Okay so the flare up I am having is related to both the laser and shingles. I am shocked. After the second laser treatment I developed a rash and thought I was just becoming one of those CRPS rash-y people. But then the NP at the pain clinic yesterday thought it looked like shingles. I took this info with a grain of salt till I had follow up at Phys med today (the stupid laser place) and they also said it looked like shingles. THEN ran into a doc I know while out who saw the top of my foot and said "looks like shingles". On my poor foot!

The Phys med people were not surprised and said laser could have set that off they had actually seen that before. Gee thanks, didn't know that could happen. It explains the weird zingers on top of my foot in the rash area. Taking Valtrex now.

Word to the wise, rash plus even intermittent sting plus itch may not be CRPS, it may be shingles. Even when you are relatively young and not shingles age. Just one more reason to get things checked out even when you think it's just part of this lovely syndrome. Because why? cuz we're Special!

Hey the good news is this is a great time to get Ketamine so I don't end up with post-herpetic neuralgia on top of CRPS. Really wishing I hadn't done that laser now....I am beginning to fully appreciate how careful we have to be with CRPS limbs.
Littlepaw

Oh no!
This will most definitely set of increased nerve issues!
Another pointer: shingles is one sided...it does not cross the midline as a rule. However, if it occurs on CRPS side, it makes sense to chalk it up as CRPS.
I do hope you feel better soon. Gentle hugs my sweet friend


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Thanks for the hugs! Yes it is just on the one side. I didn't put it together since it is on my CRPS foot and I always think of torso or face but Shingles can get you anywhere....

Wow, first how sorry I am for you...glad you found this out....
Second, I've often wondered if I had shingles with my CRPS...but since I never had the full rash...just try patches, then I thought eh let's hope not...but you are going though it...crazy.....yes, gentle hugs and keep up the fight....

I should add...for anyone who has had chicken pox, there is a shingles vaccine. Ask your Dr. and get vaccinated!


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Oh no, oh no, oh no!!!! This sounds miserable! I hope it is not that and it goes away ASAP!!

Thanks for this...I had the chicken pox but a very mild case and not as a child but as a young adult....so thanks....

Oh Dear, Littlepaw,

I am so sorry for you, I hope this setback is fleeting and minor.

Just fyi, Shingles can strike any age group - all it takes it to have had the Chicken Pox virus and to have a compromised immune system, through illness or medication. No-one knows the actual trigger mechanism. It is also as contageous as the Pox.

I wish you the speediest of recoveries.

Dave.

Thanks everyone for all the kind words and encouragement on this and the ketamine. You guys are the best!

With 3 people having seen it now I am pretty comfortable with the shingles diagnosis. Thankfully it is being treated properly. Crummy thing is you can get it again and the nerves are predisposed once they have it just like cold sores. The good news is it is not that bad a breakout. The rash area is limited to just the top of my foot and the rash is NOT the severity of the lovely ads we see on TV for shingles vaccines. I would've gone in for that! My CRPS nerve is aggravated but the rash is less prominent there. Sometimes people don't get the rash at all, just the pain!

I was told today even babies can get this . That is too sad. So definitely can strike at any age.

Littlepaw

CRAP! If it wasn't for bad luck, we'd have no luck at all!

I feel badly for you. I contracted chicken pox about 20 years ago after shaking the hand of a father of a friend who had shingles. Unknowingly of course until after the fact.

So having chicken pox as an adult was no picnic. So after getting CRPS, I opted to have the shingles vaccine a couple of years ago. Of course, the vaccine is no guarantee of not getting shingles, but if you get it, it is supposed to be a lighter case.

Is there anything we with CRPS don't worry about? Geezz....

Hope that your shingles clear up soon Littlepaw! And thanks to you for all of your insightful and compassionate replies here on this forum. They are very much appreciated!