Has anyone ever had shingles? I got this in February and still have pain from them so I am taking Lyrica, and occasionally Vicodin. It is very painful, just what I need with arthritis! Cathy R Celebrex, Prednisone, etc. Oh Cathy, I am so sorry to hear you have shingles. My Mom had it and I remember how painful it was. I donot have shingles but I have a nerve disease called Neuropathy and I so understand nerve pain. I hope you will soon be over this and that your pain will subside. Take care and hope you have a better day! SueLee
Cathy; sorry to hear you have the Shingles. I have no experience with them myself....but it's very common amoung us I'm afraid. I've heard from numerous friends with RA on these websites that have gotten them.
If you catch them early (Which I hope you have) they are supposedly not as bad and don't last as long. My Mother had them not too long ago and luckily for her she caught them early and she did not have too hard of a time with them.
Wishing you a Speedly, comfortable recovery.
Oh Wow! Have I had shingles? Twice and I wished I could die. I can't explain the pain except to say that it feels as if someone has exposed a nerve and then keeps shocking it with electricity. It hurt like the devil. IMO, worse than RA pain. (My opinion, though)
The first time in 1995 I was prescribed Famvir and it worked. Quieted it down almost immediately, though I had it for over a week before the blisters showed. What a relief. I still have scars as it was on my thumb and affected the nerve that went up the arm to the face. I was lucky that they dx'd it before the damage went to the face as I have really bad scars from where it settled in my thumb.
I went to two ERs. The first said it was a pinched nerve, That night I was in excruciating pain and went to a different ER. They dx'd it but, to be fair to the first ER, I had blistered all over by the time I got to the 2nd ER so it was easy for them. Also, the thumb is an unusual place for it to be, though there is a nerve there, so the nurses and docs didn't think shingles immediately.
Second time was last year and they gave me Valcor, what is usually advertised for herpes. Worked even faster than the Famvir. The second time it appeared at the top of my back and I couldn't even have an article of clothing touch it and I had no idea it was shingles. My doctor looked at it right away and knew what it was as the blisters were out.
I don't understand how you've had it since February...though I'm no doctor, just speaking from experience. I also don't know how you can stand having it that long. It's enough to drive anyone insane, it's a horrible feeling. If neuropathy feels like that I just can't even imagine the pain.
My husband had it a long time ago before there were meds for it and it lasted a few months but, in this day and age, the meds usually knock it out right away. Do you think the meds for shingles could be contraindicated with whatever meds you're taking for RA?
All I can say is I really do feel for you. When I read this post I almost felt ill remembering that nauseating pain.
I do hope that you'll find something to make you feel better.
Hi Cathy,
I had shingles last June and they were not pleasant. The important thing is to get diagnosed fast and start on appropriate medicine. I think I was on levequin. If you do it early, your chances of getting over it sooner without lasting nerve damage are much better. Shingles involves one nerve pathway. Mine was across the top of my head, over my right forehead, and in one eye. The eye one was serious but I was seen my the opthomologist during the whole episode and came out with no visual problems. It can be serious if it involves eyes, so don't waste any time getting seen if it's there. If you are on MTX or one of the biologics, you'll probably be taken off. I was off for about 3 weeks. I'm happy to say, I have no permanent damage. It took several weeks to get over. I had some red marks on my forehead and along the eyelid but they eventually went away. Stay away from anyone who has not had chicken pox or the chicken pox vacine as you are contageous and can give chicken pox to someone.Hope you feel better soon.
Cathy,Hi Thinkthinn:
If you've had chicken pox, the same virus that causes shingles, you you can get shingles later in life. The chicken pox virus remains inactive in certain nerves after the chicken pox has healed and can become active again later in life.
Conditions that weaken the immune system can cause the virus to act up again. I guess if RA weakens the immune system, and you have previously had chicken pox, you can get shingles.
If you can catch it before it does a lot of damage it is more easily treated with anti virals. The early symptoms are pain and itching and, later, small blisters.
Hope this helps, D.
Cathy, I have had shingles two times!!!! On my face and on my back.The time on my face was 5yrs ago and sometimes it still has pain .on my back it was over my kidney and really painful. Ended up at er and they thought it was kidney stones.After a lot of tests,it was shingles.Had to have IV meds,hurt so bad.I am on humira an i hope it doesnt trigger another episode.good luck and hope you feel better.My mother's doctor seems to think that hers was brought on my a very stressful time during the illness/death of my Grandmother. Not sure if that's correct of not; but My Mother sure is buying it.Just a bit of info for those 60 and over who have had the chicken pox and no shingles. There is a vaccine called Zostavax...that is suppose to prevent the shingles! Good news for alot of people. We have started to give the vacc. in our office to patients!