Persisting Pain -- Shingles - I need help. My sister had shingles but not too much pain before the... rash healed. Last week (two weeks after the outbreak), she has sudden shooting pain lasted about 1 minutes in about 4 to 5 times a day, she is taking gabapentin 100mg , 3 x a day, Veltrix, 3 x a day, Hydrocadone 50/500 4 X a day. Please help
What can I do for persistent shingles pain.
Question posted by leehom6 on 13 Sep 2010
Last updated on 12 January 2017
4 Answers
sgracia
7 Aug 2012
I too have been diagnosed with shingles. I have been suffering with it since the middle of July. Pain first, for about four days, then the doctor said that this horrible burning and stabbing pain was the shingles. On the day she diagnosed me, I had not realized that I had a rash. When she examined me, she knew right away that this was shingles. I took Valtrex three times a day for seven days plus all the Tylenol 3 and Percocet I could handle. Also, their is a cream (over the counter) that helps dry up your blisters! It's called Calmaseptine. It did the job in drying up the blisters, only it stains your clothing. Now after about three and a half weeks, the blisters are dry, but the pain, burning, and itching are still a big concern with me. I cannot work because I'm miserable and crabby. When will it ever end? I might try and take Lyrica. Someone suggested that this helps! Thanks!
grandmajulia
6 July 2012
I too have this, no rash just bad pain, im like leehom6 into it 41/2 MO.
Sinrose50
13 Jan 2017
my pain is in the back. Wheres yours. I started Gabapentin. Good luck.
pensioner
12 Dec 2011
To leehom6
I can empathize with the pain. I was having excruciating shingles pain into my third week -- swollen painful tissue, deep painful itching and sharp pains -- could not tolerate clothes on skin. (Lumbar Dermatome area). In addition to the antiviral drug, I was first put on Gabapentin (Neurontin) 100 mg 3xs/day -- it did not touch the pain. I called the doctor and he increased the dose to 300my 3xs/day. After many sleepless nights, I went to see my doctor and told him I had taken codeine out of desparation due to the pain which I had on prescription from a recent surgery. It helped but it makes me nauseous and dizzy. He immediately increased the Neurontin to 600 mg 3xs/day and gave me a tranquilizer.HHe strongly advised against taking any narcotics and said the increased Neurontin dose with the tranquilizer should take care of the pain. I immediately started sleeping through the night and the pain is remarkably less.
Rash and some soreness still slow to heal but the pain and tenderness is cut by 90%. The literature says that doses over 1800/day show no increased benefit. Hope this helps.
Inactive
21 Sep 2010
my mother had shingles and it was quite painful for her. she took vicodin for the pain, which your sister is taking i see. perhaps a bit stronger pain med would help, she should let her doc know that the hydrocodon 50/500 isn't working. there is a stronger one available (vicodin ex), but also percocet, and many others. her doc might suggest taking ibuprofin along with the pain med to help as well.
take care
Related topics
pain, persisting pain, shingles, herpes zoster, skin rash, gabapentin
Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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