Shingles...

Clydetz

Clydetz

Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
2,871
I've been diagnosed with shingles and being treated with Valtrex & acetaminophen with codeine. Constant pain is annoying. Anyone had this condition? How soon before I could expect recovery? :(
 
I've had it, I also got a shot of Kenalog (prenisone) to help healing. It was probably 6 months before I was twinge free.
 
Back about 1973, I pinched a nerve in my back, right between the shoulder blades, and the pain went around my left side.

Well, a few days later I had to go to El Paso, TX from Santa Ana, CA straight through, and back. By the time I got back, the pain was severe, and I had blisters on my left upper chest, and my left side.
I went to a doctor and he said shingles, gave me a shot of gamma globulin(sp?), to boost the immune system, and told me it was going to get nothing but worse for the next few months, and to come back in a week for another shot, etc.
The next day I went to my Brothers Chiropractor trying to get rid of the back and side pain from the pinched nerve, and he manipulated my spine quite a bit, lots of crunching etc.

When I went back to the MD the following week, the shingles were gone, just some spots where the blisters had been.

He really didn't know what to say, especially when I mentioned the Chiropractor.!!:eek:
 
My wife had it a couple of month's ago. That's how I wound up catching Chicken Pox (I never had them as a kid). Her DR told her there was a one in a million chance that it could happen - Lucky Me!!!

She saw her DR the first day she noticed red spots and blotches on her face and scalp. Her DR put her on an anti-viral, Famvir immediately, and she started treatment that day. The spots and blotches eased up (within a week), but the pain continued. She spoke to her DR about it, and she prescribed Prednisone (you know 1st day - 4 pills, 2nd day - 3 pills ...), and a pain killer with hydro-codone in it. I think that she was very lucky. Within two weeks almost all symptoms were gone. She still had a little bit of pain, since the virus attacks the nerves under the affected area, and she still had a little bit of redness. Now, just about two months later all symptoms are gone.

She kept apologizing to me for giving me Chicken Pox, but my biggest gripe is that now I'm susceptible to SHINGLES!!!!

Hang in there Gary. I take it you have it across your mid-section, which is the most common place for Shingles to occur. I had a relative who got them in her eyes, and she eventually went blind!! I hope we will still see you at our August meeting. Just as a precaution - if you didn't have Chicken Pox as a kid, DON'T come to the S&A on August 15th. Trust me on this one!!

Ken
 
My dad had shingles last year, and he says that the first 10 days were really painful, but the full course lasted three weeks.

If you haven't had chicken pox, I think there's a vaccine for it now. Some folks who have had the vaccine apparently still get shingles, but it's a lower incidence.
 
Mike , assuming you did have shingles[a type of herpes] the chiropractic adjustment didn't directly 'cure ' the shingles. What happens is that your body had to fight two things , pinched nerve and shingles. Once the pinched nerve was taken care of your body then could use all it's resources to deal with the shingles.A real chiropractor will explain this, the phoney ones would tell you chiropractic will cure everything.
 
One day I noticed a couple of red pimples on my right hip & thought it was mosquito bites. Two days later there was a red patch; on the 3rd day it looked like this...scared the heck out of me (<<< 1st patch)! I'm taking the medication & hoping for the best...no work for a week...get to see the doctor next Thursday. I'll pass on the next meeting, Ken...don't want to give anyone chicken pox!
 

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mete said:
Mike , assuming you did have shingles[a type of herpes] the chiropractic adjustment didn't directly 'cure ' the shingles. What happens is that your body had to fight two things , pinched nerve and shingles. Once the pinched nerve was taken care of your body then could use all it's resources to deal with the shingles.A real chiropractor will explain this, the phoney ones would tell you chiropractic will cure everything.
Click to expand...
Thanks doctor, but nobody explained anything at all about anything, neither the Chiropractor, or the MD.
Just telling it like it happened.
 
Clydetz, after having viewed that pic, you have my full and unequivocal sympathy. (BTW using all my willpower I am abstaining from asking a question that would probably get this thread moved to W&C... ;) )
 
Mother in law has them now. She putzed around too long, and it has affected her vision. (double)

The key to minimizing the effects appears to be early trip to the doc, and some anti-viral meds.

Can get very nasty from what we've read.

WEBMD.com is a great site for good medical info.
 
I am really sorry to read about this. Constant pain is no fun. Worry about serious aftereffects is worse. Take your medicine and get well soon!
 
I'll take a stab at your question, Torz... The pimples do not go below the belt! Now that would cause some pain! :eek:
Sorry to hear about your mother-in-law, thatmguy! Hope she's getting some good care & taking any medication that's prescribed. I have heard that shingles in the area of the eye might lead to blindness if not treated! I got my fingers crossed that she has a full recovery.
Esav...I'm tryin'...I'm tryin'! Thanks buddy! :D
 
Sorry to hear about your condition. I got shingles back in 1980 and it is not a pleasant experience. At first I thought I had poison ivy, but going to the doctor confirmed it was shingles. I had them under my right arm and right side of my chest. Tylenol with codene helped with the pain. Try Aveeno oatmeal bath to relieve the itching and to help dry up the blisters. I suffered for about two and half weeks and still have scars to this day. Hang in there and take care.
Scott
 
Hey buddy take your meds & hope you get out of this mess real fast. Eagle{[:::Blade:::> God Bless America
 
I was going to second what Mike Hull said. Chiropractors help people with shingles all the time, quite dramatically, usually. Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. The virus settles in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and it usually affects a very specific area of skin that is supplied only by that nerve correpsonding nerve root. Adjustments usually help the problem very quickly. Also, assuming it would be safe with whatever medications you take, St. John's Wort is great for shingles. SJW is best known here as an anti-depressant, but traditionally it excels as an anti-viral, specifically for viruses like chicken pox and herpes.
 
Never had shingles, and after reading this thread I hope I never will! :eek:

But I've often wondered - how did this condition get the name "shingles"?
 
I never knew what the shingles were until I wound up with them. I didn't know of anyone who had them until I told & showed my immediate supervisor why I had just made an appointment to see my doctor & had to leave work early. He said he had them several years ago & I could leave work right then & there & I'd probably be out for at least a week!

The only thing I ran across explaining where the name came from is this from a handout from my doctor: "The bandlike appearance of the rash led to the name shingles, which comes from cingulum, the Latin word for girdle or belt."
 
I went to see the Dr. two days after I started getting the red splotches. They where not blisters yet. 1000mg of valtrex a day and it was gone in about a week. I did not have much pain either. Don't know why cause I've heard some horror stories. Hope you feel better.
 
I'm out of work until I see the doctor on Thursday. The Valtrex (1000mg) seems to have it under control and the acetaminophen with codeine really helps with the pain and lets me get a restful sleep. I'm feeling better but the blisters haven't started to 'crust' over like they should, yet. They're just sitting there looking ugly! :eek: Thanks for the concern...sure I'll be rid of them soon!
 
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