# Shingles really hurts. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2014, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099 "2014-12-13T07:21:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/41 "2014-12-15T20:39:00Z")
Mine was like an ice pick in the ear. It affected only the right side of my face. I had to drive with my ice pick to and from the ER. The majority was about 3 weeks. I ended with a slight reduction (uncorrectable) in vision in the right eye even with glasses. The only nice thing is when the pain diminishes and you think “Heh, its gone from a 23 to a 21! This feels great!” – well… not all that great :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/42 "2014-12-16T03:12:19Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m five years and a few days short of 50 and got it, not that it seems to have done much. Maybe they made an exception. Maybe because my younger sister had it at in her 30s. Could there be some genetic susceptibility? Oh - well, thats not good news. I’ll have to chat with my doctor about the vaccination next time I’m in. Glad to hear you’re feeling better. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/43 "2014-12-17T00:14:21Z")
You must really be hurting, you don’t sound like yourself. I hope you are feeling better soon and back on your path to world domination. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/44 "2014-12-23T05:21:11Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Everybody should get the vaccine. It is still under patent and about $300, but enough people under 60 get the shingles and it is so f’in painful that it is worth it. I have this paranoia that getting the shot will somehow trigger shingles. Is that complete paranoia? ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/45 "2014-12-24T20:59:37Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I have this paranoia that getting the shot will somehow trigger shingles. Is that complete paranoia? I have the same fear that it will be like getting a flu shot and you get flu like symptoms afterwards. I don’t wan to get shingles like symptoms. once was enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/46 "2014-12-24T21:02:56Z")
Mine were on my left shoulder blade about 25 years ago. Move even slightly, shirt rubs on them, PAIN. Nothing to sneeze at. I wish you the best and a speedy recovery. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/47 "2014-12-24T22:39:41Z")
I had a couple of small outbreaks in my early 30’s according to my Dr. It was just a couple of pimple looking things along a nerve line on the left side of my head. It was disproportionately painful to how it looked. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/48 "2014-12-24T23:04:48Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I have this paranoia that getting the shot will somehow trigger shingles. Is that complete paranoia? Yes, paranoia. Widespread paranoia, you’re not alone in that fear, but that’s not a realistic concern unless you are immunocompromised. Ask your doctor about you in particular, based on your medical history and your medications, but generally speaking, healthy people don’t get shingles from the shingles shot. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/49 "2014-12-27T04:45:08Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Yes, paranoia. Widespread paranoia, you’re not alone in that fear, but that’s not a realistic concern unless you are immunocompromised. Ask your doctor about you in particular, based on your medical history and your medications, but generally speaking, healthy people don’t get shingles from the shingles shot. Thanks, **WhyNot**! ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/50 "2014-12-27T05:44:23Z")
So the last time we heard from **Skald** was 11 days ago. I hope he’s doing ok. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/51 "2014-12-27T06:35:23Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > So the last time we heard from **Skald** was 11 days ago. I hope he’s doing ok. He’s been posting plenty on other threads. Either he is doing fine or his ghost is haunting the internets. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/52 "2014-12-27T08:47:15Z")
> [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](#): > > He’s been posting plenty on other threads. Either he is doing fine or his ghost is haunting the internets. . Good, thanks. Hadn’t seen him. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/53 "2014-12-27T08:48:16Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > So the last time we heard from **Skald** was 11 days ago. I hope he’s doing ok. I’ve posted in other threads. I’m not at my best, to be honest. This is another one of those nights when the pain is keeping me awake. I wasn’t able to do much on Christmas Eve and Day. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/54 "2014-12-27T10:56:22Z")
Good reminder that I really should have that test to find out if I have had Chicken Pox. Hope you get better soon. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/55 "2014-12-28T01:28:03Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ve posted in other threads. > > I’m not at my best, to be honest. This is another one of those nights when the pain is keeping me awake. I wasn’t able to do much on Christmas Eve and Day. no polls yet. clearly not at your best. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/56 "2014-12-28T01:33:34Z")
Missed this earlier somehow - but sympathy, **Skald**. One of my cousin’s suffered from a bout that lingered for a month and sounded absolutely horrible. Hope you are feeling better soon. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/57 "2014-12-28T02:05:58Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > no polls yet. clearly not at your best. I’ve been having trouble sitting at the computer for long. When I’ve posted its been via the phone. Polls seem too much trouble. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/848f3c/32.png) [@The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Holdsworth_Effect)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/58 "2014-12-29T05:10:11Z")
Skald- so sorry to hear this. If you haven’t already got them, ask your doc for Lidocaine patches. They do help (and are actually FDA approved for post-herpetic neuralgia). There is also an herbal (ducking woo pitches) remedy that is pretty effective- it’s St John’s Wort OIL. Like the Lidocaine, it’s topical and temporary, and a nervine. It’s anecdotal but extending the acyclovir for 30 days helps with pain reduction. The vaccine would be appropriate later, and will reduce if not prevent further occurrences. My spouse had a three dermatome case in 2002, was vaccinated in 2009 while hospitaized for a stroke, and had a small recurrence in 2013 that was pretty painful but managed well with 30 days acyclovir and minimal narcotics, and the Lidocaine patches. We use the SJW foil or diabetic foot neuropathy with qualified success (nothing really is perfect) along with gabapentin. It also helped the PHN after about three weeks, when things had subsided to a dull roar. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/59 "2014-12-29T06:55:31Z")
> [@The\_Holdsworth\_Effect](#): > > The vaccine would be appropriate later, and will reduce if not prevent further occurrences. He said he had already had the shot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099.md?page=2)