What is Shingles?

My DH had it for years but because the rash never erupted, they told him he had nerve damage. We spent fortunes on MRI's etc trying to find the damage. It is very painful because the virus lives in a nerve and attacks that nerve during outbreaks. He even landed up in the ER a few times on Pethidine but could still feel the pain.

You have to take the anti-viral meds within 24 hours of the rash appearing or it doesn't work. It didn't work for my DH , so we treated it homeopathicaly. Also he went for vit B injections every week for 6 weeks (helps with stress) Took Vit C, Echinacea and garlic tablets for 6 weeks, 3 times a day. Worked like a charm. Hasn't had another outbreak since then.

GL, not a nice disease at all. Terrible watching a loved one suffer with it and not being able to do anything. Massages sometimes helped ease the pain a bit.

I got shingles when I returned to work after my maternity leave, it was an extremely stressful time for me.
It went away after about 2 weeks, however when stressed I still feel the nerves pulling on the places where I had it.
Apparently the chicken pox virus lays dormant and when stressed comes in the form of cshingles

Just a side note. Physio (lazer treatment) can usually help. Treatment is done on the nerve affected, which supports healing and reduces pain.
Not many docs know this, so they often dont make the suggestion.

Just another intersting note, I started noticsing that we were having a lot of younger peple coming in with shingles (is usually older people) and was chatting to one of my physician friends. He said that he has also noticed an increased incidence since the introduction of the chicken pox vaccine on the private immunisation schedule:) Just anecdotal, but interesting....

Sorry the other ladies have given great info.

It is the Herpes virus like chickenpox.

It can return espcially when there is major stress.

It is seriously painful, but they have excellent meds these days to help with the pain.

I know that it differs for every patient. My dad had it for weeks and it was mainly on his trunk, but my friend has had it numerous times in the facial are including inside the throat. She sufferes terribly.

thanks for all this, VERY HELPFUL

my brother had shingles a few weeks ago
It is not contagious (spelling)
It goes away after a few days - my brothers did
They say it is like chicken poks
My brother got it after he was sick with flu

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
After you get chickenpox, the virus remains inactive (becomes dormant) in certain nerves in the body. Shingles occurs after the virus becomes active again in these nerves years later.

The reason the virus suddenly become active again is not clear. Often only one attack occurs.

Shingles may develop in any age group, but you are more likely to develop the condition if:

•You are older than 60

•You had chickenpox before age 1

•Your immune system is weakened by medications or disease

If an adult or child has direct contact with the shingles rash on someone and has not had chickenpox as a child or a chickenpox vaccine, they can develop chickenpox, rather than shingles.

Symptoms
The first symptom is usually one-sided pain, tingling, or burning. The pain and burning may be severe and is usually present before any rash appears.

Red patches on the skin, followed by small blisters, form in most people.

•The blisters break, forming small ulcers that begin to dry and form crusts. The crusts fall off in 2 to 3 weeks. Scarring is rare.

•The rash usually involves a narrow area from the spine around to the front of the belly area or chest.

•The rash may involve face, eyes, mouth, and ears.

Additional symptoms may include:

•Abdominal pain

•Chills

•Difficulty moving some of the muscles in the face

•Drooping eyelid (ptosis)

•Fever and chills

•General ill-feeling

•Genital lesions

•Headache

•Hearing loss

•Joint pain

•Loss of eye motion

•Swollen glands (lymph nodes)

•Taste problems

•Vision problems

You may also have pain, muscle weakness, and a rash involving different parts of your face if shingles affects a nerve in your

Signs and tests
Your doctor can make the diagnosis by looking at your skin and asking questions about your medical history.

Tests are rarely needed, but may include taking a skin sample to see if the skin is infected with the virus that causes shingles.

Blood tests may show an increase in white blood cells and antibodies to the chickenpox virus but cannot confirm that the rash is due to shingles.

Treatment
Your doctor may prescribe a medicine that fights the virus, called an antiviral. The drug helps reduce pain and complications and shorten the course of the disease. Acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir may be used.

The medications should be started within 24 hours of feeling pain or burning, and preferably before the blisters appear. The drugs are usually given in pill form, in doses many times greater than those recommended for herpes simplex or genital herpes. Some people may need to receive the medicine through a vein (by IV).

Strong anti-inflammatory medicines called corticosteroids, such as prednisone, may be used to reduce swelling and the risk of continued pain. These drugs do not work in all patients.

Other medicines may include:

•Antihistamines to reduce itching (taken by mouth or applied to the skin)

•Pain medicines

•Zostrix, a cream containing capsaicin (an extract of pepper) that may reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia

Cool wet compresses can be used to reduce pain. Soothing baths and lotions, such as colloidal oatmeal bath, starch baths, or calamine lotion, may help to relieve itching and discomfort.

Resting in bed until the fever goes down is recommended.

The skin should be kept clean, and contaminated items should not be reused. Nondisposable items should be washed in boiling water or otherwise disinfected before reuse. The person may need to be isolated while lesions are oozing to prevent infecting other people who have never had chickenpox -- especially pregnant women.

Expectations (prognosis)
Herpes zoster usually clears in 2 to 3 weeks and rarely recurs. If the virus affects the nerves that control movement (the motor nerves), you may have temporary or permanent weakness or paralysis.

Sometimes, the pain in the area where the shingles occurred may last from months to years. See: Postherpetic neuralgia

Try this website for info:

www.medicinenet.com/shingles/article.htm