I found that the Zovirax and Lyrica helped as I did not experience intense neurological pain. However it is over a year now and I still experience sensitivity in the area where the rash occurred. So much so that I have to change my style of clothing to ensure that there are no seams or heavy fabric pressing or rubbing against that area.

My shingles have started as a rash, with intense itching, but not the severe neurological pain yet, and hopefully never. Ice packs have helped me quiet the itching and produced relief. (This method has also helped with fire ant bites for me.) I also have found relief with Caladryl, when in situations where icing wasn't available.

I'm 53 years old and have had a tingling, almost needle-like sensation for almost 8-9 weeks. Some days are better than others. I've had this before for the last 5 years or so. Usually it lasts from anywhere from 2 weeks to 8-9 weeks. This last time has been the longest. My pain is not limited to one side of my body or "dermatome". My doctors thinks that because the pain is bilateral (it can be virtually anywhere on my body, i.e., my face, arms, thighs,) it can't be shingles. Plus, I've never had an outbreak or rash but I certainly feel tingling, needle like pain that lasts for a few seconds and it feels that it could turn into a blister, but it just doesn't. I also usually have an accompanying symptom which is heat. It feels like my body (or parts) are being heated up from just inside my skin almost like how I feel when I sit in my car and turn on the heated seats. That would be fine if it were cold out or I lived in Wisconsin but I live here in the SF Bay area where the weather is usually mild. My immune system is not compromised and I am not gay but rather lead a very boring (monogamous) married life. Otherwise I 'm pretty darn healthy but this is driving me nuts- especially the lack of a definitive diagnosis.

I have had shingles for more than four weeks now. I got it five days after receiving the Zoster vaccination. You figure that out! Nowhere in the sheet of information that accompanies the vaccination does it mention the possibility of actually getting shingles from the shot. I am perfectly healthy with a non-compromised immune system. The least the CDC can do is amend the information sheet to reflect the real possibility of acquiring a case of shingles from the live vaccination.

This is the third time I have had shingles. Had it when I was 17 yrs old on my abdomen and then at 48 on my right eyebrow and now at 53 on my back and abdomen. It was painful at the eyebrow site had shooting pain into my head for 3 weeks, but Motrin took away the pain. Only 5 days into this episode on my back. I am hoping the pain won't be too bad. Thinking about acupuncture instead of taking Valtrex. So far symptoms have not been debilitating.

I'm 27 weeks pregnant and I have shingles. I'm only 20 years old, so it seems like I'm way too young for this, but the nerve pain was extremely severe and I feel like there is nothing to help pregnant women with shingles. There are so many effects it can have on the fetus, but I'm very optimistic and I pray my daughter comes out fine.

I am a 19nyear old girl and just found out that the rash I developed is in fact Shingles which is not very common at my age. I am in a lot of pain around my arm and back. My doctor gave me some antibiotics and cream to put on the rash. It has been a couple of days and the rash is starting to heal it got worse before it got better. But with the right treatment and medical care you should be fine.

I applied Aloe Vera gel directly to the painful, red areas and immediately experienced relief from the pain. The Aloe Vera gel completely took away the burning sensation and later in the day I actually took a shower and the water did not cause any pain when it encountered the red areas.