I had shingles over a year ago covering my right hand, the palm, the front and back as well as my fingers on down into my wrist area.. It is so painful while applying medicines. It take some weeks to clear up takes some months to get over it. Even now after several months I can use my hand a certain way to sew, pick up a glass or cup or wash dishes and the pain is almost more than I can bear. My dau had it on her neck, shoulder and part of her back when she was 12. My uncle suffered with it around his waist for years. The worst I ever saw and one I believe the most painful was a dear friend who suffered with it in the head and ear, the scalp covering about half his head, on his face and down into his neck. He looked so grosteque while the pain should have been ample to make him miserable.

My Late DH was infected with shingles while he was in the hospital with something else. He had them on his back, chest and arms. It was so painful for months. The really bad thing was that it hurt even after you could not see the shingles any longer, so the nurses and bath aides would cause him more pain without meaning to.

Bless you.

I've never had them but know enough people who have so I got the vaccine last year. My mom got them on her eyeball!

I too have had reoccurring shingles but fortunately not in the past 6 years or so. It always appears in the inside of my right elbow. I usually get a headache as a warning sign and call my doc immediately for meds. The first 2 times I had it, my doc misdiagnosed it as a brown recluse spider bite.

my husband and I took shots to not have shingles

I, too had the Shingle Vaccine, but the Shingles did not recognize the vaccine. I hope you nor your husband have to contend with Shingles. It is one of the most painful conditions a person can have. Thanks for your reply. I am beginning to have more painfree hours per day.

we are both in our 70s he is 78 and I am 72.We got the shot 2 or 3 years ago.I hope it works for both of us.

I had them when I was in my early 20s,
Mine were around the left side of my face,
and I was left with a very nasty scar on my
ear from them, and it is a pain you dont forget.

I had chicken pox when I was young, but I have had shingles twice! My first bout with them I was in my 40's and the next time I was 50. I have several health problems and my dr said they usually don't give the vaccine unless you are over 60, but in my case, I need to go ahead and have the vaccination. I haven't had it yet, but I still get the itches in the area on my back where they were.