor, which he did... and the rest is history for us.

He finally showed up 10 days or so later...after the Zovirax and
Cefzil (antibiotic) for his ear. Our cousin didn't believe this situation....as she sadly is a mega manipulator and liar and expects lies from others (sigh). So when he did show up... she had a doctor with her (her latest squeeze) and they pooh poohed the whole story( like "sure" etc). So hubby raised his shirt, and the ghastly angry icky wicky situation was for all to see. Our cousin's doctor friend... drew back, afraid to catch it all himself, and that was the end of the weird family event. I learned alot about HER that day... what a PAIN she is! It was an unexpected learning experience. I don't really have much to do with her now...as you might imagine. LOL

Hubby now does not complain or have issues with his "shingles" anymore...so people do get better and go into remission even with a severe case like he had.

From shortly after 3:15 PM to 6:30 PM random rib cage electric jolts. I now understand why the hydrocodon was prescribed. Medicine plus a nap reset me.

I am keeping the lesion clean and I have not seen more to this point.

Ugh.

I'm ashamed to admit that I had no idea what was going on when I got them, and ended up driving to Canada and back with them.

Miserable, I was.

Still, I don't have think I had a severe case. I have no residual pain, but I do have some mild postherpetic itch on the nerve bundle involved.

Mrs. D, I like-wise had to "lift my shirt" at one point to show people why I was so miserable on the golf course. One woman said she thought it looked like shingles, but I blew her off.

Stupid is as stupid does.

I hope I don't have any residual, though I wonder if that 6 days prior to a rash (8 total with no treatment) don't increase that chance.

The rash is starting to form in the back. If you folded me in half I bet they line up.

I had no treatment at all and had little residual effect. Hopefully you'll fare as well.

It's a pity the urgent care place didn't get on it sooner, but I guess without a rash or flu-like symptoms, they'd have no reason to conclusively suspect it. Funny that MrsD picked up on it right away, though. :)

My rash was a sporadic band from my mid-back to my sternum.

Very sorry about this Jon. I guess that means you have not had the shingles vaccine. I have considered getting it even though I am only in my mid-40's. With PN though, I wonder if that puts us at an increased risk for contracting it since so much else is compromised with our bodies?

Mrs D, I would love to know your thoughts on this. I take l-arginine daily and was not aware of its connection to shingles.

I hope you are pain free very soon Jon.